As the world of the Internet of Things (IoT) grows exponentially, so does the demand for fast and reliable connectivity. However, not all networks are created equal, and some are being phased out as technology evolves. How do you know which network is best for your IoT device?

If you rely on 2G or PSDN, connectivity to your devices will end in 2025, so exploring the pros and cons of different networks, from 2G to 5G, and how they affect IoT devices will be vital for your organisation.

Also, looking into the challenges and opportunities of technology sunsetting, and how LTE is emerging as an alternative for next-generation IoT devices.

2G:

The Old Reliable 2G has been around for 25 years, and it is still widely used for IoT devices that require low data rates and long battery life. 2G is ideal for applications such as alarm systems, vending machines, and smart meters. However, 2G is also facing its end, as some equipment manufacturers no longer support it, and some operators plan to shut it down in the near future. This poses a problem for utility companies and others that rely on 2G for their IoT devices.

4G:

The High-Speed Performer 4G is the current standard for mobile broadband, offering high-speed data transfer capabilities and low latency. 4G is ideal for applications that require high bandwidth and real-time communication, such as video cameras, remote medical monitoring systems, and autonomous vehicles. However, 4G also has its limitations, such as high-power consumption, high complexity, and limited coverage in rural areas.

5G:

The Future of Connectivity 5G is the next generation of mobile technology, promising faster speeds, lower latency, and greater capacity than its predecessors. 5G is expected to enable new applications and use cases for IoT devices, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, smart cities, and industrial IoT. However, 5G is still in its infancy, and widespread adoption may take some time. 5G also requires new infrastructure, new spectrum, and new devices to support it.

LTE:

The Viable Alternative LTE stands for Long Term Evolution, and it is a subset of 4G technology that offers high-speed data transmission over long distances. LTE is emerging as a viable alternative for IoT devices that need reliable connectivity but do not require the full capabilities of 4G or 5G. LTE has multiple categories of devices, each with different bandwidths, power requirements, and complexities. For example:

Cat NB1:

This category of LTE devices is designed for low-power, sporadic data sending applications, such as smart meters, sensors, and trackers. Cat NB1 has a low bandwidth of 200 kHz and a maximum data rate of 250 kbps.

Cat M1:

This category of LTE devices is designed for medium-power, medium-data applications, such as wearables, health monitors, and smart home devices. Cat M1 has a wider bandwidth of 1.4 MHz and a maximum data rate of 1 Mbps.

Cat M2:

This category of LTE devices is designed for high-power, high-data applications, such as video streaming, security cameras, and drones. Cat M2 has a bandwidth of up to 20 MHz and a maximum data rate of up to 150 Mbps.

Choosing the right network for your IoT device depends on your specific needs and preferences. However, as technology evolves, older networks are being phased out, creating a challenge for IoT developers and providers. LTE is emerging as an alternative for next-generation IoT devices that need reliable connectivity over long distances.

To download our guide on how to navigate the impending sunset of 2G technology and find the right connectivity solution for the right applications, click the link below:

Is your IoT device going to be talking to world past 2025?

The world of the Internet of Things (IoT) is growing exponentially; the projected total installed base of IoT-connected devices worldwide is set to reach a staggering 75.44 billion by 2025. That’s a ten-fold increase in just ten years! As this growth continues, demand for connectivity to these devices will continue to rise. However, with so many devices and connectivity options, which network will come out on top? 

Each network has its pros and cons, and ultimately the decision will depend on the specific needs of the device. For example, 2G is known for its long battery life and low data requirements, making it ideal for alarm systems and vending machines. 4G, on the other hand, is known for its high-speed data transfer capabilities, making it ideal for devices such as video cameras and remote medical monitoring systems. 

However, as IoT devices evolve, the need for faster and more reliable connectivity will become increasingly important. This is where 5G comes in. 5G promises faster speeds, lower latency, and greater capacity than its predecessors, making it the network of choice for many IoT devices. However, it’s important to note that 5G is still in its infancy, and widespread adoption may take some time. 

One company that understands the importance of connectivity is npower, which serves almost 12 million homes with metered electricity. For npower, the means of connectivity and communication is a massive thing. According to Tom Hayton, Head of Agent Services at ASL, “One of our biggest sites that we manage – just a single site – is the equivalent of 80,000 UK homes. Last month’s bill, for just electricity for them, was £1.1m. So if we lose connectivity to a site like that, it has a huge impact on our performance and a huge impact on the customer.” 

As IoT devices proliferate, the need for connectivity will only grow. Companies that understand the importance of reliable and fast connectivity will be the ones that come out on top. Whether it’s 2G, 4G, 5G, or something else entirely, the network that can deliver the best performance and reliability will be the one that wins in the end. 

