Connectivity for Asset Tracking Devices

There is no single best network for every deployment. The right choice depends on where your assets operate, how often they move, how frequently they need to report, and whether they have a permanent power source.

Successful asset tracking deployments balance three key elements:

• Power
• Connectivity
• Device quality

For example, battery-powered trackers attached to trailers or containers typically use LTE-M or NB-IoT because these cellular networks are designed for low-power operation and extended battery life. Meanwhile, powered fleet vehicles may benefit from Cat-1bis or 4G connectivity to support more frequent reporting and larger data payloads. LoRaWAN® is another excellent option where private or public LoRaWAN infrastructure is already available.

Connectivity and location technologies serve two different purposes within an asset tracking solution.

Connectivity determines how information is transmitted from the tracking device to your software platform. Technologies such as LTE-M, NB-IoT, Cat-1bis, LoRaWAN®, and satellite enable devices to send location, status, and sensor data.

Location technologies determine where an asset is. Depending on the deployment, Digital Matter devices may use GNSS (GPS), Wi-Fi Positioning, Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE), Cell Tower Location, or a combination of these technologies to provide reliable positioning while balancing battery life and performance.

The answer depends on the application.

When comparing LTE-M vs NB-IoT, both technologies belong to the LPWAN family and are designed specifically for battery-powered IoT devices. They offer excellent coverage and low power consumption while supporting long-life GPS asset tracking deployments.

In general:

• LTE-M performs well for mobile assets because it supports mobility, handovers between cellular towers, and lower latency.
• NB-IoT is well suited to stationary or low-mobility assets where maximizing battery life is often the highest priority.

Digital Matter supports both technologies across many of its battery-powered tracking devices, allowing solution providers to select the most appropriate connectivity for each deployment.

Yes. Many Digital Matter active GPS trackers are designed for global deployments using regional and worldwide cellular technologies.

Devices such as the Oyster3 Global and Remora3 Global use 4G LTE Cat-1bis with 2G fallback to provide reliable connectivity across multiple networks, making them suitable for international logistics, global supply chain operations, and cross-border equipment tracking. For deployments operating in regional LPWAN environments, LoRaWAN® devices provide another flexible connectivity option.

Most cellular GPS trackers require an IoT SIM card to communicate over mobile networks.

The SIM securely identifies the device on the network and enables it to transmit precise location data to your preferred software platform. Every SIM also contains a unique ICCID (Integrated Circuit Card Identifier), allowing organizations to manage thousands of connected assets through centralized connectivity management processes.

Some devices instead communicate using LoRaWAN®, while Bluetooth® tags rely on nearby gateways rather than their own cellular connection.

Coverage interruptions are expected in many real-world environments.

Assets may enter remote regions, underground facilities, warehouses, shipping containers, or areas with reduced signal strength. Rather than stopping completely, Digital Matter devices continue collecting GPS and sensor information before forwarding stored data once connectivity becomes available again.

Many devices also combine GNSS with Wi-Fi positioning and cell-tower location technologies to improve asset visibility across challenging indoor and outdoor environments.

Battery life depends on more than the network alone. Reporting frequency, movement behavior, positioning technology, and environmental conditions all influence how long a device operates.

Generally:

• LTE-M and NB-IoT provide outstanding battery performance for battery-powered asset trackers.
• LoRaWAN® also delivers excellent battery efficiency where network infrastructure exists.
• Cat-1bis provides higher bandwidth and greater flexibility but generally consumes more power than LPWAN technologies.

Digital Matter further extends battery life through adaptive tracking, intelligent reporting behavior, cloud-based location solving, and onboard power-saving mode functionality.

The answer starts with the asset itself.

Questions to consider include:

• Is the asset powered or battery-powered?
• Does it remain in one location for long periods?
• Will it cross international borders?
• Does it require frequent reporting?
• Will it operate indoors, outdoors, or both?

These factors determine whether LTE-M, NB-IoT, Cat-1bis, LoRaWAN®, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi positioning, or a combination of technologies delivers the best outcome.

Digital Matter devices are designed to support a broad range of IoT applications, giving customers the flexibility to match connectivity with operational requirements rather than forcing every deployment onto a single network.

Connectivity is much more than simply getting a device online. It directly influences how often a tracker can report, how long the battery lasts, where the device can operate, and the overall cost of deployment.

