Analysis of LoRaWAN and NB-IoT for Critical and Massive Communication

LoRaWAN and Narrow-Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) are gaining popularity for communicating data through low-cost, long-range, and compact devices. The applications for these low-power wide area network (LPWAN) devices are expansive, as these devices can monitor large systems without the inconvenience of physical wires for data transmission. This opens possibilities for gathering data in difficult and/or dangerous environments. However, as data are being sent wirelessly, devices are prone to wireless attacks. In this analysis, we rank LoRaWAN and NB-IoT in terms of practicality and security concerns. Specifically, we analyze the physical devices and the wireless communication to their respective gateways. We also explain how attacks such as jamming, bitflipping, and SIM swapping affect massive and critical IoT scenarios. Our analysis shows that NB-IoT is preferable for critical communication, whereas LoRaWAN is an attractive choice for massive communication scenarios.