LTE Cat-1 BIS provides cellular connectivity suitable to connect a range of IoT applications. It sits among a catalogue of communications standards that can provide a dizzying array of options for those considering how best to connect their solutions. Naturally, each option has its own characteristics that makes it more or less suitable dependent on the use case. LTE Cat-1 BIS has marginally higher hardware costs and power consumption, compared with others, but it does have a number of benefits, including immediate global support, mobility, bandwidth and latency.
An overview of LTE Cat-1 BIS
LTE Cat-1 BIS is a 4G wireless communication standard for the IoT. It came about in 2016 as part of 3GPP Release 13 and uses existing LTE networks but operates with a single antenna. This makes it an attractive, streamlined option compared with LTE Cat-1 because it optimises cost and space.
To connect IoT devices, Cat-1 BIS is often considered alongside the low power wide area network (LPWAN) offerings of LTE-M and NB-IoT. All are potential contenders to migrate to from 2G and 3G as these networks are phased out.
For some, LTE-M and NB-IoT are the obvious choices, not least because of their long battery life, and it is true that Cat-1 BIS does have slightly higher power consumption, but it does have other characteristics in its favour.
Cat-1 BIS offers more flexible and consistent coverage than LPWAN technologies because it is a globally supported standard 4G technology, with the widespread availability that implies. That also means roaming agreements exist, which is often a critical factor as many IoT deployments are international.
Added to that, companies can opt for eSIM so they can download network profiles after products have been shipped and arrived at their destinations, to keep manufacturing processes simple and cost-effective through a single stock keeping unit (SKU). LTE-M is also eSIM compatible, but not in sleep mode.
How does LTE Cat-1 BIS compare to other 2G/3G alternatives?
Each use case will determine how suitable one connectivity option is over another. There may be upsides in some areas, downsides in others – what suits one application may not suit another. Having said that, there are likely to be deal-breakers that rule out some technologies. These could be around power, coverage, data rates or how well connections fare if devices are on the move.
The comparison here is for guidance only, the advice is always to work with experts who can assess connectivity needs and recommend an optimal solution according to the specific use case.
Let’s consider, first of all, data rates. Cat-1 BIS has higher upload connections speeds at up to 10 Mbps (up to 5Mbps download). NB-IoT provides a fraction of this while LTE-M operates at up to 1Mbps.
Energy consumption can be a determining factor as it affects ongoing running costs. Cat-1 BIS is suitable whether connected devices rely on battery, rechargeable battery or mains power while LTE-M and NB-IoT are battery or solar. Both Cat-1 BIS and LTE-M have around a five to 10 years’ battery life, however Cat-1 BIS has the higher energy consumption.
Latency can also be important if applications demand minimum response times. Cat-1 BIS is fast, at around 40 milliseconds, while LTE-M has a medium response time of ~100 milliseconds and NB-IoT the slowest of them all at ~1 second.
When it comes to deployment scenarios, LTE-M and Cat-1 BIS will work in many indoor scenarios, but they are designed with mobility in mind. That means they can support devices on the move, for example those in fleet management. NB-IoT, in contrast, is for stationary applications only but excels among the pack when it comes to locations that some signals may struggle to reach, such as those below ground.
On international coverage Cat-1 BIS leads, and with roaming too. NB-IoT and LTE-M’s global reach is uneven and LTE-M’s roaming faces minor restrictions whilst NB-IoT’s is less established.
When would you choose LTE Cat-1 BIS?
Clearly, there are a number of considerations that together help determine the best connectivity option, including for planned IoT migrations off sunsetting networks. Experts in IoT connectivity will weigh up all factors to meet the needs of each use case. Total cost of ownership, for example, is undoubtedly an important decider and this will often be deployment specific.
As a general guide, Cat-1 BIS can suit a range of applications including eBikes and eScooters that have rechargeable or swappable batteries. It supports two-way voice, so can be suitable for applications that require that, such as elevator emergency call systems.
As Cat-1 BIS is suited to devices that move, and has the benefit of 4G coverage, it can be considered for asset tracking, including deployments of device-carrying assets that cross national boundaries.
Then there are devices that may use SMS, voice or data services on 2G or 3G to monitor employees’ safety and security at work and vulnerable people in the home. These include wearables, healthcare monitors and lone worker devices. Cat-1 BIS can provide an alternative connectivity solution in these situations.
There are intricacies involved in navigating migrations off 2G/3G, connecting IoT devices for a first deployment and scaling solutions to support business growth. Cat-1 BIS provides one solution that may be ideal in some cases and includes some compelling characteristics to make its case. A connectivity provider can support enterprises weighing up their options, by providing strategic counsel and recommending a connectivity solution to suit the need.
Author: Iain Davidson, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Wireless Logic
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