Ericsson, Qualcomm make data call on eMTC/Cat-M1 standard

Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies, a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, completed China's first data call using new mobile Internet of Things (IoT) eMTC/Cat-M1 technology. The test was achieved in the lab of the research division of China Mobile - China Mobile Research Institute (CMRI) - on 11 November, 2016, during a data call using Qualcomm Technologies MDM9206 LTE modem, and communicating live over the air to Ericsson's radio access network.

The call focused on the evaluation of eMTC/Cat-M1, a new mobile IoT technology that was standardised in 3GPP Release 13 for low-power wide-area (LPWA) applications and services. The technology is suited to support many LPWA use cases requiring higher mobility support, including vehicle telematics, consumer wearables, and more. It achieves better performance than the existing 4G/LTE technology in terminal cost, standby time and coverage.

Ericsson is working closely with leading companies to accelerate the pace of development and commercialization of the ecosystem for mobile IoT products. The commercial software product for eMTC/Cat-M1 will be available at the end of 2016, together with support from the Ericsson Radio System.

Ericsson is present today in all high-traffic LTE markets including the US, Japan and South Korea. More than 270 LTE RAN and Evolved Packet Core networks have been delivered by Ericsson worldwide, of which 200 are live commercially.