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| 20 5G wireless and fiber optics are comparable technologies. However, as connectivity solutions, these technologies are less competing and more complementary. In fact, the quality and reliability of 5G networks would depend on fiber-based wireline networks for backhaul transport of traffic between the small cells. In smart homes and offices, 5G small cell access points can enhance indoor-coverage fiber and coaxial cable-based broadband Internet solutions. The speed and flexibility of 5G wireless may replace legacy wireline networks in industrial and city infrastructures. In data center infrastructures and cloud computing servers, however, where the robustness and maturity of wireline technologies are critical, fiber-optic and fixed Ethernet technologies will continue to dominate. LPWANs The desired capabilities of LPWAN technologies for IoT applications are: • Device chipsets with low- processing and transmission power as well as a battery life exceeding 10 years to support long-term usage. • Extended coverage (more than 10km suburban; more than 5km urban) with good penetration in buildings and basements. • Device abilities to send small bursts of data intermittently, so the supported data rates are low (0.3 bits per second [bps] to 50 kilobits per second [Kbps]— typically, approximately 10 kilobytes per day [KBpd]). • Secure data transmissions with low total costs of ownership. LPWAN technologies are already prevalent in IoT edge deployments, where many low-cost IoT devices (such as sensors and meters) are spread over extended areas in operational environments. LPWAN adoption is expected to grow across global IoT markets over the coming years, even when 5G wireless is ready for commercial use. LPWAN technologies cater to use cases where 5G's high data rates and low latencies are less compelling. These generic requirements have been implemented in several LPWAN technologies. Here's a quick roundup of common LPWAN technologies in the context of 5G connectivity: Narrowband-IoT Narrowband (NB)-IoT transmissions are designed using a more limited bandwidth, and hence are more energy efficient. NB-IoT user devices are designed for ultra-low complexity and cost less. NB-IoT has a significant spectrum efficiency. It can connect up to 50,000 devices per cell. NB-IoT can penetrate buildings and underground areas (offering 20dB or more coverage indoors) and are suitable for smart city applications with static assets. Sigfox ® Sigfox is a proprietary technology that has already penetrated European markets and is supported by many electronics vendors. Sigfox uses a slow modulation rate for extended coverage. It is suitable for applications such as smart parking sensors, smart garbage cans, and utility meters, where the low-cost devices need to upload small, infrequent bursts of data to IoT gateways. LTE for Machines LTE for Machines (LTE-M) is a relatively recent innovation, and its power efficiency is still under evaluation. It can piggyback over existing 4G-LTE connectivity (and can evolve to be 5G compatible) to support roaming for mobile IoT assets like vehicles and drones. LTE-M electronics are among the most expensive options because they can offer data rates higher than other LPWAN options. Data-rich applications in the IoT edge can benefit from LTE-M. LoRa LoRa is a long-range, low power, low- data-rate connectivity standard from the Lora Alliance™. LoRa is designed to enable large network operators to offer subscription-based LPWAN services. LoRa uses the unlicensed spectrum (sub-GHz radio frequency; e.g., 915MHz in North America) but relies on an additional layer of security because LoRa devices do not use subscriber identification modules (SIMs) or machine identification modules (MIMs) for device authentications or encryptions. 5G networks and LPWAN can be expected to complement each other in various end-to-end IoT deployments. For example, in the case of a remote surgery, the time- sensitive nature of communication requires real-time data transmissions. Scenarios like this are where low- latency 5G cellular networks fit. However, a remote surgery also involves sensor networks at the edge such as on the hospital premises to collect and process critical information locally. For these sensor "Excitement about the 5G rollout does not necessarily translate to deprecating (or sunsetting) existing technologies." [ C O N T ' D O N N E X T P A G E ]

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