Technology Sunsetting: What it Means for IoT Devices and Connectivity 

In the IoT world, the demand for connectivity is rapidly increasing. However, older networks must be phased out, creating a challenge for IoT developers and providers. For instance, 2G, which has been around for 25 years, is no longer supported by some equipment manufacturers, and 3G may be turned off soon. This poses a problem for utility companies relying heavily on 2G for connected water and electricity meters. As a result, LTE is emerging as a viable alternative, offering high speeds and low latencies.  

As technology evolves, older networks are being phased out, posing a challenge for developers and providers of IoT devices. The sunsetting of 2G and 3G networks presents a significant problem for utility companies and others that rely on this technology. However, LTE is emerging as a viable alternative, offering high speeds and low latencies over long distances. 

The increasing demand for reliable IoT connectivity options grows as 2G and 3G technologies phase out. With LTE emerging as a promising alternative for next-gen IoT devices, Cat NB1 and LTE-M devices are ideal for low-power, sporadic data sending. While Cat NB1 has a lower bandwidth and maximum data rate, LTE-M offers wider bandwidth for higher data rates, lower latency, and more accurate positioning capabilities. 

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, proper connectivity for your application is more critical than ever. With the impending sunsetting of 2G and 3G networks, many companies are turning to next-generation IoT devices, and LTE is emerging as a favourite. But with multiple categories of LTE devices, each with differing bandwidth, power requirements, and complexity, how do you know which one is right for your application? 

To select the suitable LTE device, it’s crucial to understand your specific use case, including data amount and frequency. Coverage is also a factor, but it’s rapidly expanding. LTE-M is suitable for tracking devices, smart meters, and alarm panels, while Cat NB1 is ideal for simple sensors and water meters. Both options offer power-saving capabilities and two-way connectivity, making them suitable for devices that only need to send data occasionally. 

Find out more by downloading our guide here

The new standard in metering management for energy suppliers has arrived with ASL’s eVe energy platform. 
eVe energy combines more data sources for clearer analytics with accredited HHDC and HHDA services so you can see more and act faster.

Take control of the whole data journey with the new standard in metering management for the UK I&C market.
Learn more about the unparalleled analytics at https://eveenergy.co.uk

ASL’s eVe platform provides a single pane view of your building’s environment and utilisation so you can increase building efficiency and employee productivity. Fully scalable, it connects to all of your building’s smart devices to provide data driven process optimisation.

Solutions include:

ASL back to work solutions
As staff return to work, ASL’s eVe platform helps employers meet their obligations to keep their staff safe and productive in new working environments.

ASL smart washroom solutions
Viruses and bacteria can be slowed down with good hygiene but cleaning your premises is labour intensive needing supplies and changing maintenance schedules based on usage.

ASL’s eVe platform provides real time information to optimise every cleaning operation.

ASL smart hospital solutions
Digital transformation is revolutionising hospitals, creating smart hospitals that deliver high levels of patient care balanced with the need to operate as efficiently and sustainably as possible. ASL’s eVe platform monitors patient services and operational processes to react quickly and implement capabilities as efficiently as possible.

To find out more, please contact:

Paul Evans, Strategic Business Consultant

[email protected]

The Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) is ageing and BT has confirmed Openreach will completely cut off the PSTN service by December 2025.

Any meters relying on a PSTN solution will become orphaned assets if they haven’t  switched over to an alternative service. Openreach will cease all PSTN services by December 2025.

The good news?
ASL has a ready to roll solution.  We have created a simple plug and play solution to seamlessly enable any meters relying on PSTN to carry on operating, using our own ASL ADSL broadband service.

To find out more contact us now on +44 (0)1604 883880 or email [email protected].

The impending sunset of 2G technology means your 2G IoT devices will not work post 2025.

Do you use 2G devices in your IoT infrastructure? Although perfect for low cost, easy integration and managed connectivity, 2G will sunset in 2025 and all your devices that rely on it will need replacing.

ASL’s Chief Technology Officer, Allan Sydney, explains more in our downloadable executive briefing that includes:

• Future connectivity options, such as LTE and CAT NB1
• Finding the right connectivity for the right applications
• Learn how npower are overcoming this problem
• Review ASL’s cost effective modem solutions, available today, that will last beyond 2025

Discover how your business can remain connected for years to come by future-proofing your IoT infrastructure.

Caroline Moss; Marketing Assistant at ASL who leads all of the marketing communications is a finalist at the very first Next Generation Business Awards. An award created to recognise and celebrate the very best of the next generation of business leaders.

