THE ULTIMATE

GUIDE TO IOT

1
 INDEX
Introduction 3
What you need to know about connectivity 4

01 Solution requirements 6
Mobility and access to power 7
Networks 12
Software 17

02 Price issues 19
Pay-per-unit or “pooled” data traffic 20

03 Examples of applications 22
Energy and electricity plants 23
Transport and logistics 23
Agriculture 24
Micromobility 24
Retail trade 25
The healthcare sector 25
Smart cities 26

2
INTRODUCTION

The opportunity
“The Internet of Things” (IoT) is well on its way to making cars, electricity
meters, trackers, sensors, homes and even whole cities smarter.
Numerous companies are already using IoT to create completely new
solutions, or to upgrade existing products – and thus far we have only
begun to scratch the surface of what this technology can do.

The challenge
If an IoT solution has problems with unreliable coverage, demanding
administration or weak security, it doesn’t matter if it is ten times better
than your competitor’s version. In the same way, there is no point having
a system that features innovative AI which converts raw data into an
excellent decision making basis if the solution does not feed reliable data
into the system. Without a strong connection to the outside world, even
the best IoT device has nothing to offer.

The solution
Choose an experienced connectivity provider with the right tools, the
right expertise and the capacity to prepare an ideal, tailor-made solution
that can help your IoT service take the world by storm.

3
 What you need to know
about connectivity

An IoT project consists of a huge number of choices, which can have a

major impact on the end result; an IoT solution is never stronger than
the weakest link in this chain of elements. It is therefore important to be
familiar with all these elements so that you can avoid the common pitfalls
on the journey from concept development to final, implemented solution.

In this document, we will be taking a look at the advantages and

drawbacks of different aspects of connectivity for an IoT solution,
different cost aspects you need to be aware of, and which benefits
different software and administration tools can provide.

◦ Solution requirements
Access to power, connectivity, bandwidth and latency, for example
◦ Networks
Different types of SIM card, different networks, available protocols
and properties of different networks
◦ Software
Secure integration with different cloud services, the importance of
testing and development, requirements on administration tools
◦ Price issues
“Pooled” data traffic versus Pay-per-unit
◦ Examples of applications

4
 There are more
than 400 active IoT
platforms worldwide
Source

5
01 SOLUTION
REQUIREMENTS
IoT devices can deal with a range of problems and challenges, and
every potential application has different requirements. In this chapter,
we will look at some of these requirements and focus on how they can
help determine which connectivity solution is best for you.
6
 Mobility and access to power
Maintenance as you go These cards can be updated or changed
“over the air”, which means you avoid the trap
IoT projects often comprise a large number of becoming “locked into” a specific network
of devices that need to last a really long time, provider.
and which can be difficult to access once
they have been positioned. IoT solutions can
Energy and power supply
have a service life of at least a decade, so it is
incredibly important to ensure that the devices A key issue has to do with where and how the
feature a robust design, and that they are IoT devices in the system are to be positioned.
painstakingly tested in the field prior to large- Should they be located in a place where it is
scale roll-out. easy to connect them to the power grid – like
the smart energy meters we have all now had
It can be expensive to gamble on technologies installed in our electricity panels at home?
that fail to catch on, and which therefore
cease to be backed by support or are phased Or could it be possible to connect them to
out entirely. This is one of many reasons why the power grid so that they only need to draw
modern mobile network standards are a good, minimal energy in order to ensure long battery
safe choice. It can be extremely expensive or life – like the parking sensors in the ground?
difficult in practice if at some point you need to Or, again, will the device be moved around a
switch SIM cards in a device, and for elevated lot, thus requiring a regular, if low, supply of
flexibility it is a good idea to choose devices current, even though a power supply in and of
that support rewritable SIM cards (eUICC). itself may be readily available – like electric city
scooters?

