Bell is set to launch an LTE-M network, to support the growing use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
The network will launch in 2018, according to Nathan Gibson, a Bell spokesperson.
Long Term Evolution, category M1 (LTE-M) is a low-power network designed to directly connect IoT devices like smart thermostats, home assistants — like Google Home and Amazon Echo — as well as smart meters, and security systems to the Internet.
As a result, devices connected to an LTE-M network consume consume less battery, while maintaining a stronger Internet connection.
“LTE-M makes it possible to have many thousands of smart sensors collecting and sending data over a wider range and with better battery life than other connectivity options,” said Stephen Howe, Bell’s CTO, in a media release.
Bell tested its LTE-M network earlier this year, with help from BeWhere — a company that builds BlueTooth into consumer products, in order to allow users to more easily track their IoT devices.
“Bell’s LTE-M network combined with BeWhere’s new beacon and cloud based applications will provide businesses and government organizations a level of operational visibility that was previously unavailable or cost prohibitive,” said Owen Moore, CEO of BeWhere.
The Canadian telecommunications giant also said that LTE-M would “play a key role” in Bell MTS Innovations’ Agriculture program, that was announced earlier this week.
MobileSyrup has reached out to Bell to find out when precisely the company plans on launching its LTE-M network.
Update 06/01/17: Article updated to reflect that Bell’s LTE-M network will launch in 2018.
Source: Bell
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