LTE variant for IoT with higher data rates and mobility support compared to NB-IoT.
Description
LTE-M (also known as eMTC - enhanced Machine Type Communications or Cat-M1) is an LPWAN technology based on LTE, designed for IoT applications requiring higher throughput and mobility compared to NB-IoT.
LTE-M uses 1.08 MHz bandwidth and supports peak rates up to 1 Mbps. It maintains full mobility and supports VoLTE for voice applications, making it suitable for wearables and asset tracking.
Purpose & Motivation
LTE-M was introduced to:
- Support IoT devices requiring higher data rates than NB-IoT - Enable mobile IoT applications (vehicle tracking, wearables) - Provide voice capability for IoT devices - Offer simpler upgrade path from existing LTE networks
Key Features
- ✓1.08 MHz bandwidth
- ✓Up to 1 Mbps data rate
- ✓Full mobility support
- ✓VoLTE capability
- ✓PSM and eDRX
- ✓15 dB coverage enhancement