Tech: AT&T has Verizon in its sights with new IoT network (T, VZ)

AT&T announced it launched a national LTE Cat-M1 network in the US with plans to expand to Mexico this week.

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AT&T announced it launched a national LTE Cat-M1 network in the US with plans to expand to Mexico this week.

Companies that want to leverage this specialized network for the enterprise IoT can pay $1.50 per device per month, plus the cost of the associated modules.

The technology is useful for devices like asset-tracking sensors and RFID tags that use very little data and power. But unlike low-power wide area networks (LPWANs) like Sigfox or Senet, LTE Cat-M1 uses existing infrastructure, making it less labor- and capital-intensive to deploy — savings that can be passed onto consumers.

This network could help the company keep pace with Verizon, which is also building out LTE Cat-M1 networks around the world. Verizon beat AT&T to market in the US, so AT&T is hoping its early push into Mexico can give it a first-mover advantage in that market and help balance the competitive landscape.

While useful in some scenarios, LTE Cat-M1 probably isn't the game changer AT&T wants it to be for the IoT. Here's why:

• It's designed for a very specific set of IoT use cases. While its useful for the enterprise IoT, LTE Cat-M1's set of uses cases are pretty narrow. AT&T notes that it's ideal for sensors and tags to track items throughout the supply chain, smart city deployments, and wearables like a Fitbit. However, LTE Cat-M1 isn't useful for IoT devices that need to use and transmit a lot of data — like robots or self-driving cars — limiting its ceiling of use.
• And IoT decision makers are still focused on networks they're familiar with, as opposed to new introductions. Companies using the IoT can use many networks to connect their devices, including Wi-Fi, traditional Cellular, Bluetooth, and LPWANs like Sigfox. But this wealth of options might lead IoT providers to just use the networks they're most familiar with — a 2016 Business Insider survey found that 80% of IoT service providers use Wi-Fi for connectivity, 60% use Cellular, and 59% use Bluetooth.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is growing rapidly as companies around the world connect thousands of devices every day. But behind those devices, there’s a sector worth hundreds of billions of dollars supporting the IoT.

Platforms are the glue that holds the IoT together, allowing users to take full advantage of the disruptive potential of connected devices. These platforms allow the IoT to achieve its transformational potential, letting businesses manage devices, analyze data, and automate the workflow.

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AT&T announced it launched a national LTE Cat-M1 network in the US with plans to expand to Mexico this week. Read Full Story