Communication Protocol

Over the past six parts of this series, we’ve explored the entire spectrum of IoT communication technologies  – from cellular and satellite IoT (NB-IoT, 5G, Starlink)  to short-range wireless (BLE, ZigBee, Wi-Fi) , LPWAN (LoRa, Sigfox, Mioty) , wired/optical systems (Ethernet, KNX, Fiber) , and industrial-grade mission-critical protocols (Wireless HART, ISA100, DECT-2020, TETRA) . Now, in this final part, we’ll look ahead to what’s next for IoT connectivity . Technology never

Most IoT deployments focus on convenience, efficiency, and cost savings. But in industrial and mission-critical environments  – oil rigs, chemical plants, power grids, defense, and emergency response – the stakes are much higher. Here, downtime can cost millions, and failures can risk human lives . These environments demand ultra-reliable communication, deterministic performance, strong security, and resilience to interference . This is where industrial and mission-critical I

When people think of IoT, they often imagine wireless sensors scattered everywhere . But in reality, some of the most reliable and mission-critical IoT deployments still rely on wires  – whether it’s twisted pair, Ethernet cables, optical fiber, or even the power lines themselves. Why? Because wires offer stability, bandwidth, security, and power delivery in one channel . For environments like factories, smart buildings, utilities, and heavy industry , wired and optical IoT t

When we think of IoT at city-scale, agriculture fields, utility grids, or industrial campuses , we need networks that can connect devices spread over kilometers  while still keeping power consumption ultra-low . This is where LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Networks)  and sub-GHz technologies  shine. They fill the gap between short-range protocols (BLE, ZigBee, Wi-Fi)  and cellular IoT (NB-IoT, LTE-M, 5G)  by offering: Long-range coverage  (1–15 km, sometimes more). Ultra-low powe

When most people imagine IoT, they think about smartwatches talking to smartphones, smart bulbs controlled by apps, or industrial sensors inside factories . These are not powered by satellites or LPWAN — they are powered by short-range wireless technologies . Short-range protocols dominate in homes, hospitals, offices, factories, and retail environments , where devices are typically within a few centimeters to a few hundred meters of each other . In this article, we’ll dive i

In the previous article, we explored the big picture of IoT communication technologies . We saw that IoT is inherently multi-protocol , with each technology optimized for a unique balance of range, power, bandwidth, and cost . In this part, we zoom in on one of the most critical pillars of IoT : cellular and satellite networks . These technologies deliver nationwide and global connectivity , allowing IoT devices to connect across cities, countries, and oceans  — something sho

IoT (Internet of Things) is not just about smart sensors and connected devices. At its core, IoT is about communication  — how billions of devices exchange data reliably, securely, and efficiently. Without the right communication technology, IoT is just “things” without the “internet.” But here’s the challenge: there is no single best protocol for IoT.  Instead, we have a broad landscape of technologies — each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and use cases. From short-rang