Glossary

Plain-language definitions of the IoT terms you will meet in meetings, proposals and contracts.

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2G (GSM): The second generation of mobile networks, used for decades by devices for simple data and SMS, now being switched off in many countries.
3GPP: The global body that writes mobile network standards: GSM, 4G LTE, LTE-M, NB-IoT and 5G.
5G NR: New Radio, the radio technology of 5G: very high speeds, very low latency and, with RedCap, simpler devices.
5G RedCap: "Reduced Capability" 5G for mid-range devices such as wearables, industrial sensors and video cameras, simpler and cheaper than full 5G.

Actuator: The part of a device that acts on the physical world, for example a switch, lock, motor or valve controlled remotely.
APN: Access Point Name: the setting that tells a cellular device which gateway to use to reach the internet or a private network.
Asset tracking: Using connected devices to know where valuable items (containers, tools, vehicles, pallets) are and in what condition.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): Short-range, very low-power wireless for wearables, beacons and devices that talk to a phone or a nearby gateway.

Cellular IoT: Connecting devices through mobile operator networks (2G to 5G, LTE-M, NB-IoT), using a SIM or eSIM.
Connectivity: How a device sends and receives data: cellular, LPWAN, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, satellite or wired networks.
Coverage: Where a network can reliably reach a device, including indoors, underground or in remote areas.

Device lifetime: How long a device can stay in service in the field, limited by battery, hardware, network availability and support.
Device management: Tools and processes to onboard, configure, monitor, update and retire a fleet of IoT devices remotely.
Digital twin: A software model of a physical asset that mirrors its real-time state and can be used to monitor, simulate or optimise it.

Edge computing: Processing data on or near the device instead of sending everything to the cloud, so it can react faster and send less data.
eDRX: Extended Discontinuous Reception: the device listens to the network only every few seconds or minutes, saving battery while staying reachable.
eSIM: A SIM whose operator profile can be downloaded and changed remotely, usually soldered into the device.
eUICC: The secure chip inside an eSIM device that can store several operator profiles and switch between them.

Firmware: The software that runs on the device itself and controls its sensors, radio and security.
FOTA: Firmware Over-The-Air: updating device software remotely instead of visiting each device.

Gateway: A local device that collects data from nearby sensors over short-range radio and forwards it to the cloud over the internet or a mobile network.

Internet of Things (IoT): Everyday objects and machines fitted with sensors and connectivity, so they can report data and be controlled remotely.
IoT device: A physical product with a sensor or actuator, a small computer and a way to connect, built to send data or receive commands.
IoT platform: Cloud software that receives device data, stores it, manages the devices and feeds dashboards, alerts and other business systems.
IoT security: Protecting devices, networks, data and platforms against misuse, from secure identities to encrypted traffic and timely updates.
iSIM: A SIM built directly into the device's main chip instead of a separate component, saving space, cost and power.

Licensed vs unlicensed spectrum: Cellular IoT (LTE-M, NB-IoT, 5G) uses radio frequencies licensed to mobile operators; LoRaWAN and Sigfox use free, shared (unlicensed) bands.
LoRaWAN: An LPWAN technology using unlicensed radio spectrum; you can use a public network or run your own gateways.
LPWAN: Low-Power Wide-Area Network: technologies that send small amounts of data over long distances with very little energy.
LTE-M: A low-power cellular technology (also called LTE Cat-M1) for IoT devices that need moderate data, mobility and sometimes voice.

M2M (machine-to-machine): Machines exchanging data directly over a network, with no person in the loop: the older name for what grew into IoT.
MQTT: A lightweight messaging protocol widely used in IoT: devices publish small messages to a broker, and applications subscribe to them.
MVNO: Mobile Virtual Network Operator: a provider that sells mobile connectivity using other operators' networks.

NB-IoT: Narrowband IoT: a low-power cellular technology for static devices that send small amounts of data, with very good indoor coverage.
Network sunset: An operator switching off an older network such as 2G or 3G; devices that rely on it stop working.

Permanent roaming: A device staying on a foreign network indefinitely; some countries and operators restrict or forbid it.
Pooled data plan: A data plan where many SIMs share one data allowance, so heavy and light users balance out.
Power Saving Mode (PSM): A cellular feature that lets a device sleep deeply between transmissions while staying registered on the network.
Predictive maintenance: Using sensor data to spot early signs of failure and service equipment before it breaks.
Proof of concept (PoC): A small, time-boxed trial that tests whether an IoT solution works and delivers value before a larger investment.

Remote SIM provisioning (RSP): Downloading, switching or deleting operator profiles on an eSIM over the air, defined by GSMA standards such as SGP.02 and SGP.32.
Return on investment (ROI): How much value an IoT project brings compared with what it costs, usually expressed as a percentage or a payback period.
Roaming: Using another operator's network, usually in another country, with a SIM from your home operator.

Satellite IoT (NTN): Connecting devices through satellites where there is no ground network, now partly standardised as non-terrestrial networks (NTN).
Sensor: The part of a device that measures something in the physical world, such as temperature, location, vibration or fill level.
Sigfox: A proprietary LPWAN technology using unlicensed spectrum, designed for tiny messages from very low-power devices.
SIM: The secure chip or card that identifies a device on a mobile network and holds the operator's credentials.

Telemetry: The measurements a device sends automatically, such as temperature, location or battery level.
Total cost of ownership (TCO): The full cost of an IoT solution over its life: devices, installation, connectivity, platform, support, maintenance and replacement.

Wi-Fi: Local wireless networking, convenient where Wi-Fi already exists, but power-hungry and limited to the range of the access point.

Zero-touch provisioning: Devices that connect, identify themselves and configure automatically on first power-up, with no manual setup on site.