Remote Connectivity Is Breaking Down Barriers.

• Position: TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGY

Distance and physical barriers are hampering data transmission to remote locations, but new technologies are evolving to break down these obstacles, suggests a report from Lux Research, Boston, Mass.

Over long distances, the options for transmission technologies dwindle, leaving 4G/5G cellular, LPWAN (low-power wide-area network), and satellite as suitable, reliable options for remote connectivity. 'The tradeoffs among 4G cellular, LPWAN, and satellite have long been known," says lead analyst and report author Michael Sullivan. "LPWAN's low bandwidth is well-suited for remote device monitoring, while satellite's long range makes it suitable for environmental monitoring."

Remote connectivity solutions are not only concerned with how data is transmitted; where data is processed also is an important consideration. Edge computing enables companies to strategically place data processing nodes closer to the data source, reducing latency.

When data can be processed locally, as it is in edge computing, less traffic has to be sent to remote data centers or transferred to central cloud platforms for processing. This capability reduces bandwidth and power requirements and can allow lower-cost technologies to be deployed.

Lux Research has ranked the different connectivity options that are best suited for certain industries. For example, oil and gas should utilize LPWAN for surface equipment monitoring and satellite for onshore or offshore...