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EC-GSM-IoT Vs NB-IoT Vs LTE Cat-M1 | difference between EC-GSM-IoT NB-IoT LTE Cat-M1

This page compares EC-GSM-IoT Vs NB-IoT Vs LTE Cat-M1 and describes difference between EC-GSM-IoT, NB-IoT and LTE Cat-M1.

Introduction:
All these three 3GPP standards are used for IoT (Internet of Things).
EC-GSM-IoT: Enhancements to existing GSM/EGPRS to support extended coverage, long life, low device cost, variable rates, higher number of subscribers, enhanced security etc. Refer EC-GSM IoT basics>>
NB-IoT: It stands for Narrow band-IoT. It is specified in LTE Release-13. It is successor to LTE Cat-M technology. It fulfills requirements of Low Power Wide Area Network. It offers long battery life, lower latency, better coverage compare to LTE-M technology. Refer NB IoT tutotial >>
LTE Cat-M1: It is LPWA network air interface which allows to connect with IoT and M2M devices at medium data rates. It supports about 375 Kbps data rates in downlink and uplink with half duplex mode. It offers long battery life with extended coverage. It is also known as eMTC (enhanced machine-type communication). It is part of 3GPP Release 13.


Specifications EC-GSM-IoT NB-IoT LTE Cat-M1
Deployment Band In Band GSM In Band & Guard Band LTE, Standalone In Band LTE
Coverage 164 dB (33 dBm power class), 154 dB (23 dBm power class) 164 dB for standalone, FFS others 155.7 dB
Downlink TDMA/FDMA, GMSK & 8PSK (optional), 1 Rx OFDMA, 15 KHz tone spacing, 1 Rx OFDMA, 15 KHz tone spacing, turbo code, 16QAM, 1 Rx
Uplink TDMA/FDMA, GMSK & 8PSK (optional) Single tone, 15 KHz & 3.75 KHz spacing
SC-FDMA, 15 KHz tone spacing, turbo code
SC-FDMA, 15 KHz tone spacing turbo code, 16 QAM
Bandwidth 200 KHz per channel 180 KHz 1.08 MHz
Peak Rate (DL/UL) For DL/UL using four time slots- 70 Kbps using GMSK and 240 Kbps using 8PSK DL: about 50 Kbps
UL: about 50 kbps for multi-tone, about 20 Kbps for single tone
1 Mbps for DL/UL
Duplexing HD, FDD HD (type B), FDD FD & HD (type B), FDD and TDD
Power Saving PSM, ext. I-DRX PSM, ext. I-DRX, C-DRX PSM, ext. I-DRX, C-DRX
Power Class 33 dBm, 23 dBm 23 dBm, others TBD 23 dBm, 20 dBm


NB-IoT Related Stuff


EC-GSM IoT, NB-IoT and LTE RELATED LINKS

This tutorial section on LTE basics covers following sub topics:
What is EC-GSM IoT  NB-IoT tutorial  LTE tutorial  LTE features  LTE terminologies  Frame  TDD FDD  Channel types  PHY  stack  throughput  CA   cell search  network entry  Timers  PSS vs SSS  Security   LTE Bands  EARFCN  Hotspot  router  What is VoLTE  VoLTE originating call flow  VoLTE UE attach and registration procedure 

Difference between LTE Advanced vs LTE Advanced Pro vs 5G Links

Article on LTE Advanced>>   LTE-a vs LTE-a Pro>>   5G vs LTE Advanced Pro>>  




IoT-Internet of Things Tags


IoT Wireless Technologies

WLAN    ➤THREAD    ➤EnOcean    ➤LoRa    ➤SIGFOX    ➤WHDI    ➤Zigbee   ➤6LoWPAN   ➤Zigbee RF4CE   ➤Z-Wave   ➤NFC   ➤RFID   ➤Lonworks   ➤CEBus   ➤UPB  

RF and Wireless Terminologies