Orange LTE-M

LTE-M is a next stage of development of the LTE mobile networks (4G) in which concept the solution of a task of decrease in energy consumption, according to requirements of IoT devices is provided.

Part of IoT-strategy

LTE-M networks will become indivisible element of IoT-strategy of Orange including the Datavenue platform and offers in data slicing pane. As envisioned by the company, all this will enrich a portfolio of safe network solutions, such as LoRa, 2G/3G/4G and also Wi-Fi. Modules, available to testing, will fill up with themselves the directory of the equipment connected to the Datavenue platform which as of October, 2017 contains 80 devices.

According to the strategy, Orange aims to provide to clients a full range of opportunities for IoT-connection of devices through the Datavenue platform, and development of LTE-M network is its integral part.

Availability of LTE-M devices allows clients to begin development of proprietary applications for work with LTE-M even before full start of these networks in 2018, emphasized in Orange.

Scopes of application

According to the company, possibilities of LTE-M networks are suitable for the broadest spectrum of the projects in the field of Internet of Things implemented within the concept the Industry 4.0 such as:

• monitoring of work of industrial equipment,
• remote monitoring,
• intellectual service and accounting,
• telematic services
• insurance of transport.

2018: Orange LTE-M in France

On November 22, 2018 Orange announced commercial start of network based on the LTE-M standard in France. Until the end of 2018 the networks started by Orange in Belgium in May will be unrolled in Spain and Romania. It will allow to use specialized standards of communication LTE-M and LoRa as the main when implementing projects of Internet of Things (IoT). Innovations will give the chance to clients, partners and equipment manufacturers to develop and test IoT-solutions for housing and public utilities, the industry and logistics.

In addition to LTE-M LoRa — the technology providing the minimum energy consumption and connection of a large number of the supported IoT-devices on a significant area is used. Its advantages consist in the low cost of the equipment for deployment of LoRa-networks and an opportunity to include in an ecosystem not only the various supported sensors, but also customized applications. For November, 2018 the LoRa technology is used by about 250 corporate clients of Orange. Will select LoRa or LTE-M Orange technology depending on requirements of the customer and local conditions.

Solutions on the basis of the LTE-M standard work in the energy saving mode, considerably cutting a consumption of the battery of sensors in comparison with the IoT-solutions created on the basis of standards 2G/3G/4G. Operating expenses and a negative impact on the environment are as a result reduced. The IoT-devices supporting LTE-M will be available by the end of 2018 on Datavenue Market — a marketplace of Orange Business Services to smart sensors and other connected objects.

2017: Expansion of opportunities of application of IoT at the expense of LTE-M

The international service provider Orange Business Services announced on October 24, 2017 deepening of the strategy for development of LTE-M networks directed to support of solutions of Internet of Things (IoT) for business market.

Field tests of LTE-M networks

Since that moment as Orange expressed in February, 2017 the intention to pay priority attention to development of LTE-M not only in Europe, but also worldwide, the company carried out several field tests of LTE-M networks:

• In Spain Orange started a number of tests in which key customers and also producers of devices for which participation in the project was absolutely open took part. These tests covered such directions as intellectual housing and communal services, the smart cities and production management.
• In Belgium Orange prepares test laboratory LTE IoT City which will be located in Antwerp for opening. It will open for pilot projects of clients of the company already in the fourth quarter 2017.
• In France Orange is going to carry out internal tests during which technical and user aspects of LTE-M will be analyzed. These tests will begin in the fourth quarter 2017 and will be carried out before start of LTE-M network in 2018.

The first LTE-M are devices

Availability of LTE-M is a part of the specialized Orange program for support of producers of attached devices. Orange invites creators of objects in the Open IoT Lab laboratories, opened within GSMA Association and located in business center Orange Gardens, for testing of devices and the equipment in LTE-M networks. On this innovation platform Orange it is ready to provide both all necessary technical resources, and expert support.

The company already tested the first series of the equipment in the LTE-M network:

• The strong and reliable devices intended for monitoring and asset management of the enterprises within the concept the Industry 4.0.
• The personal waterproof GPS tracker intended for independently working specialists.
• The small GPS tracker intended for monitoring of location of valuable objects.

The first samples of these devices are already available to clients to pilot testing.