Selecting the right connectivity technology helps optimize:

• Battery life and deployment longevity
• Coverage across different countries and environments
• Reporting frequency and data transmission
• Airtime costs
• Long-term operational performance

Choosing the wrong network can result in unnecessary airtime costs, reduced battery life, inconsistent coverage, or reporting behavior that doesn't match the asset being tracked.

Although they work together, connectivity and location technologies perform different roles within an IoT asset tracking solution.

Connectivity determines how information reaches your platform, while location technologies determine how the device calculates its position. Digital Matter devices combine multiple technologies to improve reliability across a wide range of environments.

Choosing the right connectivity technology is one of the most important decisions when designing an asset tracking solution. Each option offers different advantages depending on battery life requirements, coverage, reporting frequency, mobility, and deployment environment.

The comparison below provides a high-level overview of the most common connectivity technologies used across Digital Matter devices.

Every connectivity technology has strengths, and selecting the right one depends on how and where your assets operate.

LTE-M

LTE-M has become one of the most widely used technologies for battery-powered GPS asset tracking. It combines excellent mobility support with low power consumption, making it well-suited to assets that regularly move between cellular towers.

Typical applications include:

• Trailer tracking
• Equipment tracking
• Shipping containers
• Rental assets
• General IoT asset tracking

NB-IoT

NB-IoT is designed for low-bandwidth IoT deployments where devices spend long periods in the field and only need to transmit relatively small amounts of data.

It is commonly used for:

• Remote monitoring
• Utility infrastructure
• Environmental monitoring
• Water management
• Fixed assets

Cat-1bis

Cat-1bis provides higher bandwidth than LTE-M or NB-IoT while maintaining broad global coverage.

Because it supports larger data payloads and more frequent communication, it is often selected for:

• Fleet management
• Powered machinery
• Connected vehicles
• Mobile equipment

LoRaWAN®

LoRaWAN® offers long-range, low-power communications where compatible network infrastructure is available.

It is particularly effective for:

• Agriculture
• Mining
• Utilities
• Industrial campuses
• Regional IoT deployments

Bluetooth® Low Energy

Bluetooth® is not typically used as the primary communications network for GPS tracking.

Instead, Digital Matter devices use Bluetooth to communicate with nearby sensors and tags before forwarding information over a cellular or LoRaWAN connection. This enables a single tracker to monitor multiple connected devices while minimizing deployment costs.

Connectivity plays a major role in determining battery life, but it is only one part of the equation.

Every time an asset tracker wakes to acquire a GPS location, connect to a network, and transmit data, it consumes energy. Devices configured to report every few minutes will naturally consume more power than those reporting only when movement occurs.

Digital Matter extends battery life through a combination of intelligent engineering approaches, including:

• Adaptive tracking based on movement
• Sleep modes during inactivity
• Cloud-based location solving
• Low-power LTE-M and NB-IoT communications
• Efficient reporting behavior

Rather than transmitting continuously, many Digital Matter devices only communicate when meaningful events occur, allowing battery-powered trackers to operate for years without intervention.

Selecting the right connectivity technology is therefore about balancing visibility with battery life. More frequent updates are not always better, particularly for non-powered assets that remain stationary for extended periods.

Modern asset tracking deployments often span multiple countries, carriers, and network technologies. Selecting the right connectivity partner helps ensure assets remain connected as they move across regions.

Most cellular asset trackers use an IoT SIM card that authenticates the device on the mobile network. Every SIM contains a unique ICCID, allowing organizations to identify and manage thousands of deployed devices through a single connectivity management platform.

Global connectivity also depends on carrier agreements and roaming support. Some technologies have broader international availability than others, which is one reason Cat-1bis has become increasingly popular for global deployments.

Digital Matter devices support multi-network connectivity across numerous carriers, helping solution providers maintain reliable communications while simplifying fleet-wide connectivity management.

The best connectivity option depends on the asset being tracked rather than the technology itself.

Important: Matching connectivity to the asset's operating environment helps maximize battery life, improve GPS location accuracy, reduce operational costs, and provide consistent visibility across logistics, fleet management, and supply chain operations.

Get up to speed on the terminology shaping IoT asset tracking. From cellular connectivity and location technologies to device behavior, power optimization, and deployment concepts across the Digital Matter ecosystem.

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