Technologies
LTE CAT M1
CAT-M1(LTE-M) is a cellular technology specifically designed for the needs of applications targeting the Internet of Things (IoT) or machine-to-machine (M2M) communications.
WHAT IS LTE M?
LTE-M is a low‑power wide‑area (LPWA) air interface that lets you connect IoT and M2M devices with medium data rate requirements. It enables longer battery life cycles and greater in‑building range, as compared to standard cellular technologies such as 2G, 3G, or higher LTE categories.
The capabilities of each device that connects to an LTE network is differentiated using “categories” in LTE radio technology. Cat 1 devices, for example, may offer download speeds of up to 10 Mbps, whereas Cat 4 devices can use carrier aggregation and allow download speeds of up to 150 Mbps. Cat M1 refers to a group of devices that operate on a narrow 1.4 MHz channel, with download rates of 589 Kbps and uplink speeds of 1.1 Mbps (3GPP release 14).
KEY FEATURES OF CAT-M1
Wide coverage
Increased coverage indoors, and in underground or semi-underground locations such as underground pipes, basement, or other remote areas.
Enhanced security & reliability
LTE-M networks are secure and reliable, operate on licenses spectrum and comes with carrier grade security.
Long Battery Life
LTE-M system is very power efficient offers up-to 10x improvement in battery life eliminating the need for external power supply.
Low cost
Lower module and call-out costs makes it easy to produce and scale LTE-M enabled IoT devices.
Future proof
LTE-M is the standard set by 3GPP (Third Generation Partner Project), thus has all reliability and continuity of 4G network and subsequently 5G.
Wide Application Support
LTE-M has very low latency (<100ms) and supports bidirectional communication, so it is suitable for both static and mobile use cases.
CAT M1 KEY APPLICATIONS
Asset Tracking
With the emergence of the self-driving car movement, connected automobiles are more popular than ever. Today’s automobiles contain a plethora of sensors that aid in safety, performance, automation, and other functions. Cat M1 is ideal for highly mobile assets such as automobiles as an LTE connectivity since it manages cell tower handoff as well as high-speed LTE — and is comparable to the typical smartphone — without the resource expense.
Wearables
Most smartwatches today have data functionality as an option, which is understandable. Having an Internet-connected device on your person can be beneficial. With its high lower power consumption, Cat M1 enhances the usability of IoT wearables. It can enable pinpoint positioning to locate missing folks, send out notifications when particular standards are fulfilled, grant access to protected facilities via authentication.
The majority of wearable use cases entail sensitive data such as personal data and security credentials. They’re also always connected to humans, who are the world’s most mobile assets. As a result, cellular communication types like Cat M1 are more prevalent. Most smartwatches today have data functionality as an option, which is understandable. Having an Internet-connected device on your person can be beneficial.With its high lower power consumption, Cat M1 enhances the usability of IoT wearables. It can enable pinpoint positioning to locate missing folks, send out notifications when particular standards are fulfilled, grant access to protected facilities via authentication.
The majority of wearable use cases entail sensitive data such as personal data and security credentials. They’re also always connected to humans, who are the world’s most mobile assets. As a result, cellular communication types like Cat M1 are more prevalent.
Vending machines
Vending machines are a great example of a large-scale IoT application because they can be put in the thousands almost everywhere. However, network coverage can be a problem if the device is placed in any location. Vending machines in subway stations, for example, would require coverage that can reach underground, which is difficult for most connectivity kinds. Plus, if your IoT sensors are on all the time, you’ll be changing batteries in a matter of minutes. Cat M1 helps in this scenario with its ability to minimise cost and ensure reliable coverage.
Security Systems
There’s no room for error when it comes to safeguarding the things you care about. As a result, Cat M1 cellular connectivity is used in many IoT-connected security systems. Alarm panels are the backbone of infrequent minimal data. It’s unlikely to be activated 99 percent of the time . Because of the minimal power requirements, you won’t be forgetting to change the batteries as often. Furthermore, the Cat M1 includes speech functionality via VoLTE (voice over LTE), making it ideal for IoT applications like as alarm panels that require some human involvement. When it comes to security, cellular is a considerably better choice than Wifi or Bluetooth right away because it lacks the network backbone that runs our smartphones.
