Table 2 The various networking protocols that are useful for smart city applications

IEEE 802.15.4 (Zigbee)

Energy saving, very short range

2.4 GHz Band, DSSS

CSMA/CA

20 Kbps to 250 Kbps

10 to 20 m

Smart Buildings, Smart Grid, Smart Water

IEEE 802.15.1 (Bluetooth)

Cable replacement

2.4 GHz Band, FHSS/FSK

Master/Slave, TDD

1 Mbps

10 to 100 m

Smart Buildings, Smart Grid, Smart Water

IEEE 802.11a

Data networking, local area network

5 GHz Band, OFDM

CSMA/CA, DCF/PCF

6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps

120 m outdoors

All

IEEE 802.11b

Data networking, local area network

2.4 GHz Band, DSSS

CSMA/CA, DCF/PCF

1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps

140 m outdoors

All

IEEE 802.11g

Data networking, local area network

2.4 GHz Band, DSSS, OFDM

CSMA/CA, DFS/PFS

6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps

140 m outdoors

All

IEEE 802.11n

Data networking, local area network

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Band, DSSS, OFDM

CSMA/CA, DFS/PFS

15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 135, 150 Mbps

250 m outdoors

All

IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX)

Metropolitan area network

2 to 66 GHz Band, OFDMA

TDD, FDD

2 to 75 Mbps

Up to 35 miles (56 Km)

Smart Grid, Smart Water, UAVs, Pipeline Monitoring

Cellular 3G

Wide area network connectivity. Digital, packet switched for data

800 MHz to 1900 MHz

CDMA, HSDPA

144 Kbps (mobile) to 42 Mbps (stationary)

Depends on cell radius (1 Km to several Km’s)

Smart Grid, Smart Water, UAVs, Pipeline Monitoring

Cellular 4G/LTE

Same as 3G

700 MHz to 2500 MHz

LTE and LTE Advanced

300 Mbps to 1 Gbps

Depends on cell radius (1 Km to several Km’s)

Smart Grid, Smart Water, UAVs, Pipeline Monitoring

Satellite

Wide area network

1.53 GHz to 31 GHz

FDMA and TDMA

10 Mbps (upload) and 1 Gbps (download)

Satellie can cover 100’s of Km’s to entire earth

UAVs, Pipeline Monitoring, Intelligent Transportation