What is Iot?

The term "Internet of Things" (IoT) refers to a network of physical "things" that communicate
and exchange data with other systems and devices online. These technologies include anything
from everyday items to high-tech industrial machines. Low-cost technology, the cloud, big data,
analytics, and mobile technologies enable the sharing and collection of data by physical objects
with a minimum of human intervention. Digital systems can record, monitor, and modify every
interaction between connected things. The physical world meets the digital world—and they
cooperate. The (IoT) ecosystem is made up of web-enabled smart devices that use embedded systems,
such as processors, sensors, and communication hardware, to gather, send, and modify the data they
get from their surrounds. By connecting to an IoT gateway or other edge device, where data is either
transferred to the cloud for analysis or is examined locally. Examples of IoT devices in 2023 are Google
Home Voice Controller, medical sensors, fitness trackers, smart security system, etc.

The race for wireless technology started long back in 1890’s. Recently it’s not just humans who
have to communicate among themselves. The machines and other electronic devices have also
started to exchange information between one another to establish a connected network. These
devices mostly operate on a battery from a remote location forcing it to communicate for long
distance with minimum possible power. This requirement has prompted the need for new
communication technologies like ZigBee, LoRa, Sigfox etc.

What is Sigfox Technology?

SigFox is a cellular style, long range, low power, low data rate form of wireless communications
that has been developed in 2010 to provide wireless connectivity for devices like remote
sensors, actuators and other M2M and IoT devices. The SigFox wireless interface has been
developed to enable any communications that take place to consume a minimum amount of
power. In this way the remote devices can run on battery power for very extended periods
without the need for any battery changes or maintenance. In addition to this, M2M and IoT
communications will be over extended distances and the SigFox system has been designed to
enable the transmissions to cover long distances, which reduces the number of base stations
needed to be used. Using a cellular style approach, the remote SigFox nodes are able to
communicate with base stations which have Internet connectivity, thereby enabling remote
control and data collection from anywhere with Internet connectivity.

Features of Sigfox

 High network capacity: Sigfox has considerable capacity that allows you to scale to
billions of items thanks to the ultra-narrow band modulation that adapts to resistances
and noise immunity. The Sigfox infrastructure uses random access makes it easy to vary
the frequency and tempo. Use of uplinks and downlinks Bandwidth ensures consistency
regardless of the wireless connection used.
 High energy efficiency: The Sigfox network boasts of high energy efficiency, due to
the low power consuming semiconductors that are used when manufacturing the Sigfox
hardware. These semiconductors allow the Sigfox modules to transmit data with only
around 10mA – 50mA of current. The Sigfox network architecture does not execute
message contemporize between the devices and the base station before conducting
data transmission, this means there is no paring required. Lack of pairing between the
devices and base station means long battery life and gives Sigfox advantage over other
technologies. Sigfox consumes only a few nano amperes when idle, this rate of power
consumption is negligible further enhancing efficiency.
  Long Range: The deployment of Sigfox covers a large geographical area with minimal
number of base stations. The radio frequency range (RF) is estimated by the data rate
meaning for every output, long range is achieved with low data cost. Implementation of
long range base stations enables implementation of a wide range Sigfox network at
minimal costs. Sigfox’s long range is also facilitated by the fact that the base stations
have less sensitivity and the objects have low output power. In rural areas, a Sigfox
network covers an average range of 30km – 50km due to minimal interference. However,
in town centres where there is a lot obstruction the Sigfox range reduces to 10km.

 Resilience to interference: Sigfox utilizes 192KHz Ultra Barrow Band

(UNB) integrated with the base station’s spatial diversity of +20 dB which
facilitate its unique anti-jamming features. The Sigfox network utilizes Ultra
Narrow Band to operate in Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band since
spread spectrum signals are interfered by UNB signals. In Europe, the Uplink has
a bandwidth of 100Hz while in the USA the bandwidth exceeds to 600Hz.
 Complementary Technology: It complements Bluetooth,2G,3G,4G and Wifi

Sigfox Network Architecture

Sigfox network architecture is horizontal and thin, and has 2 layers. Layer one comprises of the
network equipment mostly the base stations, and other elements. The purpose of this layer is to
receive messages from the IoT device ad transmit them to the Sigfox Support systems this
network has a one-hop star topology allowing the IoT devices connect to any base station near
it. The second layer is the Sigfox Support System where messages from the base stations are
processed and sent through call-backs to the customer system. This layer also provides the entry
point of the various actors such as Sigfox, end customers, Sigfox operators and channels to the
ecosystem using web interfaces or APIs. The layer has repository and other tools for analysing
the data that is collected by the network. The layer also contains modules and features that
support the deployment, operation, and monitoring of the network. The features include the
Business Support System(BSS) for billing and ordering, and Radio Planning for supporting
network deployment and monitoring. The public internet connects the two layers over secure
VPN connections.
The data from the IoT devices is sent through air to the base stations, then goes through the
backhaul which uses DSL connectivity with 4G backup. Satellite connectivity is used as backup in
places where DSL and 4G are not available. Message processing is also handled by the backhaul,
these messages arrive on the core network as many replicates but only one copy is stored which
can be accessed by customers through a web interface.

Sigfox security and privacy

Since the primary focus of Sigfox is to be used with IoT, the network has been designed to
enhance security by implementing firewalls to secure data in motion and at rest.

 Firewall security
Sigfox has an inbuilt firewall that restricts IoT objects to connect or communicate using
the internet protocol. To communicate over the internet, an object sends a radio
message that is picked up by the available access stations. The access station then relays
the message to the Sigfox support system that in turn transmits it to the specified
destination. The Sigfox support system also transmits the response to the sender object
through the base stations. The security firewall thus secures the IoT objects from internet
related attacks.
 Data security: The Sigfox architecture provides a security mechanism that guarantees
secure data authentication and replay avoidance; it also provides an extra anti-
eavesdropping mechanism. The Sigfox’s IoT chain involves authentication keys stored
which are stored by devices and the customer, this key will be required to access the
data stored by the Sigfox System. As a result, Sigfox’s data mechanisms guarantees
security within the diverse ecosystem and different local regulations.

SigFox M2M application areas

The SigFox network and technology is aimed at the low cost machine to machine application
areas where wide area coverage is required. There are a number of applications that need this
form of low cost wireless communications technology. Areas where the SigFox network may be
used include:
  Home and consumer goods

 Energy related communications - in particular smart metering

 Healthcare - in particular the mHealth applications that are starting to be developed

 Transportation - this can include the automotive management

 Remote monitoring and control

 Retail including point of sale, shelf updating, etc

 Security

 Billboards asset Monitiring.

 Animals and Pets: Optimized for tracking.

 Car Park: Real time availability status.

CONS of SIGFOX
➨The narrow band spectrum emitted by single sigfox end device cause
strong interference to nearby existing wideband system. More such sigfox
devices will further enhance the interference.
➨Sigfox supports one way communication without acknowledement. This
necessitates multiple transmissions if server does not receive data without
errors. Due to this power consumption will increase which depends on
number of retransmissions.
➨Due to low data rate support, it can not be used for high data rate
applications.
➨Sigfox system works well in fixed location. There are issues such as
interference and frequency inaccuracies in the mobility environments.
https://circuitdigest.com/article/what-is-sigfox-basics-architecture-and-security-features

https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/connectivity/sigfox/what-is-sigfox-basics-m2m-
iot.php

https://www.techtarget.com/iotagenda/definition/Internet-of-Things-IoT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_of_things