Cellular Networks
—Stay Connected Anytime, Anywhere.
Why cellular technology?
Cellular technology is a preferred choice in the IoT industry due to its global geographic coverage and seamless mobility support for connected devices. Industry analysis reveals that cellular IoT connections surpassed 4 billion by the end of 2024, representing approximately 22% of global IoT connections. The cellular IoT market is projected to grow from 7.63 billion in 2025 to 21.66 billion by 2030. The cellular IoT market is growing at 23.21% CAGR (2025–2030), driven by smart cities and Industry 4.0 adoption.While cellular networks greatly enhance device mobility, the differences among specific technologies (like LTE-M, LTE Cat.1, and NB-IoT) mean that each excels in particular scenarios. Choosing the right one depends on project needs, balancing coverage, power efficiency, and data requirements.
Technical Benefits
Global
Coverage
Cellular technology operates on licensed spectrum and utilizes existing mobile infrastructure, enabling ubiquitous connectivity across urban and rural areas in over 190 countries.
Seamless
Connectivity
Supports smooth transitions of cellular devices across different regions, allowing them to stay connected anytime, anywhere.
Maximum
Resource Utilization
By using frequency reuse technology, cellular networks support more device connections within limited spectrum resources.
High
Security
With encryption and authentication technologies, cellular networks offer robust security for voice communication and data transmission.
Cellular IoT Technologies Overview
| LTE Cat.1 | LTE-M | NB-IoT | 5G mMTC | |
| Bandwidth | 1 Mbps | 1 Mbps | 10-250 kbps | Up to 1 Mbps |
| Power Consumption | Higher | Lower | Ultra-low | Ultra-low |
| Coverage | Wide coverage | Wide coverage | Deep indoor/underground | Wide-area 5G coverage |
| Mobility Support | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Latency | 50-100 ms | 50-100 ms | >1s | Milliseconds-level |
| Use Cases | Smart cities, Industrial IoT | Wearables, asset tracking | Smart metering, environmental monitoring | Large-scale networks, autonomous driving, AR/VR |
| Cost | Medium | Low | Ultra-low | High |
Development of Cellular Technology
How Does Cellular Work?
The coverage area is divided into small regions called “cells,” each served by a cell tower or base station. These cells ensure efficient frequency reuse and reduce interference.
Cellular devices communicate with the nearest cell tower using radio waves. The cell tower acts as a relay, connecting the device to the broader cellular network.
As the device moves, it switches between cell towers seamlessly (handover) to maintain uninterrupted connectivity.
The cell tower connects to the core network, which routes calls, messages, and data between devices (or users) and external networks like the internet.
Cellular IoT Devices
MWC03
Bluetooth LTE smart badge with GNSS and Bluetooth positioning. Supports RFID access control, real-time cellular uploads, staff tracking, and gateway-free deployment.
MG5
Mobile LTE gateway with Bluetooth, LTE-M, NB-IoT, and GPS. Enables real-time supply chain insights, power-saving auto-switching, and multi-power options.
MG6
Stellar gateway with 600m coverage, rapid tag scanning, and real-time monitoring. Supports WiFi, Ethernet, 4G, and auto-network switching.
MG6 LoraWAN
Combines Bluetooth and LoRaWAN for indoor tracking. Features AI-driven optimization, edge computing, AES-128 encryption, and modular, low-power design.
LG1
LoRaWAN gateway with three-floor penetration, bidirectional IoT data, and eight-channel reception. Supports Ethernet, WiFi, 4G, and embedded or external network servers.
Applications
Worker Safety
Smart badges send alerts to the system when workers approach hazardous areas, such as deep pits or high-risk equipment zones, to help prevent accidents.
Campus Safety
Use cellular-enabled smart badges to track students’ locations and ensure safety in school. With emergency alert buttons, students can send distress signals with their location during incidents, prompting immediate action by staff and parents.
Logistics Tracking
In global logistics networks, cellular IoT tags are attached to goods to provide real-time location updates, ensuring shipments reach their destinations as planned.
Fleet Management
Equip vehicles with cellular tracking devices to monitor each vehicle’s location, route, and status in real time. Optimizing route planning helps cut fuel costs and reduce transportation time.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
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Is cellular better than Wi-Fi for IoT ?
Cellular IoT offers better coverage, mobility, and reliability for large-scale deployments, while Wi-Fi is more suitable for short-range, high-bandwidth applications.
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What is the range of cellular IoT ?
Cellular IoT can cover kilometers, with NB-IoT reaching up to 10-15 km in urban areas and even farther in rural settings.
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What are the Common Cellular IoT Standards ?
Key standards include LTE-M, NB-IoT, and 5G IoT, providing various levels of speed, power efficiency, and coverage.
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What is cellular IoT divided into ?
Cellular IoT is divided into LTE (for higher data rates and broader coverage) and NB-IoT (for low-power, wide-area applications with lower data needs). Both enable IoT devices to connect via cellular networks but cater to different use cases based on data speed and energy efficiency.
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What is the future of cellular IoT ?
The future includes 5G expansion, edge computing, and hybrid IoT networks to enhance speed, security, and scalability for smarter connectivity worldwide.
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