The rapid development of Internet-of-Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications requires plenty of the frequency spectra.
This report addresses features and properties of Sub-1GHz communication, and its applications for IoT/M2M. The report is updated and revised issue of a Practel's report on this subject issued previously.
The Sub-1GHz unlicensed industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands of 315, 433, 800 and 902 to 928 MHz represent a great solution for some uses. Based on pure physics, these lower frequencies naturally deliver more distance than higher frequencies for a given power level, receiver sensitivity, and antenna gain.
The following Sub-1GHz technologies, related markets, standards and applications have been addressed to show their value in the IoT/M2M development:
Short range communications
- ZigBee/802.15.4
- Z-Wave
- EnOcean.
Long range communications
- IEEE 802.15.4g
- IEEE 802.11af
- IEEE 802.11ah
- IEEE 802.22
- Weightless
- UNB (Ultra-narrow Band)
- Other.
The major attractions of these Sub-1GHz technologies for IoT/M2M communications include:
- Extended range - they allow 5-10 times longer reaches over 2.4 GHz band transmissions. This is the result of smaller losses when signal is traveling through various obstacles; besides, Sub-1GHz ISM bands are less crowded
- Support of multiple applications.
The industry and consumers show great interest in the utilization of Sub-1GHz ISM bands for IoT/M2M communications; there are great opportunities that have not been realized until recently.
The report also surveys related to this report industries and patents.
The report is written for a wide audience of technical and managerial staff involved in the development of the IoT/M2M market.
Table of Contents
1.0. Introduction
- 1.1. General
- 1.2. Specifics
- 1.3. Scope
- 1.4. Research Methodology
- 1.5. Target Audience
2.0. Efforts: Development of M2M Communications and IoT
- 2.1. M2M Communications Development
- 2.1.1. Special Needs
- 2.1.1.1. Spectrum
- 2.1.1.2. Summary
- 2.1.2. Standardization - Industry Activities
- 2.1.2.1. IEEE
- 2.1.2.2. ETSI
- 2.1.2.3. ITU
- 2.1.2.4. oneM2M Alliance
- 2.1.2.4.1. Service Layer Architecture
- 2.1.2.4.2. Benefits
- 2.1.2.5. M2M Alliance
- 2.1.2.6. Open Mobile Alliance (OMA)
- 2.1.2.7. Summary
- 2.1.3. Market
- 2.1.3.1. Statistics
- 2.1.3.2. Estimate
- 2.1.4. Industry: Innovations
- Arqiva/Sensus
- Iota Networks
- Kore Telematics
- SigFox/Telit
- Telensa/Plextek
- 2.2. IoT
- 2.2.1. M2M and IoT
- 2.2.1.1. M2M
- 2.2.1.2. IoT
- 2.2.1.3. IoT - M2M
- 2.2.2. Open Interconnect Consortium
- 2.2.3. Industrial Internet Consortium
- 2.2.4. IoT Platforms
- 2.2.5. IoT and ITU
- 2.2.6. IoT International Forum
- 2.2.7. IEEE 2413 and IoT
- 2.2.7.1. 2413.1
- 2.2.7.2. P2413.2
- 2.2.8. ISO/IEC
- 2.2.8.1. Layered Structure
- 2.2.9. IoT - Market
- 2.2.10. Applications
3.0. Specifics of Sub-1GHz Transmission
- 3.1. ITU Designation
- 3.2. Sub-1GHz Transmission Benefits and Limitations
- 3.3. Generations
4.0. Sub-1GHz Transmission: Support for Long-reach IoT/M2M Communications
- 4.1. IEEE-802.15.4g-Smart Utility Network
- 4.1.1. General
- 4.1.2. Need
- 4.1.3. Value
- 4.1.4. Overview-PHY
- 4.1.5. Regions
- 4.1.5.1. Frequencies Allocations
- 4.1.6. Details
- 4.1.6.1. Requirements: Major Characteristics
- 4.1.6.2. Considerations
- 4.1.6.3. Network Specifics
- 4.1.6.4. PHY/MAC Modifications
- 4.1.7. Market
- 4.1.8. Summary
- 4.1.9. Wi-SUN
- 4.1.10. Manufacturers - Examples
- Analog Devices
- Elster (a part of Honeywell)
- Microchip
- TI
- 4.2. IEEE 802.22-19
- 4.2.1. General
- 4.2.2. Status - IEEE 802.22-19
- 4.2.3. Developments
- 4.2.4. IEEE 802.22-2019 Overview
- 4.2.4.1. Major Characteristics
- 4.2.5. IEEE 802.22 Details
- 4.2.5.1. Physical Layer - Major Characteristics
- 4.2.5.2. MAC Layer
- 4.2.6. Cognitive Functions
- 4.2.7. IEEE 802.22 - Marketing Considerations for SG
