LTE-M and NB-IoT Technologies Transforming Asset Tracking in International Supply Chains, Bringing about a Revolution
In the rapidly evolving world of technology, two cellular technologies are making significant strides in the realm of asset tracking: LTE-M (Long Term Evolution for Machines) and NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things). Organisations must carefully evaluate their device requirements, data latency tolerance, and regional coverage before choosing between these two for their asset tracking needs.
Devices using LTE-M or NB-IoT can last up to 10 years on a battery, waking only to transmit data at defined intervals. This feature makes them ideal for long-term deployments where power replacement is difficult. However, the key differences between these two technologies across applications, bandwidth, power usage, and suitability for asset tracking are noteworthy.
LTE-M is better suited for devices that are mobile or require continuous connectivity. It supports connected mode mobility effectively, making it ideal for tracking moving assets such as vehicles, mobile assets, and fleet management. On the other hand, NB-IoT is ideal for stationary or infrequently moving devices with very low throughput needs and long battery life requirements, such as smart meters or static sensors in urban environments.
LTE-M offers higher bandwidth and throughput with lower latency, supporting more frequent data updates and firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) updates more efficiently. This feature makes it suitable for assets in motion like trucks, railcars, and shipping containers that require real-time tracking. In contrast, NB-IoT operates with narrower bandwidth and lower maximum data rates, which limits throughput and increases update time, especially for data-heavy flows like firmware updates.
In terms of power efficiency, NB-IoT can realistically achieve up to 10 years of battery life due to its low data rates and energy-efficient design. LTE-M has a higher current draw due to greater throughput and mobility support, resulting in shorter battery life relative to NB-IoT, but still optimised for low-power operations compared to traditional cellular.
The choice between LTE-M and NB-IoT largely depends on whether the tracked asset is mobile and how frequently data must be transmitted. For example, in the United States, Roambee uses LTE-M to track pharmaceutical shipments, capturing temperature, humidity, and light exposure data. In Germany, Deutsche Telekom uses NB-IoT to track reusable transport packaging.
Both LTE-M and NB-IoT allow devices to transmit consistent, time-stamped data that can be ingested directly into ERP, WMS, or TMS platforms. This data enables operational changes such as calculating shipment ETAs using real-time location data, triggering alerts for route deviations, temperature excursions, or tampering events, and tracking idle asset time, loss rates, and turn rates quantitatively.
LTE-M supports broader international roaming than NB-IoT, making it more accessible for multinational operations. Both technologies are becoming more standardized globally, with LTE-M modules built into trackers used across North American freight networks by companies like Sierra Wireless (now Semtech).
The shift to LTE-M and NB-IoT is redefining supply chains by enabling quiet, scalable change, reducing uncertainty, providing verified data instead of estimates, and allowing decisions to be made with more context and fewer assumptions. This technological advancement is making it feasible to track every pallet, every package, and every trailer, not just those deemed high-value, which is how resilient, modern supply chains operate today.
However, device provisioning and firmware updates for LTE-M and NB-IoT devices must be managed remotely, especially for assets deployed in hard-to-reach areas. Roaming for NB-IoT is still fragmented, limiting its use in cross-border applications, and latency for NB-IoT can be high, making it unsuitable for urgent alerts or rapid two-way communication.
In conclusion, LTE-M is the better choice when you need higher data rates and mobility for assets that move frequently, while NB-IoT excels for low-power, long-life, static asset tracking where data updates are occasional and minimal. The decision largely depends on whether the tracked asset is mobile and how frequently data must be transmitted.
- The integration of LTE-M technology in trackers used by companies like Sierra Wireless (now Semtech) indicates its growing utility in global supply chains, aiding in the tracking of every pallet, package, and trailer for resilient, modern supply chain operations.
- In the home-and-garden sector, NB-IoT technology has been employed for tracking reusable transport packaging in Germany, offering long battery life and low-power operations, making it suitable for stationary or infrequently moving devices.
- Incorporating data-and-cloud-computing platforms into supply chains strategically, companies can leverage real-time location data from LTE-M or NB-IoT devices to optimize supply chain processes, reduce uncertainty, and foster sustainable-living practices by minimizing waste and loss of assets.
