The Internet of Things

2Connecting Devices: Access Networks

Paul Putland

British Telecommunications plc, Ipswich, UK

2.1 Introduction

In this chapter, we discuss the set of network access technologies used for the Internet of Things (IoT). We describe the scope of “things” that can be connected and the wide range of requirements placed on the networks to support the many different types of device. We describe how existing networking technologies can support some of these devices and connectivity requirements, and then look in detail at some of the new network technologies and capabilities that are being developed specifically to support IoT.

The connectivity of IoT devices is achieved through the access network – that part of the network which is concerned with moving data to and from a sensor or edge device into a backhaul network, often via a gateway. The number and complexity of devices that can be connected is enormous, covering a range of potential use cases and scenarios, and to understand the range of requirements for access networks, there is a need to understand the scope of the term “Thing.” Due to the wide range of devices and sensors that can be used in IoT solutions, it is not possible to connect all potential devices using a single networking technology. Instead, a range of technology and networking options are available to meet particular requirements – there is no single “best” solution for all scenarios. In order to understand the technical choices in any particular environment, it ...