Devices are generally connected to the internet with an IP (internet protocol) network. But, devices can also be connected locally via Bluetooth or NFC (near-field communication). The differences between both types of connections are power, range, and memory used. IP connections are complex and require increased power and memory, but there are no range limitations. Bluetooth connections, on the other hand, are simple and require less power and memory, but the range is limited. There are many different types of IP and Bluetooth protocols that IoT devices can use.
Bluetooth is a 2.4GHz network for personal wireless network communication. 2.4GHz network is preferred for providing personal networks by network providers as it is cheaper and has a much better range than other networks. Bluetooth low energy (BLE) is the new and optimized version of Bluetooth for connections between IoT applications. BLE consumes lesser power than standard Bluetooth for communication. BLE-enabled devices are commonly used with electronic devices that can act as a hub for data transfer from IoT devices to the cloud. This makes BLE a perfect match for IoT wearables. BLE is widely integrated into health and fitness trackers, as well as some smart home devices like door locks. Data from BLE-enabled IoT wearables can be easily communicated to smartphones.
In the retail context, BLE can be used with beacon technology to provide customer service like in-store navigation. Beacons are essentially small transmitters that use BLE to transmit signals to nearby IoT devices. By transmitting signals to nearby IoT devices, beacons can make location-based searching and navigation much easier and accurate.
Cellular (3G, 4G, and 5G) :
Cellular networks, as the name suggests, are well-established in the mobile consumer market. 2G is an “old school” cellular network that, along with 3G, is being phased out in most parts of the world. But, the world is quickly embracing new high-speed cellular networks like 4G and 5G. Cellular networks provide high bandwidth and reliable broadband communication for voice calls or video streaming but with high operational costs and power consumption. Cellular networks cannot be used with most IoT devices due to their frequency, range, and security challenges. However, cellular networks can be viable options in some specific IoT devices like connected cars. Connected cars can use cellular networks for traffic routing with the help of GPS systems. GPS systems and cellular networks can help track road traffic in real-time as cellular networks can transfer high quantities of data over the network.
LPWANs :
LPWANs (Low Power Wide Area Networks) are new sets of protocols developed for IoT solutions but can also be used by other devices to communicate over a wide area. Even cellular networks can provide a wide-area communication network, but the cost of communication over cellular networks is high because of its high power consumption. LPWANs enable communications over wide area with the help of small and inexpensive batteries that can last for long-term making it a cost-saving option in comparison with cellular networks.
There are different types of licensed (NB-IoT, LTE-M) and unlicensed (MIOTY, LoRa) LPWANs that are built differently for different purposes. While power consumption is one of the big challenges for licensed LPWANs, Quality of Service (QoS) and scalability are some challenges faced by unlicensed LPWANs.
Generally speaking, LPWANs can connect almost all types of sensors and enable data sharing among themselves and with the cloud. With the help of LPWANs, IoT sensors can facilitate numerous applications. For instance, sensors can allow remote monitoring of everything. However, LPWANs can send only small blocks of data over the network in a single instance, and it cannot send a large amount of data at a time.
Mesh protocols :
A mesh usually refers to a rich interconnection network of devices that are made up of devices organized in a mesh topology. Mesh topology is a networking infrastructure in which all connected devices can cooperate to transfer and share data amongst each other.
ZigBee is one of the most popular mesh protocols used for IoT applications. It is a short-range, low-power protocol that is commonly deployed to extend communication over multiple IoT devices. When compared with LPWANs, ZigBee provides large data transfer at a single instance but with much less power-efficiency due to mesh infrastructure.
Due to its short physical range, ZigBee and other similar mesh protocols are best suited for medium-range IoT devices that are distributed within small areas. For instance, ZigBee protocols can be best suited for smart home sensor networks like smart lighting.
WiFi/WiFi HaLOW :
Everyone would know what WiFi is because of its pervasiveness in both industrial and home environments. However, WiFi is not used with most of the IoT devices. Except for a few applications like digital signages and security cameras, WiFi does not provide a feasible option for IoT connectivity. The use of the WiFi network is limited in IoT devices, mainly because of its low range, high power consumption, and low scalability. A lesser-known derivative of WiFi known as WiFi HaLow is introduced for IoT devices. WiFi HaLow offers increased range and improved power efficiency. However, the use of WiFi HaLow has received less support from industries as the network offers low security.
RFID :
RFID (Radio-frequency identification) uses radio waves to transfer small data packets over the network within small areas. It is easy to embed an RFID chip in IoT devices. RFID readers can then read the tags and give information about the product that is attached to tags. One of the common applications of RFID is inventory management. By attaching RFID tags to all products and connecting it to IoT devices, businesses can keep track of the number of products available in stock. Thus RFID can help in better stock planning leading to an optimized supply chain management. RFID tags can also help smart home IoT devices. For instance, a smart washing machine that can read RFID tags can be controlled.
The use of IoT devices is increasing globally. According to an estimate, there will be 41.6 billion IoT devices generating 79.4ZB (zettabytes) of data in 2025. Simultaneously the chances of cyber-attacks on data may also increase. With the increased use of IoT devices and vulnerability to cyber-attacks, it is time for businesses and other stakeholders to know and choose IoT protocols and standards that can potentially keep the possibilities of cyber breaches at bay. To choose the best IoT protocol for businesses means accurately weighing the criteria of range, power consumption, bandwidth, latency, QoS, and security.
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