FOTA at a Glance
Firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) is a remote update technology that allows device firmware – the core software controlling hardware functions – to be updated wirelessly over a network connection. Instead of requiring manual updates through physical access, FOTA enables businesses and device manufacturers to push new firmware versions to deployed devices anywhere in the world.
For IoT deployments that involve thousands of distributed devices, FOTA provides a fast, secure, and cost-efficient way to keep devices current with the latest software, performance improvements, and security patches.
FOTA operates through mobile software management (MSM) frameworks built into IoT and cellular devices. Updates are typically delivered as compressed binary files through a secure connection and verified before installation. The general process includes:
Depending on the file size and network conditions, a FOTA update can complete in 3–10 minutes – a fraction of the time required for manual servicing.
For IoT systems with distributed sensors, gateways, or smart devices, managing firmware manually is not scalable. FOTA allows mass updates to occur remotely and securely, ensuring:
A landmark example of FOTA’s impact came in 2016, when Tesla used FOTA to add self-parking capabilities to its vehicles. Without over-the-air updates, each car would have required a physical service visit or recall, an expensive and time-consuming process.
Similarly, in IoT environments such as smart agriculture, industrial monitoring, and connected infrastructure, FOTA allows organizations to push firmware changes to hundreds or thousands of remote devices without interrupting operations.
| Feature | FOTA (Over-the-Air) | Manual Updates |
| Delivery Method | Wireless, remote | Physical connection required |
| Time to Deploy | Minutes | Hours to days |
| Scalability | Thousands of devices simultaneously | One device at a time |
| Maintenance Cost | Low | High |
| Security Updates | Immediate, system-wide | Delayed, dependent on access |
Soracom’s IoT connectivity and cloud integration tools make it easier to deploy and manage FOTA at scale. By combining secure cellular and LPWAN connectivity with Soracom services such as Soracom Krypton and Soracom Beam, device makers can authenticate, encrypt, and transmit firmware updates efficiently to distributed devices.
This allows IoT developers and operators to:
Maintain performance and compliance without physical intervention.
Internet of Things (IoT) is the concept of connecting devices and their components to the Internet, empowering ordinary devices with intelligence that allows them to provide additional value.
Virtually any device, from vending machines and fitness trackers to wheelchairs and tractors, that performs a task can be upgraded with the insight, knowledge and analytics that IoT provides, offering businesses additional value in the form of revenue, efficiency and productivity.
An ordinary livestock collar can’t provide much additional value to a farmer, but an IoT-connected “smart” collar can track factors like the heart rate, movement speed and geographical location of livestock. These findings are sent to the cloud, where they’re analyzed.
There are numerous ways to connect devices, such as cellular, Bluetooth, wifi, extraterrestrial and satellite. However, IoT benefits most from a reliable connectivity type that complements the needs that the project must meet.
For example, a large farm may require an IoT solution that provides long range (to cover the land) and low power usage (to save time and money replenishing sensor batteries). On the other hand, “smart” vending machines could rely on low connectivity range and bandwidth limit, considering they’re centralized and rarely transfer data.
Optimizing IoT connectivity ensures projects are consistently operating at their best while cutting unnecessary costs.
Connectivity range, power usage and bandwidth limit can change drastically depending on the connectivity that is being employed.
IoT’s significance stems from its ability to connect devices. Once these devices are connected, they can accomplish incredible tasks like self-diagnosing mechanical problems, adjusting product pricing, predicting equipment failure, managing resource consumption and more.
Rather than physically estimating soil quality or moisture levels, farmers can employ IoT sensors that collect the information in real time. This data can be remotely accessed by farmers, enabling them to improve their yield production and limit their resource waste.
What makes connected devices, and IoT in general, so impactful is that they don’t require inherent knowledge or resources to accomplish the tasks they’re given.
Without IoT, smart home devices like Alexa are nothing more than a speaker. But with the power of IoT, Alexa receives the data (your command), uses the Internet to find an answer, and sends the information back to you in the form of a verbal response.
Smart home devices, like many other IoT-enabled devices, use their Internet connection, along with their ability to send and receive data, to solve any problem that they’re given.
IoT sensors can measure temperature, light, moisture, humidity, air quality, and more. Since they’re connected to the Internet, sensors can help individuals parse the information and make informed decisions based on the findings.
