What is an IoT device? Every IoT device is a fully independent device that connects to the internet and has the ability to be controlled or monitored remotely. A good example of this would be a telematics unit fitted to a vehicle. It has access to a range of data, from location to speed, fuel consumption, any system warnings and so on, which is sent to a monitoring app or system for use by fleet managers. Understanding Cellular IoT Cellular IoT is a type of IoT device that moves beyond the short-range communications of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and instead uses the powerful, long-distance coverage of a cellular network. In many IoT applications, each device is relatively close, often in the same room, which is why a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection is most common, but for widely distributed IoT devices, such as devices working together across an electrical grid system for instance, something that can maintain reliable, fast, long-distance connection is needed. Cellular IoT uses 4G or 5G protocols to maintain that, and the technology allows a vast number of devices on a single network, while maintaining low latency, broad coverage and reliable performance. This matters, because the core of IoT functionality is the ability to communicate and share data between devices on the IoT network. With cellular IoT, advanced systems such as fleet management solutions can maintain real-time vehicle monitoring even in remote locations, remaining connected to the network and providing that essential data regardless of location. Conclusion While IoT devices have become increasingly popular in some industries, the introduction of Cellular IoT removed range barriers and allowed entirely new applications of the concept to be implemented. Using cellular IoT does consume more power, but the advantages of range are so great that it is rarely an issue. In many situations, the only way an IoT application could work is cellular given the ranges involved. Cellular IoT takes the very best from the basic idea and used cellular technology to transform what it is capable of.