7
 Connectivity and data traffic Uptime
requirements Some solutions and application areas place
Another issue has to do with the demands the stringent requirements on uptime and
solution places on the device’s data traffic: availability. Mobile data communication
How much data will the device be transferring, typically supports uptime of at least 99.9 per
and how high does the data speed need to be? cent, and for solutions with even tougher
What are the demands on uptime? And so on. demands, it is worth considering a solid
option for back-up communication. An
Bandwidth gives an indication of how much alternative may be to support multiple mobile
data a device can send and receive at the technologies or to have access to other
same time. For the vast majority of IoT networks. Whatever you choose, you need a
applications, a couple of kilobits per second provider with a strong support set-up, and who
(kbps) is sufficient. A reading from a smart provides ongoing, reliable information about
electricity meter, a position report from a possible error situations.
driving log application, or instructions to an
electric vehicle charger – all these require only Minimising downtime is critical for suppliers
the sporadic transfer of small volumes of data. of communication services. You will therefore
If the application has to transfer speech, on the need mobile platforms, preferably with duplex
other hand, a bandwidth of around 100 kbps is lines for power and fibre. Ideally, you would
essential. want the backbone of your system to have
redundant data centres and a secondary
The bandwidth is also affected by the signal backup location. In this way, your information
strength. For real time applications, it is will always be protected, even in the face of
essential that data can be transferred with external influences such as water damage, fire
minimal delay (latency) and without excessive or power outages.
variation (jitter). The 5G network can actually
support applications that demand a delay of
no higher than millisecond level, but most IoT
applications can handle some degree of delay
and jitter, depending on the application area
and the protocols utilised.

The need for seamless mobility is a separate

requirement. If your IoT device needs a
continuous session/connection while it
moves around between the coverage areas
of different base stations, the unit must use
technology such as LTE-M or 4G/5G. On the
other hand, many IoT applications do not need
this kind of continuous data session and can
easily work with NB-IoT, for instance.

8
 A poor network connection can prove costly

A bad choice of network connection can make the difference between

a successful product and a disastrous launch. The following example
highlights the need to think carefully about the area of application – and
to complete a solid, comprehensive pilot phase – before roll-out:

In order to boost efficiency, work smarter and to report their data as planned. It was then
care for the environment, a recycling company discovered that some households had placed
chose to launch a smart refuse container that their containers in their underground garages
automatically alerts the collection centre when where 2G signals could not reach them. Nor
it starts to fill up. The objective was to set the was the operator able to offer satisfactory
filling level for the containers, the time since reporting for responsible troubleshooting.
they were last emptied, weather data and other In this case, a solution based on NB-IoT
factors as data points in an algorithm that would have been a much better choice,
could optimise the collection routes. because it would have provided much better
communication with the refuse containers –
After a lengthy test period, the solution was along with much longer battery life.
rolled out city-wide, but then around ten per
cent of the refuse containers surprisingly failed

The example shows how important it is to choose a communication

provider who specialises in IoT and therefore has the experience to
highlight such possible problems early in the project. The provider must
also have tools that make it easy to troubleshoot and deal with such
problems as do arise.
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 Security solution, as in the majority of mission-critical
solutions, this is an understandably self-evident
The threat landscape in the field of cyber- requirement.
security is constantly developing. This
means you need a partner who has a strong Ideally, you should work with a provider
security management system, who carefully who can keep subscribers and IoT devices
and systematically keeps track of the risk separated in an isolated APN so as to enhance
level, and who complies with the sector the security of the IoT network. In combination
recommendations for security. with a fully functional VPN, this will also prevent
unauthorised persons from gaining access to
There are many different aspects to consider: the data, as well as ensuring that no-one can
Handling security keys for encrypted manipulate the information as it moves through
communication, setting up routers, monitoring the system. This also provides stronger
the systems, regular reinforcement of the protection against cyberattacks.
core network, procedures for dealing with and
following up on security incidents, and much The issue of whether this is an actual need
more besides. should be assessed in consultation with
an IT specialist who has experience from
The mobile network features a number of built- similar applications, who knows how you
in security mechanisms, but the project should can best ensure this interacts smoothly with
nevertheless consider the need for additional the communication technology, and who
end-to-end encryption from the IoT device to understands how the underlying components
the application server. In cases where the users can be aligned to ensure a holistic, well-
make stringent demands on the integrity of the functioning solution.

10
 The number of IoT
devices is expected to
increase to 29.4 billion
by 2030
Source

11
 Networks
In theory – and depending on the area of application – IoT devices
can communicate over everything from wireless networks in the
unlicensed spectrum, to satellites in geostationary orbit. However,
none of the innumerable standards and technologies on the market
has as broad a user base or as large a global apparatus as the mobile
networks.

Let us take a look at the different components in a mobile network,

starting with the source: the increasingly tiny parts that identify each
and every device and connect it with the network.

