LTE-M vs. Sigfox
Comparing 2 standards across 13 specifications. 13 key differences identified.
LTE-M (enhanced Machine-Type Communication / eMTC, 3GPP Cat-M1 and Cat-M2) is a licensed cellular IoT standard operating within 1.4 MHz to 5 MHz channel bandwidths. Delivering data rates up to 1 to 4 Mbps, it supports full cell tower handover mobility and Voice over LTE (VoLTE), making it ideal for vehicle asset tracking and emergency panic systems.
Sigfox is a proprietary, global Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) protocol developed by Sigfox (now UnaBiz). Operating in unlicensed sub-GHz ISM bands (868 MHz EU / 902 MHz US), it utilizes Ultra-Narrowband (UNB) modulation with a microscopic 100 Hz channel bandwidth to transmit tiny 12-byte payloads over extreme distances with ultra-low power.
Specification Comparison Table
13 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Channel Bandwidth
|
1.4 MHz (Cat-M1: 6 LTE PRBs) / 5 MHz (Cat-M2) | 100 Hz (Europe) / 600 Hz (US) |
|
3GPP Specification
|
Release 13 (Cat-M1) / Release 14 (Cat-M2) | — |
|
Peak Data Rates (Cat-M1)
|
1 Mbps Downlink / 1 Mbps Uplink | — |
|
Peak Data Rates (Cat-M2)
|
Up to 4 Mbps Downlink / 7 Mbps Uplink | — |
|
Voice Support
|
Native VoLTE (Voice over LTE) supported | — |
|
Mobility Support
|
Seamless Connected-Mode Cell Handover | — |
|
Power Saving Features
|
PSM (Power Saving Mode) and eDRX | — |
|
Modulation Scheme
|
— | UNB (Ultra-Narrowband) DBPSK uplink / GFSK downlink |
|
Frequency Bands
|
— | RC1 (868 MHz EU), RC2 (902 MHz US), RC3 (Japan), RC4 (Latin America/APAC) |
|
Uplink Payload Limit
|
— | 12 bytes per message |
|
Daily Message Cap
|
— | 140 messages/day per device (ETSI 1% duty cycle limit) |
|
Transmission Data Rate
|
— | 100 bps (EU) / 600 bps (US) |
|
Typical Range
|
— | 10 km (urban) / up to 40–50 km (rural line-of-sight) |