Capturing Edge Data Through
Cellular Networks
The advancement of Industry 4.0 is largely thanks
to the development of the Internet of Things
(IoT), which has created a digital bridge between
physical components. “Connecting physical
items such as sensors, devices, and enterprise
resources to the internet are major attributes
for industrial manufacturing in Industry 4.0,” as
stated in Logistics 4.0: Digital Transformation
of Supply Chain Management.1 Before the
internet and IoT, systems that weren’t physically
connected couldn’t operate together.
Collecting Data: Then & Now
Measuring tides is a good example of how the
latest Industrial Revolution has changed the
way we collect, share, and use data. Early on,
the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey deployed
self-recording tide gauges. A pen attached to
a wire-and-pulley system would scribble on a Source: Climate.gov.
constantly rotating paper drum to track changing
water levels. Contrast that to today’s sea level The closest component to this edge data are
measuring tools: they use radar off-pier to sensors—recording anything from temperature to
determine water level; this data is then converted liquid flow rate—and input/output (I/O) devices—
and stored digitally. Finally, the recorded data is gateways or controllers. Data is captured by
shared wirelessly to geostationary satellites.2 the sensor and sent through the input of the
controller. The data can be locally processed and
Technology has rapidly—and radically—changed outputs on the controller can be used to perform
the way we are able to capture data at the “edge.” conditional logical control at the edge (a primary
Edge data refers to the information collected feature of ControlByWeb® edge controllers).
and processed at the edge of a network, close to Otherwise, data is converted to a readable
where that data is generated. Where before that format, such as MQTT, and shared with a central
data had to be manually collected, IoT minimizes system, such as a cloud server or remote data
latency by nearly instantly sending data to center.
centralized data centers or the cloud. What
used to take days or weeks is now measured in
milliseconds.
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integrators thanks to widespread coverage and
Edge Data Transfer reliable connectivity. 4G and 5G LTE networks
Technologies significantly expanded the potential of data
transfer with increased bandwidth and lower
One of the key components of the journey of edge latency for complex use cases.4 Even though
data is how the data is transferred from gateway 2G and 3G networks are more ideal for IoT
to central system. There are a number of modern applications, they have largely been shut down by
technologies that fill this role: cellular service providers in North America.
• Ethernet. A wired networking technology LTE-M (Long-Term Evolution for Machines) and
that provides reliable, high-speed data NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) were
transmission. Requires a physical Ethernet developed specifically for IoT. They offer low
port connection between each end point. power consumption with improved coverage and
• WiFi. A wireless networking technology that often better in-building penetration. They’re ideal
enables devices to connect to the internet for the smaller, frequently shared data packets
over short to medium distances; commonly produced by edge IoT devices. NB-IoT, Rel 13
used in offices and urban areas due to (which is offered in the U.S.) is the narrower of
widespread availability. the two technologies, offering a simpler network
• BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). A wireless structure and much lower data rates. LTE-M
communication technology designed for consumes slightly more energy, but allows for 1
short-range, low-power applications. Ideal for Mpbs data packets and handover between cell
consumer applications and battery-operated towers.5
IoT devices.
• Cellular. Mobile networks (e.g., LTE-M, NB-IoT) 4G and 5G networks do have their place in edge
that provide wide-area coverage and reliable data applications: Offshore operations in the
Gulf of Mexico and North Sea are adopting 5G
connectivity, suitable for IoT applications that
for improved signal integrity, indoor/outdoor
require remote monitoring and mobility. connectivity, and fidelity.6
• Mesh Networks. A network topology
where devices (nodes) connect directly and There are two common ways to integrate cellular
dynamically to each other, creating a robust networking into an edge data solution. An
and self-healing network, ideal for smart city industrial router can be installed in near proximity
applications and large-scale sensor networks.3 (right on the DIN rail if it’s compatible), acting as
a cellular gateway between the input module and
Of these, cellular networking offers the most larger system. Alternatively, a cellular-enabled
expansive coverage. Within milliseconds, data controller with an embedded eSIM offers an all-
recorded offsite can be shared with a central in-one solution, both collecting input data and
system hundreds of miles away. forwarding that data.
Cellular Stands Out in Is Cellular Networking Right
Industrial IoT for You?
Early IoT applications used 2G and 3G networks to There are many benefits to using cellular
transfer data. These were useful to system networking in an IoT application, as well as
drawbacks worth considering.
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Benefits Limitations
• Cell networks offer easy scalability, supporting • There’s a risk of reaching data limits and
a large number of devices which can be incurring overages, but this can be mitigated by
increased later without significant cost or optimizing data usage and picking the right cell
complication. plan.
• There’s no need to hardwire, which may be • Power draw may be significant (though LTE-M
difficult or impossible in certain instances. has largely solved this issue).
(Even in urban areas where cabling abounds, • Managing multiple devices on various networks
it could by physically inaccessible.) This allows may increase complexity.
integrators to avoid high up-front costs • There may be insufficient cellular coverage in the
associated with routing and channeling. application area.
• Cellular-enabled IoT controllers from • While costs may be lower initially, recurring
ControlByWeb can use cell as a failover to service fees do add up over time; it may be
Ethernet or vice-versa, increasing redundancy cheaper to pay more upfront to save money years
in case of system failure. down the road.
• System administrators can push software and • There’s a dependency on carriers to maintain
SIM updates, set up devices, and adjust settings towers and infrastructure. This is no problem
fully remotely, offering greater longevity in metropolitan areas where multiple towers
compared to systems that can only be accessed overlap, but it may be a concern in rural locations
from shorter physical distances.7 that are dependent on a single cell tower.