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 Different types of SIM card the same as if someone had succeeded in
shrinking the distance between Oslo and
If you can remember when GSM telephones Trondheim in Norway (approx. 500 km) to
became commonplace in the 1990s, you a shade over 100 metres. The result is a SIM
may also remember how amazingly easy it solution that takes up little space, demands
became to switch both mobile phone number little energy but still provides full freedom
and network provider, simply by replacing a to switch network operator at any time – a
little card in your phone. When SIM cards first completely “agnostic” connectivity solution,
appeared on the market in 1991, they measured in other words. This opens the door to
83 x 53 mm – around the same size as a credit remarkable flexibility in the development of IoT
card. Since then, the plastic around the chip devices.
itself has been progressively shorn away. The
mini-SIM hit the market in 1996, measuring just
Communication protocols
25 x 15 mm; then came the micro-SIM in 2003
(15 x 10 mm). The next version was the nano- Your choice of communication protocol can
SIM which many people now use, and which affect the solution. The MQTT protocol is
measures a tiny 12.3 x 8.8 mm. extremely widespread in the field of IoT and
many LTE-M modems support it. The major
Development didn’t stop there, however. 2016 providers of cloud services also use solutions
saw the launch of the embedded SIM, or based on MQTT communication. For NB-IoT-
“eSIM” as it is also known. These cards (called based solutions, where low power consumption
Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card, is particularly relevant, and where it is likewise
or eUICC for short) are soldered into the important to be aware that potentially difficult
device’s circuit board and can be over-written coverage conditions may produce higher
“over the air”. This means that an administrator latency, MQTT-based communication over
can switch network operator or change other TCP can be a challenge. In such cases,
information directly from a central device, in communication over UDP – such as CoAP –
roughly the same way that software in modern may be a better option.
cars can be upgraded without having to enter
the car physically and make a manual alteration. Communication modules
It is important to choose a connectivity
But even this wasn’t small enough, and the
provider that offers broad support for different
integrated SIM “iSIM” appeared in 2022. This
types of modules and equipment – especially
technology is likewise eUICC-compatible and
from established manufacturers such as
is built directly into the chipset in the mobile
Advantech, Quectel, Nordic Semiconductor
device, where it takes up barely a square
and U-Blox, to name but a few. A provider
millimetre of space.
backed by reliable, innovative technology
partners can assure the flexibility and the
Thirty years of technological development
options you need to develop holistic solutions
has thus reduced the size of the SIM card
with the potential to succeed in today’s tough
by a factor of at least 4,500, approximately
arena of digital competition.
13
 There is no mobile technology
that is universally “right” to
use; it depends on the actual
requirements in the use case.

Different networks and available protocols – and their properties

A variety of mobile technologies are in use NB-IoT or LTE-M solutions may be a good
around the world, and it can prove useful to option for projects that require moderate
enter into a dialogue about your specific needs bandwidth. They need little power, are simple
with an IoT connectivity provider, particularly to implement and feature excellent properties
in a phase where you are testing different for linking up with signals that come from
technologies with a view to ensuring that you underground installations, for example. This
choose the right solution for your project. translates into low unit costs and marginal
space requirements.
In this context, it is relevant to note that there is
no mobile technology that is universally “right” There are some minor differences between
to use; it depends on the actual requirements these technologies that can make a major
in the use case. That said, there are a number difference to the end product. NB-IoT is best
of “rules of thumb” that provide a decent for devices that require minimal bandwidth,
starting point: extremely high penetration strength and
truly miserly power consumption. LTE-M, on
4G or 5G are solid choices if you need the other hand, supports seamless mobility,
significant bandwidth (i.e. above Mbps level) or requires slightly more bandwidth and features
real-time communication (such as 5G ultra-low SMS support. In order to optimise power
latency use cases), but you need to weigh this consumption even further and to simplify
against factors such as cost, available power data communication, Non-IP Data Delivery
supply options, necessary signal strength and (NIDD) can also be used for NB-IoT. In this
geographical area of application. case, devices will not run on a conventional IP
stack but will use simpler mechanisms for data
2G is currently being phased out in a number transfer in the mobile network.
of countries, so it is not recommended to base
new modules on this technology, even though For NB-IoT – and, to some extent, LTE-M – it
it may be an advantage for the module to is worth considering the geographical spread
support 2G if there is a chance that it may be of roaming support at present, as well as the
used in countries that have not yet rolled out anticipated roll-out over the coming years.
the desired technology. If the device is to be used in areas without
LTE-M/NB-IoT support, it may be a good idea
to consider 2G as a fall-back solution.

