Bluetooth Networks vs. Cellular IoT: Which Connectivity Technology for Your Device?

If you’re building a connected device that needs to communicate beyond Wi-Fi range, you face a fundamental architecture decision: Bluetooth networks or Cellular IoT.

Bluetooth networks leverage smartphones as relay infrastructure. Apple’s Find My network alone consists of over one billion devices. Cellular IoT (LTE-M, NB-IoT, Cat-1) uses carrier-operated towers with dedicated spectrum. Each approach involves fundamentally different tradeoffs in cost, power, coverage, and developer access.

The short answer: Bluetooth networks offer dramatically lower hardware costs and power consumption for applications tolerant of variable latency. Cellular IoT provides guaranteed uplink, bidirectional communication, and real-time responsiveness at higher costs. Platform access matters too: Apple and Google gate their networks behind certification programs, while Hubble Network offers open developer access to a global network of 90M+ access points.

Network Architecture

Bluetooth Networks

Crowdsourced Networks (Apple Find My, Google Find Hub, Amazon Sidewalk)

These networks transform consumer devices into relay infrastructure. When your device broadcasts a BLE advertisement, nearby smartphones or smart home devices detect the signal and relay data to cloud servers.

Apple Find My operates through over one billion Apple devices globally. Third-party access requires enrollment in Apple’s MFi Program, product plan approval, third-party lab certification, and compliance with packaging and marketing requirements. Per-unit licensing fees apply (exact terms under NDA). Timeline: 6-12+ months.

Google Find Hub leverages over one billion Android devices. Third-party access requires device proposal approval, NDA execution, and third-party lab certification. Google provides no SDK, so manufacturers must work with SoC vendors. Similar timeline to Apple.

Amazon Sidewalk uses customer-owned Echo and Ring devices as gateways, supporting BLE, FSK, and LoRa protocols. Coverage reaches 90%+ of the US population but is US-only. Requires the “Works with Amazon Sidewalk” qualification and ties you to AWS IoT Core. Unlike Find My/Find Hub, Sidewalk supports bidirectional communication. See our Hubble vs. Sidewalk comparison for details.

Hubble Network

Hubble operates a distributed Bluetooth network of 90M+ access points. These are not consumer smartphones but dedicated infrastructure the team actively monitors and expands. Devices transmit arbitrary data packets (location, sensor readings, status flags) over this Terrestrial Network, with satellite connectivity coming soon for remote coverage.

Developers access public documentation at docs.hubble.com, integrate via SDK with off-the-shelf BLE hardware, and scale to production without certification gatekeeping.

Cellular IoT

Cellular IoT uses licensed spectrum and carrier-operated infrastructure:

LTE-M (Cat-M1) operates on existing LTE infrastructure, supports speeds up to 1 Mbps, enables cellular handoffs for mobile applications, and includes VoLTE capability. Dominant in North America.

NB-IoT uses extremely narrow 200 kHz bandwidth for lower power consumption but reduced throughput (50-250 kbps). Doesn’t support mobility. Strongest adoption in Europe and China; being phased out by some North American carriers.

LTE Cat-1/Cat-1bis offers higher speeds (up to 10 Mbps) with broader global coverage but higher power consumption.

Technical Comparison

Hardware & Cost

Bluetooth

Standard BLE chips cost $0.50-$3 in volume with minimal external components. Hubble’s SDK enables satellite connectivity through firmware alone, with no hardware modifications required.

Typical BLE tracker BOM: ~$2-3 for RF subsystem (SoC, crystal, antenna, passives)

Cellular

LTE-M/NB-IoT modules range from $8-$25 plus SIM costs, more complex antenna designs, and additional power management circuitry.

Typical cellular tracker BOM: ~$18-28 for RF subsystem

At 100,000 units, the hardware differential alone represents $1.5M-$2.5M before recurring connectivity fees.

Recurring Costs

Apple Find My / Google Find Hub: Zero network fees, though Apple’s MFi program includes per-unit licensing fees (exact terms under NDA). Certification costs and lab fees add upfront investment for both platforms.

Hubble Network: $1-2/device/month ($12-24/year), including terrestrial and satellite connectivity. Volume discounts available at scale.

Cellular IoT: Highly variable. IoT MVNOs offer $0.50-$2/month for minimal data; carrier plans range higher. 1NCE offers $10 for 10-year connectivity for ultra-low-data applications. Most deployments land at $1-5/device/month.

Power Consumption

This is the decisive technical differentiator for battery-powered devices.

Bluetooth: 5-15 mA transmission lasting 1-3 ms per advertisement. A device advertising every 2 seconds consumes 10-30 µA average. Coin cell (CR2032) battery life: 1-3 years. Larger lithium primary: 5-10 years.

Cellular: 100-500 mA during active transmission, which is 10-50x more than BLE. Even with Power Saving Mode (PSM), battery life is fundamentally limited. Same coin cell: weeks to months. Larger battery: 6 months to 2 years depending on update frequency.

For multi-year operation without battery replacement, Bluetooth is the only viable option.

Coverage & Reliability

Crowdsourced Networks

Coverage depends on smartphone density. Works well in urban areas, airports, transit hubs. Degrades in rural areas, industrial sites, and regions with lower Apple/Android penetration.

Expect 15-60 minutes for location updates in populated areas. In sparse environments, updates may take hours or fail entirely.

