What is LwM2M and how does it relate to air quality monitoring?

LwM2M (Lightweight Machine-to-Machine) is an open IoT protocol developed by OMA SpecWorks for managing connected devices over cellular networks. It combines data telemetry with standardised device management — including remote firmware updates, configuration changes, and diagnostics — in a single, efficient protocol. For air quality monitoring, LwM2M provides standardised data objects (including the uCIFI Air Quality Object 3428) that define how pollutant measurements like PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 are structured and transmitted, enabling interoperability between devices and platforms from different manufacturers.

Can I use Sensorbee hardware without the Sensorbee Cloud?

Yes. All cellular Sensorbee monitoring stations use the LwM2M protocol, which is an open standard. You can connect your devices to any compliant LwM2M server — including open-source options like Eclipse Leshan or commercial platforms like AVSystem Coiote and ThingsBoard. This gives you complete control over your data infrastructure without any dependency on Sensorbee's cloud services.

How does LwM2M compare to MQTT for outdoor environmental monitoring?

LwM2M uses approximately 12 times less cellular data than MQTT for the same reporting interval, extends battery life significantly through power-saving modes (Queue Mode, PSM, eDRX), and includes built-in device management that MQTT lacks entirely. For battery-powered or solar-powered outdoor monitoring stations on cellular networks — the typical deployment scenario for construction and environmental monitoring — LwM2M is purpose-built for the task, while MQTT requires substantial custom engineering to achieve similar functionality.

Does LwM2M work with NB-IoT and LTE-M networks?

Yes. LwM2M was designed specifically for LPWAN cellular networks including NB-IoT and LTE-M. Since version 1.1, it supports non-IP data delivery over 3GPP CIoT, allowing devices to communicate even without a full IP stack. All Sensorbee cellular products use LwM2M over NB-IoT or LTE-M, combining the wide-area coverage and deep indoor penetration of these networks with the efficiency and standardisation of the LwM2M protocol.

What does vendor lock-in mean in air quality monitoring?

Vendor lock-in occurs when your monitoring hardware can only communicate with the manufacturer's own cloud platform using proprietary protocols. If the vendor raises prices, changes terms, discontinues the platform, or is acquired, you have no alternative — your hardware is dependent on their infrastructure to function. With LwM2M-based devices, you can redirect your monitoring stations to any compliant server, giving you genuine data portability and long-term flexibility.

Is Sensorbee the only air quality monitor using LwM2M?

To our knowledge, Sensorbee is the only MCERTS-certified outdoor air quality monitoring manufacturer in the UK market that uses LwM2M as its device protocol and offers customers the option to bypass the vendor cloud entirely. While LwM2M is widely adopted in smart metering, logistics, and industrial IoT, the outdoor air quality sector has been slower to adopt open standards — a gap we are actively working to close.

Pourquoi LwM2M est important pour la qualité air

Si vous avez acheté un moniteur de qualité de l'air au cours des cinq dernières années, il y a de fortes chances que vos données transitent par une plateforme cloud propriétaire que vous ne pouvez pas remplacer. Le capteur se connecte aux serveurs du fabricant via des protocoles non divulgués. Vos mesures — les données que vous avez payées pour collecter — ne sont accessibles que via le tableau de bord, l'API ou le service d'abonnement de ce fournisseur.

Pourquoi LwM2M est important pour la surveillance de la qualité de l'air

Qu'est-ce que LwM2M ?

Le problème de la dépendance fournisseur

Comment Sensorbee utilise LwM2M

LwM2M vs MQTT : comparaison pratique

Ce que cela signifie pour les professionnels

Questions fréquentes

Qu'est-ce que LwM2M ?

Puis-je utiliser le matériel Sensorbee sans Sensorbee Cloud ?

Comment LwM2M se compare-t-il à MQTT ?

LwM2M fonctionne-t-il avec NB-IoT et LTE-M ?

Sensorbee est-il le seul moniteur de qualité de l'air utilisant LwM2M ?

Prêt a vous lancer dans la surveillance environnementale ?