LTE-M: Advantages and Disadvantages

lte m
iot
lpwa
cellular communication
machine communication

This page explores the benefits and drawbacks of LTE-M (Long Term Evolution for Machine-Type Communications).

What is LTE-M?

Introduction:

LTE-M adheres to 3GPP specifications, similar to LTE technology. It stands for Long Term Evolution for Machine-Type Communications. It’s primarily designed to meet the objectives of cellular IoT devices, such as low device cost, deep coverage, longer battery life, and higher cell capacity.

LTE-M, along with NB-IoT, are two LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) technologies tailored for IoT applications. They facilitate the transmission/reception of small data packets using lower bandwidth at reduced costs. These technologies find applications in various sectors, including smart buildings/cities, healthcare, people/asset/animal tracking, and pollution monitoring.

LTE-M Architecture

LTE-M devices are categorized into Cat-0, Cat-M1, and Cat-M2, as defined by different 3GPP releases. LTE-M Cat-0, Cat-M1, and Cat-M2 follow 3GPP TS 36 series of rel.12, rel.13 and rel.14 respectively. The figure above illustrates the LTE-M system architecture and the necessary modifications from the standard LTE architecture. Cat-M1 features are highlighted in the table below.

LTE-M Cat-M1 Features

FeatureDescription
Bandwidth1.4 MHz (Maximum 6 PRBS are allocated in DL/UL equivalent to 1.08 MHz)
Peak Data Rate (DL/UL)1 Mbps
CoverageUpto 11 Km
Duplex modesHD-FDD, FD-FDD, TDD
Number of receive antennas1
Transmit power20 dBm
Advanced power saving modesPSM, eDRX
Modulation (Highest)16-QAM
Coding scheme (DL/UL)Turbo code
Spatial Layers (Max. in DL/UL)1
Maximum TBS (DL/UL)1000 bits
CE ModesMode-A(Mandatory), Mode-B (Optional)

Benefits (Advantages) of LTE-M

Here are the key advantages of LTE-M:

  • Low-bandwidth IoT Applications: Ideal for IoT applications requiring small data transfers using low bandwidth at low costs.
  • Excellent Coverage: Provides particularly good coverage, especially in the USA.
  • TCP/IP Connectivity: Uses TCP/IP, enabling connection to any server.
  • Faster Data Rates: Offers faster data rates compared to some other LPWA technologies.
  • Power Efficiency: Designed to be highly power-efficient, resulting in longer battery life for devices. Power-saving modes like PSM and eDRX further enhance battery performance.
  • Easy Deployment and Interoperability: Easy to deploy and interoperable with existing LTE networks.
  • High Capacity: Supports a large number of devices per cell.

Drawbacks (Disadvantages) of LTE-M

Here are the main disadvantages of LTE-M:

  • Higher System Costs: System costs can be higher than some other LPWA technologies.
  • No IPSec Integration: IPSec is not incorporated.
  • IPR Risks and Certifications: Potential IPR risks and certification requirements can be concerns.
  • Power Consumption During Firmware Upgrades: Carrier firmware upgrades can consume significant power.
  • Not Suitable for Large Data Transfers: Not suitable for applications requiring large amounts of data.
  • Lower Data Transfer Speeds: Doesn’t offer the very high-speed data transfer capabilities of other cellular technologies like 4G or 5G.
NB-IoT: Advantages and Disadvantages

NB-IoT: Advantages and Disadvantages

Explore the benefits and drawbacks of NB-IoT (Narrowband-Internet of Things) technology for low-power wide-area networks. Learn about its features, advantages, and limitations.

nb-iot
iot
lpwa
LTE-M Frame Structure Explained

LTE-M Frame Structure Explained

Understand the LTE-M frame structure, including hyperframes, frames, subframes, slots, and the PRB pair. Explore its constituents and how it relates to LTE.

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frame structure
cellular iot