Ericsson, Telefónica and TELIT successfully TEST first end-to-end NB-IoT data call

NEW DELHI: Ericsson , Telefónica and TELIT have successfully tested the first End-to-End data communications call on NB-IoT over the air using Band 20 (800MHz) on Telefónica's network in Spain.

This milestone has been achieved using a complete multi-vendor environment using 3GPP standards with Ericsson's radio and packet core technologies together with TELIT modules integrating NB-IoT chipsets.

The tests are being conducted as part of the 5TONIC project, the 5G research and innovation open lab of which Ericsson is an active member, founded by Telefónica and IMDEA Networks Institute.

This activity together with the tests already performed for Cat-M1 (also known as LTE-M) will enable the demonstration of Massive IoT technologies powering a wide range of use cases during MWC 2017.

NB-IoT is a new 3GPP standardized IoT technology that will reduce the complexity of the chipsets, minimizing device cost and energy consumption. Advanced functionalities also allow for enhanced coverage for challenging locations and unlock business opportunity for Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) applications compared to current MBB devices deployed in commercial networks.

Ericsson's solution for this new standard of IoT wireless communications (NB-IoT) enables extended coverage, lower device cost relative to Mobile Broadband devices, and overall lower power consumption. Collectively, these new capabilities will facilitate a boom in new devices connecting a range of internet connected "things", driving productivity and creativity across a range of industries.

Ericsson is present today in all high-traffic LTE markets including the US, Japan and South Korea, and is ranked first for handling the most global LTE traffic. In addition, 40 percent of the world's total mobile traffic is carried over Ericsson networks. More than 270 LTE RAN and Evolved Packet Core networks have been delivered by Ericsson worldwide, of which 200 are live commercially.