Farmers use IoT sensors sensors in the soil to predict the crop yield and food quality without having to make estimations. This saves them from physically checking the land across a vast farm, and can help farmers optimize how they use resources like water and fertilizer.
IoT technology enables businesses and enterprises to collect mass amounts of data from their devices. However, this information won’t have a significant impact unless it can be used to create value.
This can be in the form of increased revenue, longer up-time, improved productivity or even greater waste management.
The information that is gathered from IoT-connected devices can provide a positive ROI to any business or enterprise as long as it’s being utilized.
One way that that businesses can use the information gathered from their IoT-connected devices to improve their operations is through predictive analytics.
Regardless of the industry, equipment is always an integral and expensive part of operations. When an assembly line stops or an engine fails, productivity is lost and costs skyrocket. Because of this, predictive analytics can help businesses and enterprises save significant time and money.
For example, IoT sensors placed in a refrigeration unit can collect over a month of data that indicates a consistent decline in temperature.
Understanding when a refrigerator or any other equipment is showing signs of regression ensures a cost-effective physical inspection at a time where the refrigerator is still operating, rather than replacing the entire unit when it’s completely broken.
IHI Corporation, a heavy industrial manufacturer, found IoT’s predictive analytics capabilities to be useful when it came to monitoring their power plants.
Their IoT-connected sensors performed real-time diagnostics to keep employees informed about the state of their equipment, and to predict and prevent potential performance issues or equipment failures.
When properly utilized, IoT technology and the information that it gathers through its devices can drastically improve productivity, reduce costs and optimize operations.
LPWAN at a Glance
LPWAN is a class of wireless networks built for IoT devices that need to communicate over long distances with minimal power consumption. Common LPWAN standards include:
Unlike Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, or 4G LTE networks, LPWANs handle smaller data packets (typically 10–10,000 bytes) at modest speeds (up to ~200 kbps) over ranges from 2 km to 30 km.
This combination of low power, long range, and cost efficiency makes LPWANs a strong choice for IoT projects that deploy thousands of devices across expansive areas, sending small, infrequent data packets.
| Feature | LPWAN | Wi-Fi | Cellular (3G/4G/5G) | Bluetooth |
| Range | 2–30 km | ~100 ft indoors | Wide-area | ~30 ft |
| Power consumption | Very low | High | Moderate to high | Very low |
| Data throughput | Low (10–10,000 bytes) | High | High | Low |
| Best for | Sparse, low-data IoT | Video, high-data apps | Mobile IoT | Short-range sensors, wearables |
| Network model | Star or mesh | Infrastructure | Cellular | Peer-to-peer or mesh |
LPWAN is particularly well-suited for IoT deployments that span large areas and require minimal device maintenance. These networks allow devices to send small data packets efficiently while keeping battery life and operational costs low.
Soracom provides connectivity and cloud-native services that simplify LPWAN IoT deployments:
👉 Soracom helps businesses scale LPWAN IoT solutions efficiently, whether in agriculture, smart cities, or industrial operations, while minimizing infrastructure and maintenance costs.
Cat M1 at a Glance:
Category M1 (Cat M1), also known as LTE-M, is a Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) cellular technology designed specifically for IoT. Standardized by the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), Cat M1 leverages existing LTE infrastructure to deliver a balance of extended coverage, low power consumption, and cost-efficient connectivity for IoT devices.
Cat M1 typically operates with:
This makes it powerful enough for IoT use cases requiring more data than NB-IoT can support, but still optimized for long battery life and affordability.
While unlicensed LPWANs rely on shared spectrum, Cat M1 uses licensed LTE bands, where Quality of Service and interference control are managed by the operator and security is enforced through SIM-based authentication.
While Cat M1 has strong advantages, IoT developers should consider:
Cat M1 is widely used in industries that need efficient, mobile, and scalable IoT connectivity:
|
Technology |
Typical Data Rate |
Mobility Support |
Coverage Characteristics |
Spectrum Type |
Best For |
|
Cat M1 (LTE-M) |
200–400 kbps |
✅ Full mobility (handover) |
Wide LTE footprint, good building penetration |
Licensed |
Asset tracking, wearables, utilities |
|
NB-IoT |
<100 kbps |
❌ Static only |
Excellent deep indoor coverage |
Licensed |
Smart meters, stationary sensors |
|
LoRaWAN |
<50 kbps |
Limited |
Long range, community or private gateways required |
Unlicensed |
Agriculture, rural monitoring |
|
3G/4G LTE |
Mbps to Gbps |
✅ Full mobility |
Ubiquitous, but power-hungry |
Licensed |
Video, high-bandwidth apps |
|
Satellite |
Variable (kbps–Mbps) |
✅ Global coverage |
Works everywhere, but higher latency and cost |
Licensed |
Remote, off-grid use cases |
While Cat M1 provides the network foundation, Soracom makes it easier to deploy, manage, and scale Cat M1-powered IoT solutions:
👉 By combining Cat M1’s network capabilities with Soracom’s platform services, IoT developers can reduce complexity, accelerate time-to-market, and operate with greater efficiency at scale.
