Telia said it is cooperating with Ericsson, Nokia and Intel to develop the standard for the Narrow-Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT). It expects to take NB-IoT products to market in the course of 2017. IIts features are the low cost of mobile units, lower energy consumption, cheaper installation and better coverage, both indoors and outdoors.
The battery life for IoT units can be up to ten years and units can be reached by radio signals that are up to 100 times weaker. Over time the costs of IoT units can be reduced to up to one tenth of the current level. NB-IoT will enable many sensors to be connected in inaccessible places both in urban and rural sites. It said NB-IoT is an expanded variant of 4G and a step towards 5G.
Mats Lundback, CTO of Telia Sverige, said the company expects the Swedish IoT market to grow by about 17 percent over the next four years, so it is preparing the ground for future growth.
Charlotta Sund, northern and central European regional director at Ericsson, said applications would include connected suitcases, rubbish bins that can tell you when they need emptying, and hire bicycles that let you know where they are parked.
