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Overview
NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) is a low-power wide-area cellular technology designed specifically for large-scale IoT deployments requiring extended coverage, low power consumption and simplified device operation. NB-IoT is optimised for stationary and low-data-rate applications operating across LTE infrastructure. This guide explains the terminology commonly encountered during NB-IoT surveys.
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| SNYPER-IoT Graphyte (GL) | LTE-M, NB-IoT and 2G/GSM Signal Analyser & Datalogger . |
| SNYPER-5G Graphyte | 5G NR, 4G LTE, LTE-M, NB-IoT and 2G/GSM Signal Analyser & Datalogger . |
| SENTRY Network Analysers | Embedded cellular monitoring and survey products. |
| CloudSURVEY | Cellular survey visualisation and analysis platform. |
This guide explains:
Expected Result
At the end of this guide the user will understand the identifiers, measurements and radio performance indicators reported during NB-IoT surveys.
NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) is a low-power wide-area cellular technology standardised by 3GPP to support large-scale IoT deployments.
NB-IoT was designed for applications requiring:
Unlike LTE broadband services, NB-IoT is optimised for small data transfers and battery-powered operation.
NB-IoT provides:
NB-IoT can be deployed using several LTE spectrum approaches.
| Deployment Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| In-band | NB-IoT operates within an existing LTE carrier. |
| Guard Band | NB-IoT operates within unused LTE guard spectrum. |
| Standalone | NB-IoT operates within re-farmed GSM spectrum. |
Deployment mode can influence:
The Mobile Country Code identifies the country associated with the network operator.
| MCC | Country |
|---|---|
| 234 | United Kingdom |
| 262 | Germany |
| 208 | France |
| 310 | United States |
The MCC identifies the country operating the NB-IoT network.
The Mobile Network Code identifies the operator within a country.
| MCC | MNC | Operator |
|---|---|---|
| 234 | 15 | Vodafone UK |
| 234 | 30 | EE |
| 234 | 10 | O2 |
The MNC identifies the specific operator providing NB-IoT service.
The Tracking Area Code identifies a geographical service region within the LTE network.
TAC values are used for:
The Cell ID uniquely identifies an NB-IoT serving cell.
| Parameter | Example |
|---|---|
| Cell ID | 12345678 |
| TAC | 32101 |
| Operator | Vodafone |
Cell IDs support:
Physical Cell Identity identifies an LTE radio cell within a local radio environment.
| PCI Range | Description |
|---|---|
| 0–503 | Valid LTE PCI range |
PCI allows devices to distinguish neighbouring cells operating on the same frequency.
EARFCN identifies the LTE carrier frequency used by the serving NB-IoT cell.
| EARFCN | Band |
|---|---|
| 6300 | Band 20 (800 MHz) |
| 1300 | Band 3 (1800 MHz) |
EARFCN identifies:
NB-IoT may operate on standard LTE frequency bands depending upon operator deployment.
| LTE Band | Frequency | Typical Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Band 20 | 800 MHz | Excellent coverage and building penetration |
| Band 8 | 900 MHz | Extended coverage capability |
| Band 3 | 1800 MHz | Balanced coverage and capacity |
| Band 1 | 2100 MHz | Higher capacity deployment |
RSRP measures the received LTE reference signal power.
RSRP is the primary NB-IoT signal strength measurement and is commonly used when evaluating coverage performance.
| NB-IoT RSRP Signal Strength Scale (dBm) | ||||
| Poor | Weak | Fair | Good | Excellent |
| < -125 | -125 to -115 | -115 to -105 | -105 to -95 | > -95 |
RSRQ measures LTE signal quality by comparing signal power against total received energy.
RSRQ provides an indication of interference, loading and overall radio quality.
| NB-IoT RSRQ Signal Quality Scale (dB) | ||||
| Poor | Weak | Fair | Good | Excellent |
| < -18 | -18 to -15 | -15 to -12 | -12 to -9 | > -9 |
SINR measures radio quality by comparing useful signal power against interference and background noise.
SINR is one of the strongest indicators of expected NB-IoT radio performance.
| NB-IoT SINR Quality Scale (dB) | ||||
| Poor | Weak | Fair | Good | Excellent |
| < 0 | 0 to 5 | 5 to 10 | 10 to 20 | > 20 |
Coverage Enhancement Levels indicate the degree of signal repetition and coverage optimisation required for reliable NB-IoT communication.
| ECL | Description |
|---|---|
| ECL0 | Good coverage conditions. |
| ECL1 | Moderate coverage enhancement required. |
| ECL2 | Maximum coverage enhancement required. |
Higher ECL levels indicate increasingly challenging radio conditions requiring additional network support.
Characteristics typically include:
Characteristics typically include:
Characteristics typically include:
NB-IoT incorporates additional radio mechanisms to improve operation in difficult environments.
Benefits include:
Coverage enhancement is one of the key differentiators between NB-IoT and conventional LTE services.
| Observation | Possible Cause | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Low RSRP | Weak coverage | Improve antenna placement. |
| Poor RSRQ | Network loading or interference | Review installation environment. |
| Low SINR | Radio interference | Reduce local interference sources. |
| ECL2 Operation | Challenging radio conditions | Improve antenna position or use a higher gain antenna. |
| Missing NB-IoT Service | Operator deployment limitation | Verify local NB-IoT availability. |
| Parameter | Purpose |
|---|---|
| MCC | Country identification. |
| MNC | Operator identification. |
| TAC | Tracking area identification. |
| Cell ID | Cell identification. |
| PCI | Radio cell identification. |
| EARFCN | Frequency identification. |
| RSRP | Signal strength indication. |
| RSRQ | Signal quality indication. |
| SINR | Radio performance indication. |
| ECL | Coverage enhancement indication. |
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