LTE-M IoT SIM Card Solutions

The mobile communications technology Long Term Evolution for Machines (LTE-M or CAT M1) was developed specifically for applications in the field of the Internet of Things. Together with NB-IoT, the network belongs to the licensed Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) and is regarded as a bridge between the broadband technology LTE and narrowband IoT (NB-IoT). With its characteristics, LTE-M is particularly suitable for the use of mobile IoT applications.

Whether you plan your IoT project with LTE-M or another mobile radio technology, the IoT SIM card from 1NCE supports all common mobile radio standards.

Differences Between LTE-M and NB-IoT

The main difference between LTE-M and NB-IoT is the frequency bandwidth. As the name NarrowBand suggests, the frequency bandwidth for NB-IoT is considerably lower than for LTE-M. The data throughput rate is also higher with LTE-M, with up to 1 Mbit/s. For NB-IoT, the data rate is much lower, at up to 128 Kbit/s.

In terms of building penetration, NB-IoT performs better than LTE-M and is therefore predestined for stationary applications, especially in buildings and basements. LTE-M scores particularly well in mobile IoT applications because the technology supports what is known as “handover,” i.e., seamless radio cell switching without interruption.