Telit Introduces LTE Cat M1 Modules, Part of 13-Product IoT Release at CTIA

The connectivity experts at Telit, super sponsor of the IoT Evolution Expo, have revealed that it will showcase four LTE Cat M1 modules for the U.S. and one LTE Cat NB1 for Europe at CTIA Super Mobility 2016, to be held in September.

The modules are:

• Two ME910 LTE UE Category M1 to cover major U.S. mobile operators
• Two ME866 LTE UE Category M1 to cover major U.S. mobile operators
• One NE866 LTE UE Category NB1 for the European market

These IoT-optimized LTE modules have been designed to be compliant with the newly-approved Release 13 standard set by the 3GPP, which consist of groups of telecommunications associations empowered to guide the evolution of the mobile (cellular) technology industry. Telit said it will aim to make the new modules commercially available in early 2017.

Cat M1 and NB1 standards were devised to address specific needs of IoT applications, offering optimized power consumption and enhanced coverage. The new LTE UE Category M1 modules offer peak downlink and uplink data rates of 1Mbps. This generation of enhanced machine type communication (eMTC) products support power saving mode and extended discontinuous reception (EDRX), which together allow the module to wake up periodically, exchange small amounts of data with the network and return to sleep, providing for years of battery life. The NE866 is a 3GPP Release13 eMTC product capable of delivering long battery life of ten years or more while offering peak data rates of 250Kbps downlink and 20Kbps uplink.

The company has sped these modules to market to help smooth the transition away from 2G and, eventually, 3G, and will hopefully mesh with market demand.

“Our customers and new IoT adopters already understand the different benefits Release 13 brings and are therefore looking for a complete portfolio of compliant modules, rather than a single product from module vendors claiming to be pioneering the new 3GPP standard,” said Mike Ueland, President, Telit Americas. “What all this means is that in order to ensure you retain the device deployment flexibility you enjoyed with LTE Cat 1, for example, we are announcing a broad portfolio of Cat M modules here today.”

The new portfolio will be featured on the Telit booth #4832 at CTIA Super Mobility 2016, taking place at the Sands Expo, Las Vegas, September 7 to 9.