Home A fine Euro hello to Vodafone’s NarrowBand IoT next year

A fine Euro hello to Vodafone’s NarrowBand IoT next year

Vodafone announced on Wednesday rollout plans for its NarrowBand Internet of Things (NB IoT) network, which will start in four European countries next year.

The dedicated IoT network will go live in Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain in the first quarter of 2017.

See Also: Australia to spend millions making its cities smarter

Vodafone wants the NB IoT network live in all countries (where it offers wireless service) by 2020.

NarrowBand is a low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) technology that uses licensed spectrum to provide communications over long distance.

This type of networking is useful for enterprise IoT projects, like agriculture and factories, where normal wireless service is either unavailable or expensive.

Vodafone has been one of the largest backers on NarrowBand, an evolution of Huawei’s NB-CIoT effort. 3GPP, the largest telecommunication association, standardized the technology in June.

NarrowBand vs. LoRa

NarrowBand is currently competing with LoRa, another IoT network built by Semtech. A few developments in Asia have cropped up in the past using that standard, creating fragmentation in the IoT networking industry.

“The questions of battery life and deep in-building penetration have now been answered by NB-IoT,” said Vodafone’s IoT director Ivo Rook, in a statement.

“The low cost of the modules means we can expect a new wave of connected devices and soaring market demand,” he said. “Vodafone’s world-leading expertise and experience in IoT will prove invaluable in shaping this exciting market.”

The IoT market is expected to balloon in the next few years, as more enterprise and home devices launch. Vodafone is paving the way for this surge, adding dedicated networks to even more markets.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.