• Cellular controllers can provide an out-of-band
connection to other cellular devices; if a 4G/5G
modem loses connection, an LTE-M-enabled
controller can independently power cycle the
system, including the modem.
It should be noted that significant advancements
are being made in IoT and OT security. It’s
Where Cellular Makes Sense
understood that these devices and systems can With these benefits and drawbacks in mind, here
be a critical entry point for bad actors. Identity are practical industrial applications where cellular
security company CyberArk recommends focusing networking is the clear choice for data transfer.
on three key elements to increase the security
posture of your system in their The Three Phases Independent operations. Larger organizations
of IoT and OT Security white paper: with well-established IT and OT systems will often
require extra hoops to jump through to add third-
1. Discovering devices. Review the landscape party hardware or software. Cellular allows for a
of devices in use by your organization. fully independent edge data solution that doesn’t
Cameras, printers, teleconference equipment, need to integrate with any existing network.
operational technology, etc. It’s ideal for independent system integrators to
2. Securing credentials. Implement a process quickly deploy an all-in-one solution for clients
to ensure credentials are secured and rotated without all the red tape.
regularly. Store them in a secure vault to avoid
attacks on hard-coded credentials. Physically remote. One of the strongest cases
3. Updating firmware. Ensure devices are for cellular is the ability to capture edge data
regularly updated with the latest firmware in remote locations with no Ethernet—let alone
and patches. Unpatched vulnerabilities are a a power source. LTE-M offers low-power,
common entry point for attackers.8 widespread coverage. It’s practical for battery
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or solar-powered solutions such as security Consider ControlByWeb for your next edge
camera trailers, river water level monitoring data project, cellular or otherwise. You have the
systems, or remote machine monitoring. option of controllers with cellular connectivity,
Anywhere you have cell service, you have the WiFi capability, or Ethernet to best match your
application. There’s a lot of capability to uncover
capability to capture and use edge data. with these “micro” controllers.
No existing infrastructure. Urban areas abound
with Ethernet wiring, WiFi and BlueTooth devices, Industry 4.0 and Beyond
and power outlets—but they are often physically
or virtually inaccessible. Cellular service is Ultimately, cellular networking is another flexible
abundant in cities and integrators often have tool in the toolbox of IoT system integrators
their choice of LTE-M, 4G, and 5G for their alongside a bevy of sensors, devices, software
application. LTE-M is ideal for efficient data usage systems, and protocols. It’s a cornerstone of edge
and power consumption. 4G is particularly useful data capture within Industry 4.0—and cellular
for seamless indoor/outdoor connectivity, offering developments are promising for the future.
better object and wall penetration than 5G while While security considerations are top of mind for
supporting more than sufficient speeds for IIoT. any application, there are many steps system
administrators can take to assure they’re within
an organization’s acceptable level of risk aversion.
Versatile Controllers for Edge
Data Capture Advancements in edge data capture and control
have revolutionized the way we interact with the
As stated above, a crucial aspect of capturing world around us. It pays to stay informed of the
and using edge data is the gateway device latest technologies to maintain a competitive
bridging the gap between sensors. Ideally, you advantage and capitalize on what’s available in
want something that offers the right features the modern marketplace.
without adding unnecessary complexity or cost.
A traditional programmable logic controller References
(PLC) may offer the most I/O and raw processing
power—but at the highest cost. And, while a 1. Paksoy, T., Koçhan, Ç., & Ali, S. S. (Eds.). (2021). Logistics 4.0:
Digital transformation of supply chain management. CRC Press.
simple network gateway may fit the bill, they lack https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429327636-2
any additional features or the ability to offload 2. Dusto, A. (2014, August 4). Reading between the tides: 200
years of measuring global sea level. Climate.gov. https://www.
processes from a central system. climate.gov/news-features/climate-tech/reading-between-
tides-200-years-measuring-global-sea-level
ControlByWeb IoT controllers strike an ideal 3. Lei, L., Tang, A., & Wang, X. (2023). Achieving scalable capacity in
wireless mesh networks. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.20227
balance, allowing for data capture while bringing 4. Ericsson. (n.d.). The evolution of Cellular IoT. Retrieved August
logical control to the edge. They feature a 21, 2024, from https://www.ericsson.com/en/reports-and-
web-accessible, embedded interface that papers/white-papers/cellular-iot-evolution-for-industry-
digitalization
uses drop-down menus to quickly and easily 5. Wikipedia contributors. (2024, August 27). Narrowband Internet
establish logical control at the edge. (This is of Things1. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrowband_Internet_of_Things
great for redundancy and monitoring when a 6. Ericsson. (2024, July 9). Designing a secure communications
central system experiences downtime.) There’s transformation for offshore operations. Offshore Magazine.
no software, making them secure by design. 7. IoT Uncovered. (2024, August 21). What is LTE-Cat M1
and how does it work?. YouTube. https://youtu.be/
ControlByWeb modules also use an open REST qfVYSg9hSsc?si=Y5082DO9qK6u-xq_
API for easier integration, plus industrial protocols 8. CyberArk. (2023). Securing IoT and OT Device Credentials.
such as MQTT, Modbus TCP/IP, and SNMP. CyberArk. Retrieved August 22, 2024, from https://www.
cyberark.com/resources/stream-embed-for-securing-iot-and-
ot/the-three-phases-of-iot-and-ot-security-whitepaper
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