This new article from the newspaper (Philippine Daily Inquirer) about IoT (Internet of Things) deployment in the Philippines. Is a welcome treat for all subscribers and customers of Globe Telecom. This is the future of telecoms unfolding before our eyes. Let’s begin with the definition of IoT. The Internet of Things refers to objects connected to a wireless network and gives back data or information to the subscriber or customer. The information helps the subscriber or customer to understand the behavior, trends, people, machine, environment etc. This would be for the improvement of products, industries and communities. You may ask, what are Objects? Objects are sensors or gadgets which can gather relevant information.
Wireless Network or Connectivity is vital for the object to communicate, send information back and forth with the subscriber or customer’s back office. The processing and storage of the data is done by a Cloud and the final data sent to the IT section of the office or device. This device can be a smart phone, smart watch, tablet or PC. As a summary the main parts of the IoT network are:
a) Sensor
b) Connectivity — Wireless Network
c) People and Process
To explain the Wireless Network part, I have put up a table below. To illustrate the types of Wireless platforms which IoT can operate as per 3GPP:
Globe choose to use NB-LTE M (NB-IoT) to have better coverage using the 700Mhz band and low data rate of 100kbps (50 kbps Uplink and 50kbps downlink). NB-IoT is based on the LTE standard which both Operators in the Philippines are using and have on-going implementation. I would introduce you to two other technologies which is used and rolled-out to other countries. Sigfox is a company based in France, but has rolled-out globally including South East Asia. What is different with Sigfox is that it has own set of protocols. This allows it to send necessary data to the network and its back-end office. This takes less transmission of data, resources and low battery power for the sensors or objects. LoRA or LoRA WAN is a protocol which uses unlicensed radio spectrum. This enables low power and wide area communication between sensors. Including gateways connected to the network.
All of these technologies for IoT are LPWAN (Low power Wireless Area Network). Why Low Power? This is a requirement for IoT, to have low power and bit rate. In this manner the sensors can send relevant information and use less power and save maximum battery life. If you can see on the table above, the battery life is almost 10 (ten) years. The data rate are in bps or kbps, this means less transmission of data is needed. Coverage is around 11 to 15 kms, it is a good figure to accommodate more sensors for better data collection and response. IoT has a lot to offer to industries and segments which utilize relevant information to improve industrial process. Monitor health or temperature. Railway systems, vehicular traffic including smart watches are used. Imagine a billion objects using the IoT network around the globe.
Connected, yet uses optimum power and transmission resources. We can start with the community by improving the garbage collection facility and process. There would be new garbage bins which have sensors. These sensors would monitor the garbage weight, once the weight limit of the bin is met it sends a signal to the garbage collectors department. In this manner, the vehicles have efficient schedules of collection. This data can also generate a trend in a year to determine if the need to increase vehicles or manpower is needed and justified with relevant data. This can also lead to improvement of the garbage bins construction or design for efficiency. Truly IoT opens good projects to improve the way people, sensors and wireless network work hand-in hand for the improvement of the community.
We look forward once the implementation of this technology happens in full speed. Expect smart objects to be available in the market. Smart watches and related software and applications in android, IOS and Windows. We would like to thank the IoT evangelist of South East Asia in the person of Dr. Mazlan Abas. Who I am personally following in FB and in Linked In, his blogs and presentations. They are good for newbies like me in the field of IoT and its development. This in terms of technical and business opportunities. Hope that this blog helps explains IoT in a simple manner and draws more ideas on what areas can it help most in the Philippine setting.
Disclaimer: This Blog is the product of the authors 20 years’ experience in the Cellular Telecommunications in the Philippines. This does not have any relation or thoughts with my current, former and future employers. This includes my customers in all my years in Telecoms in the Philippines. All ideas are mine by way of experience. References are found in Wikipedia and corporate websites in the internet which are for public use and viewing. This includes presentations or Blog pages which are acknowledged by the author.
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