NTN

Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), an evolution of LTE and now part of the 5G NR standard, offers distinct advantages such as low power consumption, reduced cost, and simplified device design. These features make it an attractive option for mobile operators to roll out carrier-grade IoT networks. With strong coverage and adequate bandwidth, NB-IoT ensures reliable IoT connectivity while coexisting seamlessly with both 4G and 5G systems. Lekha enables NB-IoT capability on the Vyapi™ eNodeB through a simple software upgrade.

At the same time, satellite-based IoT networks are gaining momentum. GEO and LEO satellites provide wide-area coverage, making them especially suitable for low-throughput, delay-tolerant IoT use cases—serving as a foundation for Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) deployments. Introduced in 3GPP Release 14, NB-IoT has continued to evolve and is set to support IoT-NTN in Releases 17 through 19.