14
 Properties of different networks In many IoT projects, the capacity for scaling is
a key property. In such cases, it is worth noting
The choice of technology thus depends that both NB-IoT and LET-M support 5G
on the demands made by the solution with requirements for 100,000 devices per square
regard to aspects including signal strength, kilometre for massive IoT roll-out.
bandwidth, real-time requirements, seamless
mobility, available infrastructure and so on. In
addition, requirements or limitations in a given
area of the solution may well affect choices
and opportunities in other areas. Volume, size
and, in particular, support for future hardware
updates will also play a role.

15
 The value of the IoT
market surpassed USD
1,000 billion in 2022
Source

16
 Software
Let there be no doubt, then, that the choice of network is a key decision, but in no way is it the
only aspect to consider. It is crucial to ensure that the data are supplied in a secure, efficient and
reliable manner, but it is just as important that both the data and the devices that transmit them
can be administrated in a user-friendly, cost-optimal way. Here are four key factors that must be
included in the assessment:

Integration with cloud services The importance of testing and

Thus far, we have focused on how important
development
it is to be able to collect data securely from As we mentioned previously, it is often
the IoT devices and transport them safely to demanding to gain physical access to IoT
a server for secure data storage. At present, it devices once they have been placed in
is increasingly common for data to be stored position. During the pilot phase (and, under
in the cloud, and this means that your solution certain circumstances, after the solution has
needs a seamless bridge between your IoT been launched) it is therefore essential to use
devices and the cloud service you select. a good, solid test tool that helps you to verify
that the solution will function as intended, or
For this reason, it will be important for you to collect as much information as possible to
to choose a connectivity partner that offers assist you in your troubleshooting process if it
scalable, reliable, secure and standardised does not.
integrations with the key cloud platforms – as
a minimum, Amazon AWS, Google Cloud A good connectivity provider will have tested
and Microsoft Azure, to start with the most and verified hundreds of routers, chipsets
commonly used. and other hardware units in order to build
up competence that you can then benefit
A professional connectivity provider will have from in your project. Such providers will also
dedicated connections to the solutions from have a test environment in which you can
these suppliers, and will be able to transport simulate how your solution reacts to various
your data over private lines, outside the error scenarios from the mobile network,
publicly accessible internet. This translates measure whether the connectivity has been
into better control of bandwidth, security and implemented correctly, and test the power
reliability, and allows you to concentrate on consumption of the devices against the target
what really matters: developing your business. for power-economical solutions.

All in all, a “precautionary” approach of this kind

can save you vast amounts of time and money
by eliminating numerous errors and issues prior
to an actual implementation.
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 A good administration tool
makes it easy to keep control
over costs

