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Internet of Things:

connecting everything

Connectivity Whitepaper

Internet of Things: connecting everything

Technologies to connect your products to the internet

We live in a new age. A time when everything and everyone is connected and smart devices can communicate with us and each other. This is the age of the Internet of Things. Think of a refrigerator that knows when your milk has expired and automatically orders a new bottle, or a water faucet that automatically detects leaks, shuts off the water supply and then contacts the water company. The developments are moving fast. In 2016, 6.4 billion devices all over the world were connected to the internet. That was 30% more than in 2015. According to the research agency Gartner, this number will grow to more than 20 billion by the year 2020.

At the moment, many organisations are experimenting with connecting their products, for example because they want more insight into their usage or because they are looking to realise more efficient processes, save energy or maximise usability. What is the best way to go about this? Which technology should you choose? How can you use this technology to gather exactly the information you need? In this whitepaper, we will explain the technological background of connectivity and outline the specifications, possible applications and pros and cons of WLAN, Bluetooth Low Energy, LoRa, cellular M2M and other technologies. You can use this information to make your plastic product smarter and take full advantage of the Internet of Things.

Internet of Things: connecting everything 2


“Connectivity” means that objects are connected. Said object can be a smartphone or a satellite navigation system, but also a razor blade stand or even a cow in a field. In the context of the Internet of Things, “connectivity” means that objects connected to the internet communicate with each other.

How it works

Here is how this communication works. The object contains sensors that measure certain values, e.g. weight, speed, temperature or quantity. A processor then processes this data and sends it via the internet to another device, which then executes or controls certain actions based on the data it receives.

Example: elevator maintenance

Sensors in an elevator measure how long it takes for the doors to close. If this process is faster or slower than usual, the elevator might not be performing optimally. The elevator sends this information to a special system that determines the right course of action based on the data, e.g. “I will monitor the situation. If it gets worse, I will schedule maintenance for next week. For now, the elevator can continue to the third floor, because there is someone waiting up there.” This method of preventative maintenance reduces the occurrence of malfunctions.

The possibilities of the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things offers limitless possibilities. Think of, for example:

• Real-time inventory monitoring and automatic reorders;

• Real-time location tracking for vehicles or objects;

• Executing predefined tasks in a predetermined situation: e.g. automatically cutting off the water supply to a field after three days of rain;

• Machines that learn and adapt based on usage data;

• Monitoring consumers’ purchasing behaviour and gaining insight into where and how often certain consumers order products;

• Insight into a product’s costs, energy consumption or lifecycle;

• Updating software via the internet, so any faults can be resolved in the field.

What is connectivity?1



Seven technologies to connect your product to the internet

There are several technologies that you can use to connect your product to the internet, so it can communicate with other connected devices. In this chapter, you can read more about connecting devices via WLAN, Bluetooth Low Energy, cellular M2M and the four main types of LPWAN: LoRa, Sigfox, NB-IoT and LTE-M.

Frequency Range Pros Cons Examples*

WLAN Licence-free 2.4 GHz

and 5 GHz ISM

Max. 32 m Large quantities of

data in a short time

Very limited range Parking metres, street

lights, energy meters

Bluetooth Low Energy

Licence-free 2.4 GHz to

2.48 GHz ISM

Max. 100

m

Switching

bandwidths to

prevent interference

Limited range, small

quantities of data

Audio and mobile

applications, wearable

devices

Cellular M2M

Licensed radio

frequencies. Dependent

on location. The

Netherlands: 800

MHz – 2.6 GHz. United

States: 700 – 1900

MHz. Africa: 1.800 –

2.300 MHz. Asia 800

– 2600 MHz.

16 km

from the

transmitter

mast

Global coverage

with transmitter

masts

High energy

consumption

Order button on a razor

blade stand: order new

blades with a single

press of a button.

LPW

AN

LoRa Licensed LoRa network.

Europe: 868 MHz. US:

902 MHz. China: 779

MHz

Max. 16

km

Coverage in the

wilderness and

underground

No direct connection

between devices

A trap that signals when

an animal is caught in it.

A sensor that measures

the aridity of the soil, so

a farmer knows when to

use his sprinklers

Sigfox Licensed Sigfox

network.


902 MHz

Max. 40

km

Low energy

consumption

Small quantities of data A water or gas pipe that

can be opened or shut

remotely

NB-IoT Licensed radio

frequencies.


902 MHz. China: 779

MHz

Max. 40

km

Strong signal, low

energy consumption

and excellent

security

At the moment,

relatively expensive

compared to other

LPWAN technologies

A light that turns green

when a parking spot is

available and red when

it is occupied. An app in

your car tells you exactly

where the available

spaces are

LTE-M Licensed radio

frequencies.


902 MHz. China: 779

MHz

Max. 100

km

Larger bandwidth,

1 Mbps per second.

Twice the bandwidth

of LoRa

At the moment,

relatively expensive

compared to other

LPWAN technologies

and expected to be

more expensive then

NB-IoT in the future

Smart meters, mobile

payment terminals and

fleet management that

requires more data

traffic than NB-IoTw

* In certain cases/situations, the examples may also be applicable to other technologies.

