Highly Integrated (MCU, eSIM and LTE-M/NB1 modem), certified end device with antenna connection for ease of integration with several different types of applications.
WHAT IS “LTE-M”?
LTE-M is the abbreviation for LTE Cat-M1 or Long Term Evolution (4G), category M1.
This technology is for Internet of Things devices to connect directly to a 4G network (Mobile Network Operator – MNO such as AT&T or Verizon, etc.) without a gateway and typically on batteries.
LTE-M which includes eMTC (enhanced Machine Type Communication), is a type of low power wide area network (LPWAN) radio technology standard developed by 3GPP to enable a wide range of cellular devices and services (specifically, for machine-to-machine and Internet of Things applications).
In March 2019, the Global Mobile Suppliers Association reported that over 100 operators had deployed/launched either NB-IoT or LTE-M networks.
LTE-M has a higher data rate, supports mobility, and voice over the network, but requires more bandwidth than NB-IoT, and cannot be put into guard band frequency bands like NB-IoT.
To learn more about LTE-M, please visit GSMA LTE-M.
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KEY FEATURES OF LTE-M TECHNOLOGY
- GEOLOCATION
- - Enables GPS-free, low power periodic tracking applications
- SMALL SIZE
- - Size attractive to wearables that previously had no means of cellular connectivity
- STANDARDIZED
- - Through PTCRB/GCF certification improved global interoperability with global wireless networks operators for IoT applications
- LOW POWER
- - Protocol designed specifically for low current consumption extending battery lifetime up to 10+ years
- LOW COST
- - Ubiquitous connectivity for pennies on the dollar
- SECURE
- - Supports HTTPS and MQTTS
- MOBILITY
- - Supports smooth operation in cellular networks for cell-edge and handover scenarios
What is “NB-IoT”?
NarrowBand-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) is a standards-based low power wide area (LPWA) technology developed to enable a wide range of new IoT devices and services.
NB-IoT significantly improves the power consumption of user devices, system capacity and spectrum efficiency, especially in deep coverage.
NB-IoT uses a subset of the LTE standard, but limits the bandwidth to a single narrow-band of 200kHz.
To learn more about NB-IoT, please visit GSMA NB-IoT.
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Key Features for NB-IoT Technology
- LOWER TRANSMISSION COST
- - NB-IoT offers lower bandwidth data connections at and even lower cost, where network latency is not critical for an application
- STANDARDIZED
- - Through PTCRB/GCF certification improved global interoperability with global wireless networks operators for IoT applications
- ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
- - Where LTE-M coverage may be lacking, NB-IoT can be used and vice versa, unless security and mobility is critical for you application
Benefits of on-module MCU
- CURRENT CONSUMPTION
- - Ultra-low current consumption for microcontroller in sleep mode
- PERFORMANCE
- - High-performance Arm® Cortex®-M4 32-bit RISC core operating at a frequency of up to 80 MHz
- - Implements a full set of DSP instructions and a memory protection unit (MPU) which enhances application security
- PROCESSING SPEED
- - Embedded AES hardware accelerator
- PERIPHERALS
- - Extensive range of enhanced I/Os and peripherals connected to two APB buses, two AHB buses and a 32-bit multi-AHB bus matrix.
- - Offer a fast 12-bit ADC (5 Msps), two comparators, one operational amplifier, an internal voltage reference buffer, a low-power RTC, one general-purpose 32-bit timer, one 16-bit PWM timer dedicated to motor control, four general-purpose 16-bit timers, and two 16-bit low-power timers
- OS
- - STMicroElectronic’s X-Cube Cellular