The 2019 Next Generation Business Awards was created by the Next Generation Chamber; a platform for aspiring young business people in the Northamptonshire region to help them grow and develop through exclusive networking events and personal development sessions. The Next Generation Chamber was created by Northamptonshire Chamber and Milton Keynes Chamber to help businesses support and nurture employees who are dedicated to advancing their careers.

Caroline is a finalist for the Creativity Sector Star of the Year category. The winners will be announced on Friday 5th July 2019 at the Northampton Marriott. BBC Radio Northampton’s John Griff will host the awards evening.

We’re pleased to formally announce to our customers the next evolution of the ASL brand identity.

ASL is recognised as market-leading IoT technology company that specialises in providing cost-effective, global coverage. Since our foundation in 2003, we’ve successfully worked with clients across industrial, commercial and Smart City spaces in order to deliver innovative IoT solutions all across the world.

As a dynamic technology company, we felt it was the perfect time to modernise and realign our marketing and visual identity. This decision was taken in order to better reflect our growing IoT offering and help our team of experts continue to share their expertise with the world.

London-based B2B agency Velo were tasked with providing creative leadership to the process. Using their experience working within tech and safety sectors, and other Halma PLC businesses, to refresh brand identities and accurately reflected our global marketing position and the knowledge of our offering.

The new visual identity symbolises how we are ‘Always Connected’ and provides a new identity for our eVe platform, accurately reflecting our position as a leader in IoT.

We’ve updated our logo, our website and our marketing communications including data sheets, exhibition stands and more. What is the same however is our commitment to making our customers and partners successful with IoT.

Rob Kitchen, MD, ASL

‘At ASL we’re committed to providing innovative solutions to deliver cost-effective global connectivity. It was important to us as a business that our brand identity accurately reflected this in order to give a true portrayal of our ever-growing IoT offering.’

‘We’re proud of our new look, and I believe our new brand identity demonstrates that ASL is an innovative, market-leading company capable of powering IoT solutions for smart businesses across the world. We’re delighted with the final product, and confident that the launch of our new identity, website and marketing materials will herald the start of a long successful chapter in our rich and successful history.’

Paul Crabtree, MD, Velo

‘ASL is a proven pioneer within the world of IoT. Their history of innovation and continued ambition made them a perfect partner to collaborate with on this project and together we’ve created a new visual identity that shows the world what a great technology business ASL is.’

ASL launches Pulse Data Logger (ASLH394) with GPRS connectivity at European Utility Week 2016

This product will interface to any pulse meter and provide connectivity via the GSM network M2M communications provider ASL has launched the first product in a range of DIN connect loggers/modems.

The Delta Plus DIN connect product (ASLH394) counts and stores pulses from utility meters, such as Electricity, Water, Heat and Gas, and provides information on usage via the GSM/GPRS network. Designed and manufactured in the UK, this new product is available in the DIN rail mount form factor, for simple installation in DIN rail enclosures, for sub-metering applications. For maximum compatibility and ease of use the unit has been designed to operate like a normal modem. There is no need to understand additional GSM network specific operations. Even when operating in GPRS mode, once installed it acts like a normal IP connection.

Features include an intelligent watchdog to monitor the state of the wireless modem for instances such as brown out detection to maximize high reliability of operation. The unit is pre-fitted with a secure solid state SIM supporting multiple networks with ASLH’s proprietary Advanced Roaming Protocol to ensure the best possible communications performance. It has a real-time clock (RTC) updated from the network, and the pulse input allows counting of any pulse contact device, providing contact wetting if needed. The pulse data is saved in 32bit non-volatile registers, and in conjunction with the RTC collects half-hourly (HH) interval count data. ASLH can provide comprehensive data reading and processing if required.

The first in a range of DIN connect products, ASLH394 is available now, with a Modbus interface version available within weeks. Visit ASL at booth number 3C43 at European Utility Week, or email [email protected] for more information, datasheets or pricing.

Heathrow meter reader sees ASL shortlisted for Comms National Awards

Near real-time data allows airport to accurately cross-charge electricity usage to carriers ASL’s work at Heathrow has seen the M2M communications provider shortlisted for the Comms National Awards 2015.

Heathrow asked ASL to supply an electricity meter reader capable of collecting near real-time data from passenger aeroplanes on stands at Europe’s busiest airport. Up to that point, airlines were invoiced on a time-on-stand basis and the charges did not accurately reflect the amount of electricity used.

ASL’s five-minute reader has enabled Heathrow to cross-charge usage more accurately to the carrier visiting the stand, avoiding the errors formerly produced by estimation. Heathrow estimates that ASL’s solution will help airlines to reduce by five per cent the annual £9m they were previously charged, saving £450,000 a year.

ASL will find out if it has seen off competition in the ‘Best Enterprise Mobile / Mobile Data Solution’ category on 22 October. The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London.