What replaces 2G and 3G for IoT?
There is no single replacement technology for every IoT use case. The right option depends on the device, its data requirements, mobility, power consumption and geographical coverage.
- LTE Cat-1 or Cat-1 bis can suit devices requiring mobility, moderate data speeds and broad 4G availability.
- LTE-M™ can suit low-power devices requiring mobility, such as trackers, wearables and vehicle-related applications.
- NB-IoT™ can suit fixed, low-data and power-efficient devices such as meters, alarms and environmental sensors.
- LTE Cat-4 and 5G may be appropriate for devices requiring higher throughput or more advanced functionality.
Comparison of IoT network technologies
| Technology | Mobility | Power | Data speed | Coverage | Roaming | Best for |
| LTE-M™ | Mobile | Low | ~1 Mbps | Wide + indoor | Growing | Trackers, wearables, alarms, vehicle applications |
| NB-IoT™ | Static / limited | Very low | ~26–127 kbps | Deep indoor | Limited | Meters, environmental sensors, fixed low-data devices |
| LTE | Mobile | Medium–high | ~10–150 Mbps | Wide (4G) | Mature | Video, high-throughput industrial, digital signage |
| 5G | Mobile | High | Hundreds of Mbps | Expanding | Emerging | Low-latency automation, machine vision, advanced industrial IoT |
LTE-M and NB-IoT are designed for low-power IoT with extended coverage, but roaming support varies by operator and country. A module upgrade or full device replacement may be required depending on your current hardware.