The operator moved its IoT business into a separate company in April 2024, essentially turning it into an MVNO so adding LTE-M will broaden its potential customer base
Vodafone has announced it is adding Long Term Evolution for Machines (LTE-M or LTE Cat-M1) to its IoT services portfolio, joining NB-IoT, 4G and 5G IoT connectivity for customers. LTE-M is specifically designed for IoT applications that usually do not have a constant power supply and only transmit small amounts of data.
LTE-M is optimised for low power consumption, which makes it suitable for battery-powered devices. It works best in scenarios which involve infrequent, small bursts of data transmission making it ideal for sensors for telemetry or status updates. It also provides extended coverage and better signal penetration. Like NB-IoT, LTE-M is a Low Powered, Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology. LPWAN technology can allow IoT devices to operate reliably for up to 10 years on a single battery charge.
“When you have a data-led business, decisions are driven by insight not by assumption. IoT has the potential to revolutionise business, but we must make it accessible to all,” said Vodafone UK business director Nick Gliddon. “The power of LTE-M is the ability to choose the right tools for the right job. 5G might be the right choice for some IoT use cases, whereas LTE-M might be better for others. By enabling LTE-M to sit alongside 4G, 5G and NB-IoT, we are providing a technology-agnostic solution for customers. This is about picking the right solution, at the right price point.”
He clarified by adding that while 4G and 5G solutions are available for IoT use cases that require high data throughput, constant connectivity and low latency to respond in micro- or milliseconds, LTE-M and NB-IoT are designed for low data throughput and non-time sensitive use cases. LTE-M can provide continuous connectivity and low latency services in some scenarios, but only to facilitate small data batches.
LTE-M and NB-IoT differ in their typical download/upload speeds (300kbps and 20kbps respectively). NB-IoT is better for difficult to reach locations and batch data upload (such as underground water pipes or smart meters in basements), while LTE-M is optimised for mobility (such as asset tracking and wearable devices) and event-based connectivity.
Managed connectivity
All Vodafone IoT customers also gain access to Vodafone’s own Managed IoT Connectivity Platform to provide intelligence into how devices are performing with service diagnostic and analytics tools to manage operations in real-time, as well as a range of APIs to integrate with customer backend IT systems.
Customers can also take advantage of Vodafone’s global network presence, and its relationships with roaming and technology providers to create a single interface to the world of IoT connectivity. With 1,400 dedicated IoT professionals across five continents, supporting 160 million IoT connections, Vodafone reckons it can support all use cases from local to multi-national.
Global possibilities
When Vodafone spun off its IoT unit the move was linked to its broader strategic partnership with Microsoft, announced in January 2024 given that this also saw Microsoft playing a key role in scaling Vodafone’s managed IoT connectivity platform. The partnership meant the telco could use Azure to help expand its service offerings but more importantly, its market footprint.
The rollout of LTE-M has seen varying progress across different regions globally. As of early 2024, there were 61 operators that had deployed or commercially launched LTE-M networks worldwide, with 20 operators planning, piloting, or trialling the technology, according to industry body GSA.
Europe has been relatively proactive in adopting LTE-M and you could argue that Vodafone is a late arrival. For example, Deutsche Telekom completed its LTE-M network rollout in Germany in 2020, providing enhanced connectivity for IoT applications. The region’s significant demand for industrial automation and investments in enhanced manufacturing operations has driven this growth.