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Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

WLAN, commonly called WiFi, is a wireless network that is mainly used for internet connections at home or in the workplace. The network runs on the globally licence-free 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands. The relatively high bandwidth allows users to send large quantities of data in a short time. Its range is circa 32 metres, which means WLAN is not suitable for long-range connectivity.

Bluetooth Low Energy

Like WLAN, Bluetooth is a short-range solution. Bluetooth operates on licence-free frequencies between 2.4 and 2.485 GHz and it can switch between different frequencies to limit interference from other devices. This technology is energy efficient, which also limits the available bandwidth. This means users can only transport small quantities of data. Bluetooth is perfectly suited to link small electronic devices, e.g. connecting a smartphone to a wireless speaker to play music.

Furthermore, Bluetooth can be used in combination with a mobile phone that serves as a gateway. If the right app is installed on the phone, devices can exchange data with the internet via the phone. This method – known as Bluetooth Low Energy – is characterised by its extremely low energy requirements and its relatively low implementation costs. Many common devices use this technology, from toothbrushes and washing machines to kitchen appliances and even toys.

Cellular M2M

Cellular M2M (machine-to-machine) uses radio waves in the same way that a phone uses a SIM card. The range depends on the presence of transmitter masts; from a mast, the range is 16 kilometres. Because of the large density of transmitter masts, this technology offers global coverage. You need a SIM card to connect an object to cellular M2M. Once connected, the object will retain its connection through roaming. Audio, text messages and data can be transmitted continuously, which means the energy requirements are relatively high. This makes cellular M2M mainly suitable for wearable and easily chargeable devices. The costs per minute or MB can be high, because you use a different network.

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2

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Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN)

Information is transmitted between battery-powered devices using the wireless LPWAN network. LPWAN is suitable for long-range connections and offers excellent coverage, even in hard-to-reach areas and underground. The downside is its slow data transfer rate. LPWAN utilises advanced energy-saving technology. The three main types of LPWAN are NB-IoT, LoRa and Sigfox. It is important to consider which network is available in which countries.

LPWAN devices of the future

10K The number

of devices controlled by

each cell

10 bytes The data sent

per hour

$10 The cost of the

device

10 kmThe minimal

range

10 yearsHow long the

battery will last

NarrowBand – Internet of Things (NB-IoT)

NB-IoT is comparable to LTE (commonly referred to as the 4G network). The technology utilises the advantages of the 4G network: infrastructure, range and security. This technology is characterised by its excellent coverage and wide range, even underground. NB-IoT can connect millions of devices to each other. A downside is the low bandwidth, which means it is not possible to transmit large quantities of data in a short time. On the other hand, the battery will last a long time; up to fifteen years with a usage of 200 bytes per day. The technology makes use of an existing network and licensed frequencies, such as 3G and 4G, which makes it impossible for others to interfere on the network. There is also no legal limit on data usage.

NB-IoT was designed to keep the costs per module as low as possible. These costs are expected to drop below $2 per module in the future. Because of its small memory (a cheap PSRAM variant) and its single antenna, NB-IoT is cheaper than cellular M2M. There is no need for full duplex features (transmitting and receiving data at the same time, e.g. as used by a phone to allow you to talk and listen simultaneously). Because this is not required for NB-IoT, the costs are lower than those of 4G.

LTE-M

LTE-M, also known as LTE Cat M1, is a variant of the existing 4G networks and it is comparable to NB-IoT. Compared to the other LTE networks, LTE-M is available for a wider bandwidth, although it offers reduced coverage. LTE-M is designed to frequently transmit data at a lower speed than what is common for 4G networks. The advantage of LTE-M is that it can provide real-time information. This technology is currently very popular in the United States.

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5



Long Range (LoRa)

LoRa connects battery-powered devices to each other via a regional, national or global network at a low cost. This does require a network point, like WLAN or cellular M2M. LoRa has a range of 16 kilometres, even in the wilderness and underground. The technology utilises the licence-free ISM network. A downside of LoRa is the possible interference from other users on the network. There is also a legal limit on the data usage: you may not transmit more than 12 bytes per hour.

Sigfox

Sigfox can be used to exchange small quantities of data without frequent communication. Sigfox offers a range of 40 kilometres and very low energy consumption. In the stand-by mode, two AA batteries will last for two years. Like LoRa, Sigfox utilises the licence-free ISM network. Others can also use this network for free. This negatively affects the performance of this technology, e.g. by slowing down the data transfer rate. Data usage is legally limited to 12 bytes per hour.

NB-IoT, LoRa, Sigfox or LTE-M?Out of these four WPLAN technologies, NB-IoT is currently in the lead. NB-IoT offers better coverage, no limitations to output, the highest download and upload rates (up to ten times higher than LoRa and Sigfox), the longest battery life, a relatively cheap module and exceptional security. NB-IoT also utilises the existing LTE network. Contrary to LoRa and Sigfox, NB-IoT does not require a new network infrastructure made up of gateways, masts and repeaters. LTE-M is

comparable to NB-IoT. It offers a larger bandwidth, so you can transmit more data, at the cost of slightly limited coverage.

