# #005: The Current Realities of Cellular IoT

- Show: [Coredump Sessions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions)
- Published: 2025-03-19
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 6
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-03-19-005-the-current-realities-of-cellular-iot
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/memfault/episodes/005-The-Current-Realities-of-Cellular-IoT-e3196v5

## Summary

Fabien Korheim, Head of Global Products Strategy at ONES, and Chris Coleman, CTO of Memfault, discuss the current state of cellular IoT, emphasizing the operational advantages of MVNOs over traditional MNOs for global deployments. They analyze the trade-offs between NB-IoT and LTE-M, noting LTE-M as the current safe bet for low-power applications, while 5G RedCap is positioned as a future alternative. The conversation highlights the untapped potential of cellular in consumer devices, such as baby monitors and pet trackers, to reduce setup friction and returns, and details critical debugging strategies involving observability, module selection, and firmware practices.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-03-19-005-the-current-realities-of-cellular-iot#t=1) Introduction: Fabien Korheim and ONES
- [2:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-03-19-005-the-current-realities-of-cellular-iot#t=176) MVNO vs MNO: Abstraction and Global Coverage
- [6:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-03-19-005-the-current-realities-of-cellular-iot#t=388) Certification Hurdles and SIM Simplification
- [12:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-03-19-005-the-current-realities-of-cellular-iot#t=751) NB-IoT, LTE-M, LoRaWAN, and Satellite Trade-offs
- [23:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-03-19-005-the-current-realities-of-cellular-iot#t=1381) 5G for IoT: Hype vs. RedCap Reality
- [27:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-03-19-005-the-current-realities-of-cellular-iot#t=1633) Top Use Cases: Meters, Trackers, and Wildlife
- [33:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-03-19-005-the-current-realities-of-cellular-iot#t=2008) The Big Opportunity: Cellular in Consumer Devices
- [36:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-03-19-005-the-current-realities-of-cellular-iot#t=2193) Business Models: Who Pays for Cellular?
- [37:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-03-19-005-the-current-realities-of-cellular-iot#t=2269) Getting Started: Kits, SIMs, and Firmware
- [41:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-03-19-005-the-current-realities-of-cellular-iot#t=2487) Common Mistakes and Field Observability
- [49:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-03-19-005-the-current-realities-of-cellular-iot#t=2953) Q&A: Prioritization, Updates, and Debugging

## Topics

- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- ONES (company)
- Memfault (company)
- Verizon (company)
- AT&T (company)
- BG 96 (chip)
- Nordic nRF9160 (chip)
- Thingy:91 (product)
- Zephyr (tool)
- LoRaWAN (other)
- NB-IoT (other)
- LTE-M (other)
- 5G RedCap (other)
- eSIM (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Cellular IoT Best Practices | Teal's Robert Hamblet & Red Bison's Rob Tiffany | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2024-02-06-cellular-iot-best-practices-teals-robert-hamblet-red-bisons-rob-tiffany-internet) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Altair Semiconductor's Dima Feldman | Cellular’s Role and Future in IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-06-15-altair-semiconductors-dima-feldman-cellulars-role-and-future-in-iot) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [What Is Cellular IoT?  | #IoTExplained E006](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-02-11-what-is-cellular-iot-iotexplained-e006) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [5G and IoT: What Will It Take for Them to Get Along?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2024-07-02-5g-and-iot-what-will-it-take-for-them-to-get-along) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Scaling Cellular IoT Globally | Onomondo's Henrik Aagard and Anders Buchmann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-09-06-scaling-cellular-iot-globally-onomondos-henrik-aagard-and-anders-buchmann) (IoT For All Podcast)

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