NB-IoT vs. Sigfox
Comparing 2 standards across 14 specifications. 14 key differences identified.
Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT, standardized as 3GPP LTE Cat-NB1 in Rel-13 and Cat-NB2 in Rel-14) is a licensed cellular LPWAN standard. Utilizing a single 180 kHz PRB (Physical Resource Block), it delivers up to +20 dB coverage enhancement over standard LTE, enabling deep indoor penetration for underground water meters, smart grids, and smart cities.
Sigfox is a proprietary, global Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) protocol developed by Sigfox (now UnaBiz). Operating in unlicensed sub-GHz ISM bands (868 MHz EU / 902 MHz US), it utilizes Ultra-Narrowband (UNB) modulation with a microscopic 100 Hz channel bandwidth to transmit tiny 12-byte payloads over extreme distances with ultra-low power.
Specification Comparison Table
14 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
3GPP Specification
|
Release 13 (Cat-NB1) / Release 14 (Cat-NB2) | — |
|
Carrier Channel Bandwidth
|
180 kHz (equivalent to 1 standard LTE PRB) | — |
|
Deployment Modes
|
In-Band (within LTE carrier), Guard-Band (LTE edge), Standalone (re-farmed GSM 200 kHz) | — |
|
Peak Data Rates (Cat-NB2)
|
Up to 127 kbps Downlink / 159 kbps Uplink | — |
|
Link Budget / Coverage Gain
|
164 dB (+20 dB gain over standard cellular) | — |
|
Power Saving Features
|
PSM (Power Saving Mode) and eDRX (extended Discontinuous Reception) | — |
|
Connected Node Density
|
Up to 100,000 devices per cell | — |
|
Modulation Scheme
|
— | UNB (Ultra-Narrowband) DBPSK uplink / GFSK downlink |
|
Channel Bandwidth
|
— | 100 Hz (Europe) / 600 Hz (US) |
|
Frequency Bands
|
— | RC1 (868 MHz EU), RC2 (902 MHz US), RC3 (Japan), RC4 (Latin America/APAC) |
|
Uplink Payload Limit
|
— | 12 bytes per message |
|
Daily Message Cap
|
— | 140 messages/day per device (ETSI 1% duty cycle limit) |
|
Transmission Data Rate
|
— | 100 bps (EU) / 600 bps (US) |
|
Typical Range
|
— | 10 km (urban) / up to 40–50 km (rural line-of-sight) |