
Gus Vos
Chief Engineer, Technology Standards
Simplify Global IoT Deployments with Smart Connectivity. One SIM, Partner and Platform for seamless expansion.
Multi-carrier SIM options including 5G, LPWA and LTE for North American IoT Deployments.
Keep your global IoT connectivity deployments under control through AirVantage® IoT Connectivity Platform.
Simplify Global IoT Deployments with our ready-to-connect modules, gateways & routers.
Read our managed connectivity use cases and customer stories.
Purchase SIMs and Connectivity data plans directly through our eStore.
Find the Right IoT Module or Gateway that delivers best-in class capabilities for your IoT project.
Accelerate 5G deployments and streamline logistics with one global 5G IoT module that provides worldwide coverage.
Integrate 4G broadband connectivity with high performance 4G LTE Cat-7 to Cat-20 modules.
Make IoT devices smart with 4G LTE Cat-1 or Cat-4 modules with optional edge processing.
Connect IoT devices that need long battery life, extended coverage and lower BOM cost.
Industrial-grade short-range modules enable OEMs to integrate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth into their projects.
Industrial-grade GNSS modules that are ultra-compact, low-power and deliver high-performance GNSS tracking.
Rapidly add wireless connectivity with plug-and-play IoT gateways.
Develop edge application with the Legato® open source application framework.
Orchestrate IoT data and devices with the Octave™ Edge-to-Cloud solution.
Accelerate your deployment of new applications with our 5G and 4G LTE cellular routers solutions.
AirLink Services empower you to self-manage devices, access robust reporting & support packages.
Accelerate your deployment with always-on Connectivity provided by our high-performance AirLink antennas.
Learn more about how Sierra Wireless AirLink router solutions applying to each industry.
Industrial companies across sectors are leveraging IIoT solutions to transform business models.
Sierra Wireless' IoT Solutions for utilities, smart metering and pipeline management transform businesses.
Connect devices, vehicles and infrastructure everywhere in cities to reduce energy and water consumption to improve safety and quality of life.
Enable companies to manage their fleet and track vehicles, containers and other assets as they move through the supply chain.
Improve efficiency, reduce energy usage and build a better working environment by using the IoT to create smart commercial buildings.
Healthcare companies and service providers can rely on Sierra Wireless to unlock the exciting new benefits of the Internet of Medical Things.
The IoT is transforming mission-critical applications first responders need to do their jobs while improving health and safety in their communities.
Obtain the latest Analyst research reports and IoT Whitepapers by Sierra Wireless.
Download the latest eBooks to learn more from Sierra Wireless.
Watch our recent webinars highlighting analyst research and Sierra Wireless thought-leadership.
Read the latest Analyst research reports.
Read our customer stories to see how Sierra Wireless helps customers overcome their business challenges.
View our Infographics to understand complex IoT topics in a simplified visual way.
Stay up to date on IoT trends, updates, insights and solutions from industry experts and professionals on our Internet of Things Blog.
Sign up to receive Sierra Wireless' quarterly newsletter. Each issue casts a spotlight on wireless applications, innovations and product offerings.
IoT Videos from Sierra Wireless.
IoT Podcasts from Sierra Wireless.
Purchase SIMs, Data plans and other ready-to-go products through our eStore.
Purchase turnkey Asset, Cargo, Satellite and Fleet Tracking, Remote Monitoring Solution and Cellular Alarm Communicators.
A fully managed portfolio of offerings provides stress-free, cost-effective, and reliable internet management.
Are you interested in learning more about how IoT solutions can transform your business? We're happy to help.
Partnered with experts in cellular connectivity to provide sales and support in over 50 countries around the world. Connect with a trusted Sierra Wireless Partner.
Sierra Wireless simplifies the IoT, delivering you the Connectivity, Modules, and Router Solutions you need to accelerate your data-driven transformation.
Meet the Sierra Wireless leadership team. Respected professionals in their field, the Sierra Wireless leadership team has decades of M2M and IoT experience.
Sierra Wireless is continually committed to improving the social and environmental impact of our business operations.
Read our quarterly results, annual reports and upcoming investor events and presentations.
Read our press releases, stay up to date with company news and financial reports and see Sierra Wireless in the media.
We attend trade shows, conferences and major events around the globe, year round. Find out where you can meet us next!
Understand how Sierra Wireless takes an end-to-end approach to provide you with the most secure IoT cybersecurity solutions available in the market.
Partner with Sierra Wireless; We are an IoT leader across the globe with over 30 years experience.
A stable, team-centered culture that attracts and retains some of the most talented professionals. View job opportunities now.
Find contact information for Sierra Wireless, including sales, technical and customer support, global offices, investor relations and media inquiries.
Chief Engineer, Technology Standards
In my last post, I wrote about how Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) technologies are addressing the critical four C’s for the IoT to unlock its potential and enable new use cases. Now let’s breakdown the pros and cons of standard versus proprietary technologies.
On the standard side, both LTE-M (aka eMTC) and NB-IoT are quickly commercializing as mobile network operators around the globe roll out their IoT services. We expect major global coverage by the end of 2018.
A study from the 3GPP (TR 45.820, GPC-150313) provides an “apples-to-apples” comparison for power and coverage. The study was based on sending 200 bytes of data every two hours on two AA batteries. Zero here refers to the cell edge of coverage today and 20dB refers to a very deep coverage hole – like a basement.
As you can see from the chart, all LPWA technologies can meet the 10-year benchmark in good coverage, but no LPWA technology can provide both huge coverage range and great power consumption at the same time—this is the laws of physics. Past the +12dB coverage point, none of the methods can provide 10 years of battery because coverage is gained by lowering the data rate. But lowering the data rate requires very long transmit times, which draws significant power.
So you may be able to deploy base stations only every 20km but if you do this, then many devices will be in bad coverage and thus have bad battery life.
Bottom line, there is no better battery saving and coverage technique than densely deployed base stations. So be wary of LPWA technologies and deployments that have base sites deployed every 20km. They may have the coverage, but the battery life and the data speeds will be very limited.
Hopefully you’ll remember the 4 Cs from my last post; they’re table stakes for the IoT, but many applications require more than that. Additional things to think about when selecting an LPWA technology include:
Although we’ve covered the 4 Cs and tearing down how proprietary technologies stack up to standard mobile IoT technologies, there’s a lot consider when selecting a technology for your application. You’ll need to base your selection on both current and future requirements.
My next post in this series will give you a cheat sheet to decode the different types of standard technologies.
Looking for more information about LPWA? Start with Sierra to speak with one of our experts who can help you deploy the right LPWA technology for your application. Download the whitepapers, LPWA: Separating Fact From Fiction, Coverage Analysis of LTE-M Category M1, and our What is LPWA? infographic.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2016 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Related blogs:
Get innovation delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our blog and stay on top of the very latest from Sierra Wireless.
© Sierra Wireless. All rights reserved.