After helping thousands of companies connect their IoT devices at Hologram, one question remains: "Should I use cellular for my IoT project?"
Cellular connectivity has become the backbone of modern IoT deployments, but many builders still find it intimidating. Let me demystify it for you.
What is Cellular IoT?
Cellular IoT has evolved dramatically.
While traditional IoT devices like water meters might send kilobytes of data daily, modern AI-powered devices can consume gigabytes. Smart security cameras process video streams with AI at the edge, sending rich metadata and video segments over cellular networks.
Autonomous robots and vehicles require constant connectivity for real-time navigation, safety systems, and fleet management.
Today's cellular networks support both ends of the spectrum.
Why Choose Cellular for your deployment?
Cellular stands out for three key reasons:
Coverage: With cellular, your devices work almost anywhere. You don't need to worry about Wi-Fi ranges or setting up local networks.
Security: Cellular networks have decades of built-in security features. Your data travels through private networks, not the public internet.
Reliability: Cellular is always on, and with IoT SIM cards, you'll have access to overlapping redundant networks, ensuring your device can always connect even if one network is down.
Real-World Applications
The most successful IoT projects I've seen using cellular are often the simplest.
Electric vehicle charging stations use cellular technology to process payments and manage charging. Agricultural sensors monitor crop conditions in remote fields, and security systems use cellular technology as a backup when Wi-Fi goes down.
Over the next few weeks, I'll share detailed guides on choosing the proper cellular hardware, managing data costs, and deploying your first cellular IoT device.
Cellular IoT can be surprisingly straightforward, whether you're building your first prototype or scaling to thousands of devices. Let me know what specific challenges you're facing!
I'm here to help demystify the world of cellular IoT.