Finnish operator Sonera has partnered with Nokia to conduct trial using NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) technology on its commercial 4G network.
During the trial, Nokia deployed NB-IoT technology to communicate information on temperature, humidity and air pressure over Sonera's 4G network in the Finnish capital, Helsinki. The companies also connected a roaming device over the NB-IoT network.
The network used Nokia base station technology operating in the 800 Mhz frequency band to maximize coverage and connect to devices in harder to reach locations. The trial saw speeds of up to 200 kbps, showing how the technology can meet the demands of a growing number of devices requiring short burst of network connectivity to transmit small amounts of data and enable the growth of the programmable world.
Nokia claims that this world's first demonstration shows how NB-IoT technology will allow companies to track their mobile assets - for example large maintenance firms such as electricians or plumbers with fleets of vehicles or healthcare providers tracking the status of patients outside of a hospital.
NB-IoT is a 3GPP Rel. 13 radio access technology designed especially for enabling cellular connectivity to Internet of Things devices. The enhanced coverage of NB-IoT compared to conventional LTE will allow for the tracking of objects deep within buildings and in rural areas.NB-IoT will co-exist with operators' existing networks to benefit from mobile security and privacy features.
CTO Jari Collin of Sonera
In Finland, we have a long tradition of developing and applying new technologies. The trial shows how the use of today's mobile technology will fuel the continued growth of the IoT ecosystem to transform every aspect of our customers' business and personal lives.
Adolfo Masini, Head of IoT connectivity at Nokia
Support for the programmable world, in which billions of people, devices and things are connected via high-capacity networks, is the cornerstone of Nokia's strategy. Our strengths in networks, cloud, applications, analytics and security, and our 5G leadership, make Nokia the most qualified to deliver the full potential of IoT.
