23 Mobile Operators Launch NB-IoT or LTE-M Networks

Posted February 23, 2018

In Business Model, Internet Access, Mobile, Spectrum

Some 23 mobile operators have commercially launched 41 mobile internet of things networks worldwide, including both NB-IoT and LTE-M platforms

NB-IoT networks are available from 3 Hong Kong (Hong Kong); China Mobile (China, Hong Kong); China Telecom (China); China Unicom (China); Chunghwa Telecom (Taiwan); Cosmote (Greece); Dialog (Sri Lanka); Etisalat (UAE); KT (South Korea); LGU+ (South Korea); M1 (Singapore); Mobitel (Sri Lanka); Orange (Belgium); Slovak Telecom (Slovakia); Telia (Finland, Norway); Telstra (Australia); TIM (Italy); T-Mobile (Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Poland); Turkcell (Turkey); Velcom (Belarus) and Vodafone (Australia, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Turkey).

LTE-M networks are available from AT&T (US, Mexico); Etisalat (UAE); KDDI (Japan); KPN (Netherlands); Orange (Belgium); Telstra (Australia); Turkcell (Turkey) and Verizon (US).

Those choices reflect thinking about demand for internet of things connections. Mobile operators choosing NB-IoT are betting that lower-bandwidth connections will dominate. Service providers picking LTE-M are betting that higher-bandwidth applications especially those supporting cameras, will be important.

Gary Kim

Gary Kim is a communications industry analyst of 30 years, ranked second globally among power influencers in mobile and among the top 10 telecom thought leaders. He currently works as a telecom/Internet conference content developer and speaker. He recently founded the Spectrum Futures conference for the Pacific Telecommunications Council, and acts as a conference advisor for PTC. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top 2 percent.