According to an announcement from the telecommunications giant on Thursday, AT&T is working with technology leaders to show how new LTE-M technology will bring the Internet of Things (IoT) to a new generation of devices and markets.
AT&T plans to pilot the LTE-M network in the San Francisco market starting in November. We will launch the technology across our commercial LTE network in 2017.
LTE-M technology will connect a wide variety of IoT solutions such as smart utility meters, asset monitoring, vending machines, alarm systems, fleet, heavy equipment, mHealth and wearables.
Key features expected from LTE-M are:
- Lower costs for modules that connect IoT devices to the LTE network.
- Longer battery life; up to 10 years for certain enabled IoT devices.
- Better coverage for IoT devices underground and deep inside buildings.
“We have pulled together players from across the ecosystem to pilot solutions for a myriad of industries and applications,” said Chris Penrose, senior vice president, Internet of Things Solutions, AT&T. “LTE-M will provide a unique combination of enhanced coverage and longer battery life with carrier-grade security. It’s part of our strategy to offer the widest range of IoT network options to our customers.”
