Outline
- Introduction
- What is Zibgee
- What is NB-IoT
- Comparison between Zigbee and NB-IoT
- Range
- Network Setup Complexity
- Scalability
- Security
- Cost
- Selecting the Appropriate Technology for Your Smart City
- Final Words
Smart cities are changing the way how urban lighting used to work. Traditional lighting, due to its fixed schedules, results in a lot of energy waste, eventually adding to environmental pollution.
Conversely, smart lighting controls the light’s brightness with the help of sensors. This adjusts the brightness depending on the surrounding natural light level. If there is more natural light available at dawn or dusk, the street lights will have low brightness, which will increase as night fades in.
But how do these smart lights work? They use smart technologies that include Zigbee and NB-IoT. Read the article further to understand both technologies.
What is Zibgee
Zigbee is an established communication technology meant for low-powered devices. Zigbee focuses on creating mesh networks, as opposed to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which is more traditional. This design removes the requirement for a centralized hub, meaning it would be best for suitcases where laying wires all over the place is not that realistic.
One reason Zigbee is so powerful is that it can work easily with minimal power; therefore, it fits well with devices powered by batteries. For example, street lighting systems are smart but expensive in terms of how much power they consume. When less energy is consumed by Zigbee, it extends the life of batteries in addition to curbing down maintenance costs of the smart light systems.
Here’s where Zigbee truly shines for smart street lighting applications:
- It boasts a straightforward setup process. Since it doesn’t require a central hub, installation is faster and less complex compared to other technologies. This translates to quicker implementation and lower initial costs for smart lighting projects.
- Zigbee itself is a mature technology, making the components readily available and affordable. This keeps the overall cost of deploying a Zigbee-based smart street lighting system down to earth.
- Zigbee excels in transmitting information over shorter distances. In urban environments where street lights are densely packed, Zigbee’s reliable short-range communication ensures smooth data transfer within the network.
What is NB-IoT
NB-IoT technology is specifically meant to allow information to be communicated over great distances without consuming as much power.
NB-IoT leverages existing cellular infrastructure, allowing smart streetlights to directly connect to cell towers. Here’s where NB-IoT offers distinct advantages for smart street lighting in sprawling urban landscapes.
- NB-IoT boasts an impressive range, easily surpassing Zigbee’s capabilities. This makes it ideal for large cities with widely spaced street lights, ensuring all lights can seamlessly communicate with the central system.
- NB-IoT eliminates the need for extra hardware like gateways, which are often required in other low-power networks. This translates to a simpler network setup, reducing installation complexity and ongoing maintenance costs.
- NB-IoT, on the other hand, takes advantage of the existing cellular infrastructure, thus benefiting from the reliability that comes with cell towers. The smart lighting network experiences no string or weak signal when transmitting data so it doesn’t face a risk of developing a communication blackout.
Comparison between Zigbee and NB-IoT
The selection of either Zigbee or NB-IoT largely relies on an understanding of their unique capabilities and corresponding limitations. Below is an analysis of how the two technologies compare across key facets.
Range
Zigbee excels in short-range communication, making it ideal for densely packed urban environments. Streetlights can reliably transmit data within a limited range, creating a robust mesh network.
Contrarily, NB-IoT boasts an impressive long-range advantage, perfect for sprawling cities with widely spaced street lights. This ensures all lights, even those on the outskirts, can seamlessly communicate with the central system.
Network Setup Complexity
Creating a Zigbee network is simple. A central hub is not required, which makes installation easy and less expensive at the beginning. However, this approach may lack scalability for very large installations. In the case of NB-IoT, it uses the existing cellular infrastructure, which excludes the need for extra hardware such as gateways. It makes network setup seem easier in some manners other than the fact that cellular system may be more complex compared to Zigbee standalone way of doing things.
Scalability
Zigbee’s strength lies in smaller to mid-sized deployments. It’s a cost-effective solution for establishing a smart lighting network in a well-defined area. However, scaling a Zigbee network for a very large city might become complex.
NB-IoT shines in its ability to handle large-scale networks. Due to its long range and cellular network integration, NB-IoT is highly scalable, making it suitable for sprawling urban environments with extensive smart lighting requirements.
Security
Zigbee has a high level of security as evidenced by the use of AES-128 encryption in the network communication protection that provides data confidentiality and ensures the integrity of a smart lighting system. NB-IoT has adopted strong security protocols from well-established cellular networks that serve as an effective tool against cyber-attacks, thereby guaranteeing the safety and reliable operation of smart lighting infrastructure.
Cost
Zigbee is generally considered a cost-effective option. The technology is mature, and the components are readily available at affordable prices. The absence of a central hub further reduces upfront costs.
NB-IoT’s dependence on cellular networks can potentially lead to higher costs compared to Zigbee. While the hardware itself might be cost-competitive, cellular network usage fees can add to the operational expenses over time.
Selecting the Appropriate Technology for Your Smart City
Determining whether to go for Zigbee or NB-IoT is not a matter of the best alternative. What really matters is that you look at what suits your particular requirements best. However below are some important considerations.
- For densely packed urban environments with closely spaced street lights, Zigbee’s robust mesh network and ease of setup make it a compelling choice.
- For cost-related concerns, the cost-effectiveness of Zigbee becomes critical. Lower costs and availability of components make it a good choice for projects that are aimed at saving money.
- Zigbee offers a high degree of control over the network due to its standalone nature. This can be beneficial for municipalities seeking a more self-contained smart lighting system.
However, for sprawling cities with vast distances between street lights, NB-IoT’s long-range capabilities and scalability become crucial factors. Additionally, if leveraging existing cellular infrastructure aligns with your project goals, NB-IoT offers a simplified setup and strong signal reliability.
Ultimately, the best approach is to carefully assess your city’s unique requirements and consult with smart lighting solution providers like Chiswear. Our team of experts can help you navigate the intricacies of Zigbee and NB-IoT, ensuring you select the technology that best paves the way for a brighter, more connected future for your smart city.
Final Words
Both Zigbee and NB-IoT offer unique advantages for smart street lighting. However, the choice between them depends on specific urban connectivity needs and priorities. For top-notch smart street lighting solutions, consider Chiswear products. They combine advanced technology with reliability, ensuring your city’s lighting infrastructure is both efficient and future-proof.
