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Cellular IoT Applications in Smart Cities

Key Takeaways

  • In cellular IoT, devices are connected using mobile network infrastructure rather than Wi-fi.

  • Cellular IoT technology enables the use of existing mobile communication networks. Using available networks improves the performance and economy of IoT applications.

  • 5G cellular IoT technology is frequently utilized for implementing services such as law enforcement cameras, speed-limit boards on highways, and emergency services at accident sites.

Cellular IoT applications in smart cities

The rapid growth of our population demands the optimization of our infrastructure. The Internet of Things (IoT) is used for building smart cities, smart buildings, and smart campuses. 5G cellular IoT applications are widespread in cities to make our lives easier. Cellular IoT applications can help improve and manage key aspects of various services offered, thereby upgrading the urban quality of life.

Let’s take a look at some cellular IoT applications.

Smart Cities and Cellular IoT Technology

The financial resources available for infrastructural developments are limited, and there is a need to frame technological solutions to optimize underdeveloped infrastructure resources. The growth of information and communication technology has aided the transformation of infrastructure and other resources into smart entities. Advancements in roads, bridges, and power distribution systems have led to more efficiency in cities, and cellular IoT supports these advancements.

What Is Cellular IoT Technology?

IoT has helped humans optimize workflows and processes in many industries. IoT is the key technology that has led to industry 4.0. The metrics of automation, data collection, and analytics have grown to the next level with IoT, and this has brought an increase in profit, productivity, and performance to the industry. 

The Turning Point of IoT From 3GPP

As connectivity is the key to IoT ecosystems, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) facilitates connectivity over GSM, LTE, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), and 5G technology. These technologies are primarily used for mobile data and voice services and have established trustworthy solutions to emerging low-power IoT applications. 

Cellular IoT Technology

Cellular IoT is an advancement that has enhanced the traffic volume by connecting a variety of things. Cellular IoT strengthens the connectivity of devices at a rapid pace using mobile network infrastructure rather than Wi-fi.

Advantages 

Cellular IoT technology enables the use of existing mobile communication networks. Using these available networks improves the performance and economy of IoT applications.

Other advantages include the following:

  1. Low or no power consumption - Cellular IoT applications do not consume too much power.

  2. Security - Cellular IoT technology offers secure data transfer. 

  3. Global connectivity - Mobile communication offers global connectivity and is a merit of cellular IoT applications. 

  4. Coverage - Cellular IoT application coverage is wide; it can reach up to 99 percent of devices that are located indoors.  

  5. Easy installation - Cellular IoT device deployment and installation are easy and utilize readily available components such as smartphones and cloud services.

Let’s look at some cellular IoT applications in the upcoming section.

Applications

Intelligent applications such as smart cities, intelligent transport systems, logistics, and power distribution management fall under the cellular IoT technology umbrella.

Smart Cities

The key aspects required for a city’s operation can be managed using cellular IoT technology. The cellular IoT system improves the quality of urban life by improving the resource management of various assets (such as public transport and utility services) associated with city life. Cellular IoT applications in smart cities can be indoors or outdoors, with either stationary, mobile sensors, or end-notes.

Intelligent Transport Systems

The intelligent transport system provides innovative services for transportation and traffic management. 5G cellular IoT technology is frequently utilized for implementing services such as law enforcement cameras, speed-limit signs on highways, and emergency services at an accident site.

Smart Power Distribution

With cellular IoT technology, it is possible to bring revolutionary changes in the power transmission and distribution sectors. With cellular IoT applications, energy can be managed efficiently. The resilience of the power grid, utility operations, and resource management of consumers can be optimized with cellular IoT technology, leading to the right energy usage with less energy wastage.

Cellular IoT applications are not limited to health, logistics, physical security, manufacturing, and agriculture; 5G cellular IoT systems are promising advancements in the development of a smarter future.

Cadence offers tools to design cellular IoT systems, ensuring a reduced time to market and faster hardware and software integration. Leading electronics providers rely on Cadence products to optimize power, space, and energy needs for a wide variety of market applications. If you’re looking to learn more about our innovative solutions, talk to our team of experts or subscribe to our YouTube channel.