Hubble Network

Hubble’s Terrestrial Network of 90M+ access points provides coverage that the team actively monitors and expands. Satellite connectivity (coming soon) will extend coverage to oceans, deserts, and remote sites. Unlike crowdsourced networks, coverage doesn’t depend on consumer smartphone density.

Cellular

Coverage follows carrier deployment. LTE-M is strong in North America and Western Europe. Global deployments require multi-carrier SIMs or eSIM profiles.

Roaming complexity: Cellular devices crossing borders need roaming agreements, and costs can spike unexpectedly. Bluetooth networks avoid this because BLE operates in unlicensed spectrum globally.

Developer Access & Time to Market

Bottom line: Apple, Google, and Amazon networks offer zero or low recurring costs but gate access behind certification programs. Hubble and cellular offer direct developer access, with Hubble providing simpler hardware integration and global reach.

Deployment Scenarios

Consumer Luggage Tracker

Requirements: Global tracking, 3+ year battery, <$30 retail

Bluetooth wins on hardware cost, battery life, and form factor. Apple/Google networks are viable if you can absorb certification timeline. Hubble adds satellite coverage for remote locations without the certification overhead.

Cold Chain Monitoring

Requirements: 15-minute temperature logging, threshold alerts, 6-month deployment

If immediate alerts are critical (pharmaceutical), cellular’s real-time capability is required. If batch monitoring suffices (food distribution), Bluetooth’s power efficiency enables smaller, cheaper devices.

Construction Equipment Tracking

Requirements: Daily updates, 5-year lifespan, 50,000 units

At scale, Bluetooth hardware savings ($150K-$250K vs $1M+) fund years of connectivity. Hubble’s distributed infrastructure eliminates coverage concerns at remote job sites that would otherwise favor cellular.

Maritime & Remote Agriculture

Requirements: Asset visibility in areas with no cellular coverage, monthly updates acceptable

Cellular fails entirely without coverage. Crowdsourced Bluetooth networks have no smartphones nearby. Hubble’s satellite network (coming soon) addresses this gap with the same BLE hardware and global reach.

Fleet Telematics

Requirements: Real-time location, dispatch integration, ELD compliance

Cellular required. Fleet telematics needs bidirectional communication, high-frequency updates, and guaranteed uplink that Bluetooth networks cannot provide.

Data Capabilities

Bluetooth networks transmit small data packets: location coordinates, temperature readings, sensor values, status flags. This covers the vast majority of tracking and monitoring use cases. Cellular is essential for real-time control, high-bandwidth data, or remote firmware updates.

Security

Apple Find My: Three-layer end-to-end encryption; extensively analyzed by security researchers.

Google Find Hub: End-to-end encryption with additional privacy protections (private zone protection, multi-device detection requirements).

Hubble Network: End-to-end encryption from device to cloud; customer data ownership.

Cellular: Carrier-grade security infrastructure, but additional attack surfaces through cloud platforms and device management require careful implementation.

Decision Framework

Choose Apple Find My or Google Find Hub if:

• Building consumer products for Apple/Android users
• Can absorb 6-12 month certification timelines
• Zero recurring cost outweighs time-to-market

Choose Hubble Network if:

• Need Bluetooth’s power efficiency and hardware simplicity
• Want to prototype and ship without certification gates
• Need satellite coverage for remote/global applications
• Building B2B products outside consumer platform ecosystems

Choose Cellular IoT if:

• Need bidirectional communication or real-time control
• Need high bandwidth for data-intensive applications
• Latency must be seconds, not minutes
• Need guaranteed uplink regardless of nearby devices

Hybrid Approach (Bluetooth + Cellular)

Some applications benefit from both technologies: Bluetooth for power-efficient periodic updates, cellular for real-time alerts or firmware updates. This doubles hardware complexity and integration effort, but may be justified for high-value assets requiring both long battery life and guaranteed connectivity.

Making the Right Choice

The choice isn’t about which technology is “better.” It’s about matching capabilities to requirements.

Apple and Google networks offer powerful tracking with zero recurring costs, but certification programs add months to development. These make sense for established companies building consumer products at scale.

Hubble Network combines Bluetooth’s hardware and power advantages with satellite coverage and open developer access. For teams that need to move fast or ship outside consumer platform ecosystems, it’s the Bluetooth option without gatekeeping.

Cellular IoT remains essential for real-time bidirectional communication, high bandwidth, or guaranteed uplink. These capabilities justify the higher costs for use cases that need them.

Most IoT applications (asset tracking, supply chain visibility, environmental monitoring) fit naturally into the Bluetooth paradigm. The industry’s default to cellular often over-specifies for use cases that simpler technology serves equally well.

Evaluate your actual requirements. The right choice depends on your application, timeline, and business model, not convention.

Resources

Bluetooth Networks

• Hubble Network Documentation
• Apple MFi Program
• Google Find Hub Partner Integration

Cellular IoT

Global cellular infrastructure is owned and operated by major carriers: Vodafone, AT&T, Verizon, Telefónica, Deutsche Telekom, and others. These carriers offer direct IoT plans but typically target enterprise customers with high volume commitments. Most developers work instead with IoT connectivity providers, often called MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), that purchase network access from carriers in bulk and resell it with developer-friendly pricing, APIs, and multi-carrier SIM options:

• 1NCE – Flat-rate IoT connectivity
• Soracom – Developer-focused global IoT platform
• KORE – Enterprise IoT connectivity
• Hologram – Multi-carrier IoT SIMs
• Onomondo – LTE standards comparison guide