IoT Connectivity Choices and Their Impact on Sensor Integration
                     IoT Connectivity Choices and Their Impact on Sensor Integration
Anil Janardhanan
Gadgeon's IT services includes sensor integration, 
product engineering services, medical device 
engineering and IoT connectivity services from Gadgeon 
is popular service offering.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the way devices 
communicate and interact, especially through sensor 
integration. Sensors are critical components of the IoT system 
as they collect data about the environment, machines, or 
people. The success of the IoT systems is dependent on the 
integration between the sensors and the network. The 
connectivity option is not a technicality since it defines the 
overall architecture, performance, and scalability of the 
deployments in the IoT. The connectivity is the infrastructure 
that enables sensors to connect to the data processing hubs, 
cloud systems, or edge devices.
Wireless vs. Wired Connectivity: Pros and Cons
Sensors of IoT usually have a wireless or wired connection. 
Wired connections like Ethernet or serial interfaces provide a 
reliable and high-bandwidth connection with minimum 
interference. They are suited to hard-wired fixed installations. 
Wiring is, however, costly and may be rigid and hard to install 
on mobile or inaccessible sensors. Alternatively, wireless 
connectivity not only offers flexibility but also is simpler to 
implement. 
Especially when involving sensors in a dynamic or geographically 
distributed environment. However, wireless signals have 
disadvantages like interference, shorter range, and the possibility 
of security threats. These trade-offs are important to balance to 
have the best sensor integration.
IoT Sensors and Various Wireless Connectivity 
Technologies
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is a common option among most IoT applications, with a 
wide data rate and vast device support. It is well adapted to 
situations where the power supply is constant and sensor data 
payloads are large. The power consumption of Wi-Fi may, 
however, be high and thus not suitable for battery-operated 
sensors that need long operating periods. Wi-Fi has high 
throughput and is easily integrable with existing networks. It is, 
however, limited in its coverage, and this necessitates numerous 
access points in extensive deployments.
Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
Bluetooth is used in short-range sensor networks, mostly 
used in consumer devices. BLE is a version with a minimum 
power consumption, commonly used in wearable sensors or 
home automation devices. The local sensor networks are 
limited by their range, which is typically less than 100 
meters.
LoRaWAN
LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) and Low Power 
Wide Area Network (LPWAN) are technologies that allow 
long-range communication to take place using low power 
consumption. It extends to 15 km in rural areas and 2-5 km 
in urban areas. It offers very low power 
consumption that can provide 5-10 years of battery life. 
The benefit of using LoRaWAN devices is that they can 
support thousands of devices per gateway, making it 
suitable for massive deployments. 
NB-IoT
Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) is a 3GPP-
standardized cellular-based LPWAN technology. NB-IoT 
makes use of the cellular infrastructure to enable accurate 
connectivity and a wider range.  However, the operational 
costs might be higher. Its advantage is its low power 
consumption, and it also supports robust operator 
deployments across countries. It also, however, has its 
challenges, such as lower bandwidth and increased latency, 
as well as being suitable for time-sensitive applications. 
Conclusion
IoT sensor integration is not a one-fits-all connectivity 
solution. Every technology has its advantages and 
drawbacks in terms of power usage, price, and security. 
The right solution lies in knowing the exact requirements of 
the application and choosing the type of connectivity that 
will serve the requirements.
Thank you for time in reading this article!