In the crowded and often confusing field of cellular IoT technologies, CAT-1bis frequently flies under the radar. While LTE-M and NB-IoT dominate headlines, CAT-1bis has quietly proven itself as a viable and often superior alternative for a wide range of IoT applications.
According to GSMA, CAT-1bis offers higher data throughput and broader coverage, making it suitable for IoT deployments that require more than LPWAN but don’t need full LTE complexity (GSMA Mobile IoT).
CAT-1bis sits in a unique middle ground. It’s not as power-efficient as NB-IoT, nor does it always match LTE-M’s indoor coverage. But it provides balanced connectivity—enough speed, coverage, and reliability for use cases where LPWAN falls short.
The “bis” indicates a second-generation LTE Cat-1, simplifying device design by requiring one antenna while maintaining 10 Mbps downlink and 5 Mbps uplink. This reduces device cost and complexity, making CAT-1bis ideal for large-scale IoT deployments.
CAT-1bis is the sweet spot for applications that require higher bandwidth than NB-IoT but less complexity than full LTE. Key benefits include:
The proof of any technology lies in its real-world performance, and CAT-1bis is proving its worth across multiple industries.
Asset Tracking and Fleet Management: Companies managing vehicle fleets or high-value assets need reliable location tracking with the ability to transmit substantial data payloads. CAT-1bis provides the bandwidth to support GPS data, vehicle diagnostics, and driver behavior analytics in near real-time. Unlike NB-IoT, which might struggle with frequent location updates, CAT-1bis handles these demands effortlessly.
Smart Metering: While basic meter reading can work with NB-IoT, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) often requires more robust connectivity. CAT-1bis supports the transmission of detailed consumption patterns, grid management data, and remote configuration updates without the latency issues that can plague lower-bandwidth alternatives.
Healthcare and Medical Devices: Remote patient monitoring, connected medical equipment, and telemedicine applications benefit from CAT-1bis's higher data rates. When you need to transmit ECG waveforms, blood glucose trends, or video consultations, the additional bandwidth becomes essential. The reliability of LTE infrastructure also provides peace of mind for mission-critical healthcare applications.
Retail and Point-of-Sale Systems: Modern payment terminals, digital signage, and inventory management systems require consistent connectivity with reasonable throughput. CAT-1bis delivers this without the complexity of full-featured LTE, making it ideal for retail environments where deployment simplicity matters.
Smart City Infrastructure: Traffic management systems, environmental sensors, and public safety equipment often need to balance power efficiency with data throughput. CAT-1bis provides the flexibility to handle varying data loads while maintaining reliable connectivity across urban environments.
At Velos IoT, we help businesses choose the right IoT connectivity. Our connectivity management platform supports CAT-1bis alongside LTE-M, NB-IoT, and traditional LTE, offering:
We guide clients to the optimal technology for each use case, whether it’s CAT-1bis, LTE-M, NB-IoT, or a hybrid approach.
While LTE-M and NB-IoT continue to dominate discussions in the cellular IoT space—and rightfully so for many applications—CAT-1bis is proving to be a valuable player in its own right. It fills a genuine gap in the market for applications that need more than what LPWAN technologies can offer but don't require the full complexity and cost of standard LTE.
The technology's success isn't about displacing LTE-M or NB-IoT; it's about expanding the options available to IoT solution providers. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each technology, you can make informed decisions that best serve your deployment needs.
As the IoT ecosystem continues to mature, we're likely to see CAT-1bis adoption accelerate, particularly in markets where LPWAN infrastructure lags behind demand. Smart deployments will increasingly leverage multiple cellular technologies in parallel, choosing the right connectivity option for each device type and use case.
The dark horse of cellular IoT is coming into its own. Perhaps it's time we stopped overlooking it.
What is CAT-1bis?
A second-generation LTE Cat-1 standard offering balanced throughput, coverage, and device simplicity.
How does CAT-1bis compare to LTE-M and NB-IoT?
Higher data rates than NB-IoT, broader coverage than LTE-M, and simpler deployment than full LTE Cat-1.
Which IoT applications benefit most from CAT-1bis?
Asset tracking, smart metering, healthcare monitoring, retail POS, and smart city infrastructure.
Does Velos IoT support CAT-1bis deployments?
Yes, alongside LTE-M, NB-IoT, and traditional LTE, with intelligent connectivity management and analytics.