Explore LTE UE categories : UE category in LTE cat 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
In LTE (Long-Term Evolution) networks, the concept of UE (User Equipment) categories plays a crucial role in defining the performance capabilities of devices. Each category, ranging from Cat 1 to Cat 20, determines key parameters like data throughput, MIMO support, and modulation schemes. Understanding LTE UE categories is essential for optimizing device performance, ensuring efficient data transmission, and tailoring devices to specific use cases such as IoT, mobile internet, and multimedia streaming. This page describes UE category in LTE viz. cat 1, cat 2, cat 3, cat 4 and lte cat 5 highlighting their data speeds, MIMO configurations, and typical applications.
The LTE UE downlink and uplink PHY layer parameters such as buffer sizes, modulation type, data rate (Mbps), MIMO, max. MCH bits, DL-SCH transport block size etc. are mentioned for different LTE UE categories in the table below.
| Feature | LTE UE Cat 1 | LTE UE Cat 2 | LTE UE Cat 3 | LTE UE Cat 4 | LTE UE Cat 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Rate(Mbps) | Downlink(DL) 10, Uplink(UL) 5 |
DL 50, UL 25 |
DL 100, UL 50 |
DL 150, UL 50 |
DL 300, UL 75 |
| Modulation type supported | DL: QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, UL: QPSK, 16QAM |
DL: QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, UL: QPSK, 16QAM |
DL: QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, UL: QPSK, 16QAM |
DL: QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, UL: QPSK, 16QAM |
DL: QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, UL: QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM |
| 2x2 MIMO | Not supported | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| 4x4 MIMO | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Mandatory |
| Total Layer-2 Buffer Size(Bytes) |
150 000 | 700 000 | 1 400 000 | 1 900 000 | 3 500 000 |
| Max. no. of bits of a MCH transport block received within a TTI |
10296 | 51024 | 75376 | 75376 | 75376 |
| Max. no. of bits of a DL-SCH transport block received within a TTI |
10296 | 51024 | 75376 | 75376 | 149776 |
| Max. no. of supported layers for spatial multiplexing in DL |
1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Max. no. of bits of an UL-SCH transport block transmitted within a TTI |
5160 | 25456 | 51024 | 51024 | 75376 |
Key differences between LTE UE cat 1 to 5
• Speed: The uplink and downlink speeds increase significantly as the category increases.
• MIMO: Higher categories tend to support more MIMO antennas, improving performance and reliability.
• Use Case: Lower categories like Cat 1 are used for IoT applications, while higher categories are
suited for high-speed internet and multimedia consumption on mobile devices.
Conclusion
LTE UE categories provide a structured way to classify devices based on their performance capabilities, enabling efficient network resource allocation and device optimization. Categories 1 to 5 cover a range of use cases, from low-speed IoT applications in Cat 1 to high speed multimedia streaming in Cat 5. As LTE technology continues to evolve, these categories ensure that devices and networks can operate seamlessly across various data demands, enhancing user experience and supporting diverse connectivity needs.