NB-IoT is a wireless communications protocol designed by 3GPP. It accommodates massive deployment by leveraging 4G LTE networks provided by regional telecom operators. NB-IoT’s wireless module solutions, together with the telecom SIM card, Arm Pelion device management platform, and WISEPaaS application server, easily enable a range of smart city applications such as smart street light control, smart meters, and smart parking. Furthermore, 3GPP specifically designed the NB-IoT protocol with a low power consumption mode to fit specific smart city application scenarios.
Advantech's NB-IoT solution ready platform is designed specifically for smart meter systems through a data communication interface allowing for seamless communication with the NB-IoT wireless module. A telecom SIM card is inserted into the module, allowing for the easy transmission and reception of data to/from Arm Pelion and the WISE-PaaS Smart Meter Service. Device-to-cloud solution ready platforms provide remote wireless monitoring and control for hundreds of millions of smart meter devices.
Software Diagram

System Architecture
Feature Highlights

Easy & Massive Deployment
Long-range wireless communication connects devices anywhere to cellular networks

Long Battery Life
Low power consumption extends battery life up to 10 years

Secure Data Transmission & Provisioning
Arm mbed TLS & enrollment services enhance communication and device security

Smart Meter Management for Energy and Utilities
Automatic meter value collection, event reporting, and remote control
Application Story
Upgrading Gas Infrastructure and Utilities: From Wired to Wireless
- Massive deployment becomes easy by leveraging telecom network as IaaS
- Low-power consumption techniques following the 3GPP standard
- Rich sensor interface and mbed OS peripheral API for client devices
- Arm Pelion device management platform support
- WISEPaaS/EdgSense application server support

SRP Visualization
Arm Pelion Device Management

Arm Pelion device management, filtering with event alerts, and device enrolling
Arm Pelion device provision with secure features
Arm Pelion device firmware update
Arm Pelion device ID, name, and status list for management
Smart Meter Frontend Server

Device user information page displays meter list with control interface
Add, edit, or delete user device and show device ID and user information
Remote control icon offers interactive interface to downlink control device
Interface icon links to single user’s information page
Smart Meter Dashboard - Regional

In-device longitude and latitude reporting allows for regional view of user device location
Event alerts and information reporting from the device with status, location, and reporting time
Summarizes overall smart meter status and usage percentage
Tracks monthly totals of energy input and output for quantity comparison and ROI analysis
Smart Meter Dashboard - Single Device
