LoRaWAN vs NB-IoT for water meters: which to choose
LoRaWAN or NB-IoT for remote water meter reading: coverage, cost per meter, gateway or SIM and when each one fits, with worked examples.
If you install remote-read water meters, you almost always end up choosing between two radios: LoRaWAN and NB-IoT. Both do the same job — the meter sends its reading on its own, with nobody going to look at it — but they are deployed very differently and cost differently depending on how many meters you have and how close together they are.
This guide sums up the differences that matter on site and when each one fits. At the end we explain why Datakubo does not read Wireless M-Bus.
The difference in one sentence
- LoRaWAN: the meter talks to a gateway that you (or a partner) install, and the gateway forwards it to a network server. Your own network, no fee per meter.
- NB-IoT: the meter carries a SIM and reports over the operator's mobile network. No gateway, but a data plan per meter.
Comparison
| LoRaWAN | NB-IoT | |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | Gateway on site + network server (LNS) | The operator's mobile network |
| Recurring cost | None per meter; the gateway is shared by all | One SIM / data plan per meter |
| Spectrum | Licence-free band (868 MHz in Europe) | The operator's licensed band |
| Coverage | Whatever your gateways provide | Whatever the operator has in the area |
| Indoors and meter pits | Good with a well-placed gateway | Very good: NB-IoT is designed for deep indoor reach |
| Best fit | Many meters together: building, development, irrigation | Scattered meters: farms, wells, isolated houses |
| Who controls the network | You | The operator |
When to choose LoRaWAN
LoRaWAN wins when there are many meters close together. A single gateway with power and internet covers a whole building or development, and from then on every new meter adds no communication cost. The network is also yours: you do not depend on an operator keeping coverage up or on its tariff.
What you need is a spot for the gateway and a network server. With Datakubo the LNS is included on every plan, so you just point the gateway at it; if you already work with ChirpStack, The Things Network or an all-in-one gateway, that works too. More in LoRaWAN water meters.
When to choose NB-IoT
NB-IoT wins when the meters are scattered and a LoRaWAN gateway would only reach one or two. Also when you cannot put a powered, connected device on site. The meter reports over the mobile network and the reading reaches Datakubo straight over HTTP, with no gateway or network server in between.
The price is the SIM: each meter carries its own data plan with the operator. That is why, with many meters close together, NB-IoT usually costs more than LoRaWAN. More in NB-IoT water meters.
You can mix them
It is not a decision for your whole portfolio. The usual pattern is LoRaWAN in buildings and developments and NB-IoT for the stragglers. In Datakubo both land in the same account and the same portal, and your customers do not see the difference.
What about Wireless M-Bus?
Wireless M-Bus is the short-range radio built for walk-by or drive-by reading: someone passes nearby with a receiver and collects the readings. Many meters ship with it alongside LoRaWAN.
Datakubo does not read Wireless M-Bus. If your meters carry both radios — like the Axioma Qalcosonic W1 — Datakubo uses the LoRaWAN one and your wM-Bus route can keep running in parallel. Wired M-Bus does work, through a concentrator that posts the readings over HTTP.
Three typical sites
| Site | What usually fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 60-home building with a meter room | LoRaWAN | One gateway covers the whole building and no meter pays a fee |
| A dozen wells and farms spread across a municipality | NB-IoT | A gateway per site does not pay off; each meter goes on its own |
| Compact development with a few isolated houses | Both | LoRaWAN in the core and NB-IoT for the houses the gateway cannot reach |
Frequently asked questions
Does LoRaWAN or NB-IoT reach further?
It depends on the network, not just the radio. On LoRaWAN, range is whatever your gateways give and where you place them. On NB-IoT, it is the operator's coverage in the area. Check coverage at the real site before deciding.
Which one uses less battery?
Both are low-power technologies built for long-life battery meters. Real battery life depends mostly on how often the meter reports and on signal quality, so compare the manufacturer's datasheet for your exact model.
Can I switch from LoRaWAN to NB-IoT later?
Yes, by changing the meter or its radio module. In Datakubo the history, residents and alarms stay in the same account.
Does Datakubo charge differently for an NB-IoT meter?
No. The platform costs the same per meter on LoRaWAN or NB-IoT. The difference is outside Datakubo: the gateway on LoRaWAN, the SIM on NB-IoT.
Summary
- Many meters together and you want your own network: LoRaWAN.
- Scattered meters or nowhere to put a gateway: NB-IoT.
- A mixed portfolio: both, on the same platform.
Every model Datakubo reads, with its protocol and how it connects, is on the compatible meters list. If yours is not there, we write its decoder for free within 24 hours.