NB-IoT, or Narrowband IoT, is a cellular radio access technology developed by the 3GPP as part of the LTE Release 13 standard and refined over later releases. It is engineered specifically to connect low-power devices that transmit small amounts of data over long periods – exactly the kind of demand seen in many IoT applications.
Unlike traditional cellular technologies designed for human data use (streaming, voice, browsing), NB-IoT is optimized for machine-to-machine communication (M2M) and excels in use cases where coverage, energy efficiency, and scalability matter more than speed.
NB-IoT is purpose-built for devices that need to transmit small amounts of data infrequently, often without real-time responsiveness. It’s ideal for:
| Feature | NB-IoT | LTE-M |
| Data Throughput | Very low | Low to moderate |
| Mobility Support | Limited (stationary or slow devices) | Supports mobility (e.g., vehicle tracking) |
| Voice Support | No | Yes (via VoLTE) |
| Latency | Higher | Lower |
| Use Case Focus | Static sensors, infrequent data | Mobile devices, real-time comms |
NB-IoT is best for stationary, low-activity devices, while LTE-M is preferred for mobile or time-sensitive applications.
Soracom’s platform supports NB-IoT connectivity with flexible, pay-as-you-go pricing and cloud-native integration tools. This makes it easy to manage thousands of devices at scale with secure, reliable, low-power cellular connectivity – whether you’re deploying in cities, farms, or factories.
NB-IoT provides a foundational layer for massive IoT deployments, enabling secure, low-cost, and energy-efficient connectivity for millions of devices. With support from global mobile operators and evolving standards from 3GPP, NB-IoT remains a critical tool in building the connected systems of the future.
PTCRB At a Glance:
PTCRB (PCS Type Certification Review Board) is a certification process created in 1997 by North American mobile operators to ensure that devices using cellular connectivity – such as IoT devices, M2M modules, and mobile phones – fully comply with carrier and industry requirements.
PTCRB certification, in conjunction with FCC (US) and ISED (Canada) certifications, acts as a gatekeeper for network access, guaranteeing that devices function properly, avoid harmful interference, and interoperate seamlessly across North American mobile networks.
For IoT manufacturers and solution providers, PTCRB is more than a formality:
Certification involves a standard set of tests designed to confirm safe, compliant device performance. These typically include:
Factors influencing testing time and cost include:
👉 Certification generally takes 4-8 weeks and costs $20,000-$50,000, depending on device design.
The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) manages PTCRB certification processing and administration. It also oversees the use of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers in the United States for GSMA, which uniquely identify certified devices on mobile networks.
PTCRB certification standards reflect test plans set forth by governing bodies like 3GPP and the CTIA in order to maintain modern industry needs.
Certification must be performed by an accredited lab. Examples include:
These labs conduct the required tests and provide compliance reports for certification approval. Here is a list of PTCRB certified labs.
While essential, PTCRB can create challenges for IoT developers:
For IoT devices, certification is a critical milestone. Whether deploying asset trackers, utility meters, connected sensors, or smart medical devices, PTCRB certified devices are held to high regulatory standards, connect reliably, and remain operational on carrier networks throughout their lifecycle.
While Soracom does not perform PTCRB certification, it helps customers navigate the process by connecting them with trusted partners who specialize in device testing, certification, and compliance.
In addition, Soracom maintains strong relationships with hardware providers offering PTCRB pre-certified modules and devices, making it easier for IoT developers to:
👉 By pairing PTCRB-certified devices with Soracom’s global connectivity platform, businesses can accelerate IoT deployment while ensuring regulatory compliance.
IoT Device Implementation Checklist
Does my IoT Device Need PTCRB Certification?
Cellular IoT at a Glance
What is Cellular IoT?
