NB-IoT is point-to-point communication technology, developed as a cornerstone in telco 5G strategies, employing the existing infrastructure of telco-owned antenna sites for mobile communication (LTE). Optimised for excellent coverage and very small data amounts, NB-IoT is a good choice for remote reading of smart meters that are located underground and in other hard-to-reach places where other types of communication technology may fall short. NB-IoT can be used for two-way communication, which is necessary for some smart metering use cases such as firmware updates.
Although still a newcomer in smart metering, the technology is now past its infancy and fully rolled out in several countries. Telecommunication providers worldwide are currently expanding coverage and the number of vendors supporting the technology is also increasing by the minute.