- 4.2.8. Major Applications
- 4.2.9. Usage Models
- 4.2.10. Benefits
- 4.2.11. Summary
- 4.2.12. Group
- 4.2.12.1. IEEE 802.22.1
- 4.2.12.2. IEEE 802.22.2
- 4.2.12.3. IEEE 802.22a-2014
- 4.2.12.4. IEEE 802.22b-2015
- 4.2.12.5. IEEE P802.22.3-Standard for Spectrum Characterization and Occupancy Sensing
- 4.2.12.6. 8802-22:2015/Amd 1-2017
- 4.3. IEEE 802.11ah (Wi-Fi HaLow)
- 4.3.1. General
- 4.3.2. Goal and Schedule
- 4.3.3. Attributes
- 4.3.4. Use Cases
- 4.3.5. PHY
- 4.3.5.1. Bandwidth
- 4.3.5.2. Channelization
- 4.3.5.3. Transmission Modes and MIMO
- 4.3.6. MAC Layer
- 4.3.7. Summary
- 4.3.8. Vendors
- Methods2Business
- Morse Micro
- Newracom-Aviacomm
- Palma Ceia SemiDesign
- Silex
- 4.4. IEEE 802.11af - White-Fi
- 4.4.1. General: Expectations - White-Fi
- 4.4.2. Differences
- 4.4.3. Benefits
- 4.4.4. Specifics
- 4.4.4.1. Interference
- 4.4.4.2. Main Principles
- 4.4.5. PHY
- 4.4.6. Architecture
- 4.4.7. Market
- 4.4.8. Vendors
- Aviacomm
- Carlson Wireless
- 4.5. Ultra Narrow Band (UNB)
- 4.5.1. Origin
- 4.5.2. Support
- 4.5.3. Major Features
- 4.5.4. SigFox
- 4.5.4.1. Company
- 4.5.4.2. Technology-Details
- 4.5.4.3. Uplink
- 4.5.4.4. Downlink
- 4.5.4.5. SmartLNB
- 4.5.4.6. Coverage
- 4.5.4.7. Use Cases
- 4.5.4.8. Industry
- Adeunis RF
- Innocomm
- Microchip
- On Semiconductor
- Telit
- TI
- 4.6. Weightless Communications
- 4.6.1. SIG
- 4.6.2. Weightless-N
- 4.6.2.1. General
- 4.6.2.2. Open Standard
- 4.6.2.3. Nwave
- 4.6.2.4. Summary
- 4.6.3. Weightless-P
- 4.6.3.1. General
- 4.6.3.2. Details
- 4.6.3.3. Vendors
- 4.6.4. Weightless Technologies and Competition
5.0. Sub-1GHz Transmission: Support of Short-reach IoT/M2M Communications
- 5.1. ZigBee - IEEE 802.15.4
- 5.1.1. General
- 5.1.2. Sub-1GHz ZigBee: Specifics
- 5.1.3. ZigBee Acceptance
- 5.1.4. Major Features: ZigBee/802.15.4
- 5.1.5. Device Types
- 5.1.6. Protocol Stack
- 5.1.6.1. Physical and MAC Layers - IEEE802.15.4
- 5.1.6.2. Upper Layers
- 5.1.7. Security
- 5.1.8. Power Consumption
- 5.1.9. ZigBee Technology Benefits and Limitations
- 5.1.10. Standardization Process
- 5.1.10.1. Ratifications
- 5.1.10.2. Alliance
- 5.1.10.2.1. ZigBee Pro 2017
- 5.1.11. Applications Specifics - Application Profiles
- 5.1.11.1. "Green" ZigBee
- 5.1.11.2. ZigBee Telecom Services
- 5.1.11.3. Building Automation
- 5.1.11.4. Smart Energy Profile
- 5.1.11.4.1. Features
- 5.1.11.4.2. Smart Energy Profile V.2.0
- 5.1.11.4.3. ZigBee IP
- 5.1.11.5. ZigBee Network Devices-IP Gateway
- 5.1.12. Market
- 5.1.12.1. Expectations-Technology Stack
- 5.1.12.2. Segments
- 5.1.12.3. Forecast
- 5.1.13. Sub-1GHz ZigBee: Certification
- 5.1.14. Industry
- Adaptive Networks Solutions (RF Sub-1GHz)
- Microchip Technologies (Modules, Sub-1GHz)
- NXP
- Renesas (Platforms, AMR, Sub-1GHz)
- Silicon Laboratories (Chipsets, Modules, Sub-1GHz)
- TI (Chipsets, Sub-1GHz)
- 5.2. EnOcean: General
- 5.2.1. The Company
- 5.2.2. EnOcean Alliance
- 5.2.3. Standard
- 5.2.3.1. Features
- 5.2.3.2. Drivers
- 5.2.4. Technology Details
- 5.2.4.1. Framework
- 5.2.4.2. Generations
- 5.2.5. Profiles
- 5.2.6. Benefits
- 5.2.7. Market Estimate
- 5.2.8. Industry
- BSC Magnum
- Beckhoff
- Echoflex
- Illumra
- Leviton
- Thermokon
- 5.3. Z-Wave
- 5.3.1. General
- 5.3.2. Z-Wave Alliance
- 5.3.3. Benefits
- 5.3.4. Details
- 5.3.4.1. General
- 5.3.4.2. Characteristics
- 5.3.4.3. ITU G.9959
- 5.3.5. Advanced Energy Control Framework
- 5.3.6. Z-Wave and Smart Metering
- 5.3.7. Selected Vendors
- Aeon Labs-Aeotec
- NorthQ
- Vera Control
- 5.3.8. Market Estimate
- 5.3.8.1. Model
- 5.3.8.2. Results
6.0. Conclusions
Appendix I: IEEE 802.15.4g Characteristics
Appendix II: 802.11ah - related Patents Survey (2018-2022)
Appendix III: Z-Wave - related Patents Survey (2018-2022)
Appendix IV: 802.22 - related Patents Survey (2018-2022)
Appendix V: EnOcean - related Patents Survey (2018-2022)
Appendix VI: 802.11af - related Patents Survey (2018-2022)