Cellular IoT refers to the use of cellular networks (such as 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-M, and NB-IoT) to connect Internet of Things (IoT) devices to the cloud. Rather than relying on local connectivity like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, Cellular IoT leverages the same global mobile infrastructure used by smartphones to deliver wide-area, reliable, and mobile connectivity for IoT applications.
This makes it one of the most accessible and scalable connectivity options for large or geographically distributed IoT deployments.
In a Cellular IoT system, devices are equipped with SIMs or eSIMs that connect to a cellular base station and transmit data to cloud-based applications via the mobile network. Depending on the network type, data transfer speeds and power consumption can vary, offering flexibility for different IoT use cases.
Modern networks such as LTE-M (Long Term Evolution for Machines) and NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT) have been specifically designed for IoT, providing low-cost, low-power, and long-range connectivity optimized for devices that send small amounts of data intermittently.
Cellular IoT is ideal for IoT projects that require secure, long-range, and reliable connectivity – especially in situations where devices move between coverage zones or are deployed in remote areas.
Key advantages include:
However, cellular networks typically consume more power than short-range or LPWAN alternatives, making them less suitable for devices that must operate for years on small batteries.
That said, cloud offloading technologies, such as SDK and encryption offload—help reduce device power draw and improve performance. These optimizations allow IoT devices to maintain connectivity while extending battery life.
| Network Type | Bandwidth | Power Efficiency | Typical Range | Ideal Use Case |
| 2G / 3G | Low to Moderate | Moderate | Wide | Legacy IoT systems |
| 4G LTE | High | Lower | Wide | Data-intensive IoT (e.g., video, telemetry) |
| LTE-M | Moderate | High | Wide | Mobile IoT, asset tracking |
| NB-IoT | Low | Very High | Deep indoor / rural | Smart meters, sensors |
Cellular IoT supports a wide variety of industries and use cases, including:
Soracom’s global IoT platform helps developers and enterprises deploy, connect, and manage Cellular IoT devices at scale. With Soracom Air, customers can connect devices using 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-M, or NB-IoT – all managed from a unified dashboard with a single billing system.
Additional services such as:
…allow organizations to securely move data between devices and cloud platforms while optimizing bandwidth and energy usage.
In summary: Cellular IoT brings the power and reach of global mobile networks to connected devices, offering reliable, secure, and flexible communication for a wide range of IoT applications, from agriculture and logistics to smart cities and industrial automation.
M2M at a Glance
Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication is the technology that allows devices to interact and exchange information without human interference. While often considered a precursor to the Internet of Things (IoT), M2M focuses specifically on point-to-point device communication, with limited human involvement—usually only for configuring or managing the devices.
M2M systems typically rely on embedded hardware in devices, which connect to one another via cellular or other networks and feed data to dedicated software applications. This allows businesses to collect, monitor, and manage data remotely.
While M2M and IoT overlap in certain applications, they are fundamentally different:
| Feature | M2M | IoT |
| Primary focus | Direct device-to-device communication | Device-to-cloud communication and ecosystem integration |
| Human involvement | Minimal (only configuration or monitoring) | Often involves dashboards, analytics, or user interaction |
| Network type | Point-to-point, often cellular | Cloud-connected, multiple protocols (cellular, Wi-Fi, LPWAN) |
| Data usage | Task-specific, usually small packets | Large-scale data collection for analytics and AI |
| Typical applications | Maintenance alerts, energy meters, industrial sensors | Smart cities, predictive maintenance, fleet management, consumer IoT |
👉 M2M is the building block; IoT is the end-to-end ecosystem that leverages M2M and other connectivity technologies to deliver insight and automation.
Sensors monitor equipment health and send automatic maintenance alerts. Some sensors even order parts online without human intervention.
Smart meters report energy consumption remotely, eliminating the need for on-site readings and enabling dynamic pricing models.
Patient monitoring devices automatically relay vital signs to life support systems, improving response times and automating critical processes.
Vehicles transmit GPS, fuel, and diagnostic data to central systems, improving route optimization and reducing maintenance downtime.
Soracom provides tools and connectivity solutions that allow businesses to modernize M2M systems and integrate them into full IoT deployments:
👉 By pairing PTCRB- or M2M-certified devices with Soracom’s connectivity and data services, businesses can scale M2M deployments into full IoT ecosystems, leveraging cloud analytics, automation, and AI insights.