Requirements for an Another key factor is to choose a solution that

administration tool allows the IoT service you are developing to be
integrated seamlessly with companies’ internal
A good IoT solution demands effective, systems. This can contribute significantly to
streamlined tools that make it easy to making the IoT functionality a value-boosting
administrate subscribers and to scale the development of both new and existing
handling of devices in a user-friendly manner – products and services.
both for you and for users of your solution.
The life cycle of the devices
A robust administration tool makes it simple to
keep control of costs, regardless of whether In the same way as almost all other technology,
it has to do with switching subscription IoT devices cannot live for ever. However,
solution or pausing certain subscriptions when robust administration tools will help them both
necessary. Location-based services are also cost less while they are still operating, and
important, because they can make things easy continue to operate for longer than would
for administrators and superusers in customers’ otherwise have been possible. For this, you
organisations to maintain an overview of where need a platform that enables you seamlessly
their devices are at all times. to activate, modify and suspend SIMs, at the
same time as providing you with full control of
At the same time, a SIM administration data consumption: per device, per customer
platform will facilitate administration and and in total.
follow-up on SIM activity for all your devices
at a given location. Irrespective of whether When a good administration solution is
you need to make adjustments for a single combined with a market-leading test solution,
user, a group of users or all users at the same this can, for example, make it more likely that it
time, you need a dynamic tool that makes this will be possible to implement a potentially life-
simple, seamless and effective. This translates extending upgrade of the IoT devices, without
into efficiency in the development, distribution the risk of costly service interruptions for
and operation of fleets of IoT devices. customers. All this can contribute to enhancing
value and profitability from your IoT solution, at
In cases where it is necessary to be able the same time as it extends the service life of
to pinpoint and rectify faults in previously the devices and makes them more sustainable.
positioned devices, you need access to real-
time data and ongoing status updates, as well
as to detailed historical data. Not only will this
make it simple to keep the devices operating,
but this volume of data is also a precondition
for the ability to use AI for predictive
maintenance (where relevant).
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02 PRICE
ISSUES
19
 Pay-per-unit or “pooled” data
traffic
It is a precondition for all IoT solutions that transferred. A decent connectivity partner will
the data reach their destination, but you nevertheless provide tools that give you cost
naturally want to keep the network costs at a control and flexibility – for example, through
manageable level. This means that you need automatic, progressive adaptation of the data
flexibility in the cost structure, such that you volume as your needs develop.
can adapt it to the unique requirements of your
IoT project. In this regard, there are least three Data pool
models you need to bear in mind:
This is a model where, rather than a given data
quota per SIM card, you work with a general
Pay-as-you-go
“pool” for all the SIM cards in your solution,
This is a variable model where you pay for what paying only for average consumption per card.
you actually use, without being tied to a set This means that you are less vulnerable to
volume of data. It can be a relevant solution fluctuations in data consumption from device
during the development or establishment to device, and should trigger volume discounts
phase of a new service. for your solutions. Not all connectivity
providers offer a data pool scheme, but it is
Data package absolutely worth seeking out.

A data package model contains different levels

of data consumption during a set period. In
return for an obligation to maintain a given
level, you are offered lower costs per data unit

20
 McKinsey estimates
that approximately
65 percent of the value
from IoT devices will
stem from the B2B
segment
Source

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03 EXAMPLES OF
APPLICATIONS
22
 Energy and electricity plants
Simpler administration of energy production and power
supply is an IoT area of application with which most people
in Norway are familiar, given that remote reading equipment
has been installed in all Norwegian homes in recent years. This
serves as inspiration far beyond the energy sector: similar
solutions can also prove beneficial in water supply systems
and other public services.

Transport and logistics

The broad spectrum of areas of application for IoT has
influenced the development of the transport and logistics
sector over a period of years. It has helped companies
operate more efficiently, cut costs and boost customer
satisfaction. Linking vehicles, cargoes and warehouses to
real-time data from positioning devices or other sensors
enables enterprises to optimise routes, improve stock
management and ensure timely delivery.

23
 Agriculture
IoT has already simplified the monitoring of livestock and
contributed to the automation of farming operations,
encompassing areas including planting, irrigation, harvesting
and monitoring weather data and other conditions. That said,
appreciable potential remains for services that can help cut
workload or improve resource utilisation, so this is a promising
global market.

Micromobility
In recent years, the expansion of IoT on the one hand and
smartphones on the other has generated completely new
markets, such as those for electric scooters, city bikes and
other services that offer the general public simple options
for making their way around urban areas. Many such services
have proved to be highly lucrative, and it is unlikely that
development in this field will stop any time soon.

24
 Retail trade
IoT has enjoyed strong growth in the retail sector: dynamic
shelf pricing, remotely controlled campaigns on digital
advertising hoardings and item tags that monitor expiry dates
and prevent shoplifting are just some examples. Even though
some areas of the sector operate with tight margins, there are
numerous major players with the capacity to shoulder exciting
investments in new technology – especially at international
level.

The healthcare sector

The health and care sector is facing huge challenges in the
immediate future, and the sector has long since realised that
these cannot be overcome without appreciable focus on
technology. This may take the form of remote healthcare,
where patients are issued with sensors, meters and other
equipment to submit data for closer examination by doctors
at a central location, or digital services which otherwise assist
care providers at hospitals and other treatment centres.

25
 Smart cities
Recent years have witnessed growing acceptance that IoT
can be used to make cities smarter. This can encompass
everything from remotely controlled street lighting, refuse
containers that send messages themselves when they are
almost full, smart traffic lights, or signs that display the wait
time for the next tram or bus. Nevertheless, there is still plenty
of room to use technology to achieve higher efficiency and
to improve resource utilisation so as to give taxpayers more
for their money.

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 com4.no
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