Another advantage of NB-IoT and LTE-M is that there are several LTE network providers, including AT&T and Vodafone. Sigfox and LoRa only have one provider each. Sigfox is a company that developed its own form of LPWAN, while LoRa is supported by the members of the LoRa Alliance.

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Choosing the right technology for your application

All connectivity technologies have their respective pros and cons. If you want to know which technology is best suited for your application, you should first determine exactly what you want to know. If you have a courier service and want to track your drivers, a WPLAN connection is a good option. If you want to enable consumers to order new razor blades with a single press of a button once their current blade becomes dull, it is better to go for a continuous connection using cellular M2M.

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Design

The size of the required batteries may affect your product’s design. A device with a cellular connection and a ten-year lifecycle, for example, may need three AAA batteries. LPWAN requires a much smaller watch battery, which offers more design options.

What to look out for when choosing a technology?

1

Costs

Hardware, e.g. a SIM card, and software cost money. From the perspective of hardware costs, there are virtually no differences between the various technologies. If you go for cellular M2M with a SIM card, you will need a data provider, which comes with its own costs. LoRa, Bluetooth, Sigfox and WLAN utilise existing networks, so you do not have to pay data costs. Of course, the requisite infrastructure for these networks has to be available. If that is not the case, creating this infrastructure will lead to more costs. A provider may also charge you for e.g. the maintenance or expansion of the network. These costs are often billed per device per year.

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Security

Good data security is becoming increasingly important, especially when you want to transmit large quantities of (confidential) data. A cellular M2M connection offers many advantages in this regard. A SIM card is technically a microprocessor that mostly handles encryption and decryption. This encryption makes it impossible for unauthorised third parties to access the data. The user can turn a device off remotely and access or block the SIM card. If you want to transmit highly confidential data, it is advisable to use a private Access Point Name (APN). This means data is only transferred via a private network connection. LoRa also encrypts its data traffic, while Sigfox does not. Out of the LPWAN technologies, NB-IoT is the most secure because it utilises both network- and device-side authentication. Furthermore, NB-IoT encrypts the data traffic between devices on the network.

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Future-proof

Technological developments occur at a dazzling rate. Ask yourself whether the technology and application you choose today will still meet your requirements in ten years’ time. Perhaps you will want to collect more or other relevant data by then. Will the technology of your choice let you do that?

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Location

Finally, the location is an important consideration. Not every technology is available everywhere yet.

• WLAN is available in virtually every country in the world. According to the research agency Statista, the number of public hotspots will grow from 90 million in 2016 to more than 500 million by 2021.

• Devices with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) can be used anywhere in the world. BLE does not rely on any existing infrastructure, since the devices form their own network once they are connected.

• LoRa is available in parts of North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia, although the bandwidths differ per location. Europe uses 867-869 MHz and North America uses 902-928 MHz, while the frequency in Asia differs per country (ranging from 40 MHz to 925 MHz).

• Sigfox is available in most European countries, as well as in Australia, Japan, Tunisia, Oman, Madagascar, Laos, South Africa, Iran, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and the United States.

• NB-IoT and LTE-M utilise existing 3G and 4G networks, which offer virtually global coverage. LTE-M is very popular in the United States.

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Rompa and connectivity

The developments pertaining to connectivity are a core focus for our organisation as well. Whereas Rompa started out as a producer of plastic products with a specialisation in injection moulding and thermoforming, the company has expanded to become a full-service supplier of plastic products with electronic components that are connected to the internet. From products with On/Off and charging features to connected devices that can be monitored via an app;

we produce a wide range of devices for both consumers and industrial applications. Rompa produces all electronics that provide the connectivity in house. This is possible because of our own SMT line (surface-mount technology). Our software engineers ensure that the hardware is controlled by software. In our special ESD room, we can assemble electronic components and plastic products protected against static electricity.

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Need help with connectivity?

Rompa is a medium size flexible hands-on organisation. Our experts would love to sit down with you to discuss and resolve your connectivity issue. From the initial idea to the final delivery of your connected plastic product: we are your perfect partner in connectivity. No issue is too complex for us.

This is what we can do for you:• Partnership for the complete production process, including plastics;• Design and assembly of PCBAs (circuit boards) and plastics;• Purchase of all necessary components, for example sensors;• Assembly of electronic components and injection moulded plastic products into

finished products;• Testing (semi-) finished products;• Multiple thermoforming packaging solutions;• Worldwide delivery.

When you collaborate with us, you can take advantage of our complete dedication and the full-service partnership we offer. Our goal is to take matters entirely out of our customers’ hands. We possess all relevant certifications and have multiple production sites all over the world.

Feel free to contact us

If you would like to know more about the possibilities, contact our salesoffice in the Netherlands, via +31 13 594 20 20 or [email protected]


Your worldwide production partnerWith our production sites spread across three continents, we are in a great

position to provide local for local production. This advantage leads to increased efficiency, more flexibility and low transport costs. As a result of our global quality standards, our customers can benefit from the same excellent service levels and

quality no matter where they are.

www.rompagroup.comT: +31 13 594 20 46M: +31 6 1233 6203

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