In its latest report, the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has revealed that the number of operators actively investing in LTE-M networks has remained stable as of September 2023, compared to the previous report.
The focus seems to be shifting towards NB-IoT technology, showcasing a significant rise in both the number and range of devices supporting 3GPP IoT standards since September 2022.
HIGHLIGHTS
# 254 operators that have deployed or launched NB-IoT or LTE-M networks in 81 countries
# 173 operators actively investing in NB-IoT technology, of which:
# 128 have deployed or commercially launched NB-IoT networks
# 25 are planning, piloting or deploying NB-IoT networks
# 20 are evaluating or trialling NB-IoT technology
# 80 operators actively investing in LTE-M technology, of which:
# 60 have deployed or commercially launched LTE-M networks
# 11 are planning, piloting or deploying LTE-M networks
# Nine are trialling LTE-M technology
Key Findings:
GSA has identified a total of 254 LTE-M and NB-IoT solutions in use, with 143 operators in 66 countries having deployed or launched at least one of these technologies.
Of these, 45 operators have opted for both NB-IoT and LTE-M technologies, demonstrating a dual-focus approach.
The report indicates a global presence of 173 operators actively investing in NB-IoT technology, with 128 operators having already deployed or commercially launched NB-IoT networks.
Additionally, 25 operators are in the stages of planning, piloting, or deploying NB-IoT networks, while 20 are in the evaluation or trial phase for NB-IoT technology.
GSA has identified 80 operators across 44 countries actively investing in LTE-M networks. Among these, 60 operators in 38 countries have already deployed or commercially launched LTE-M networks.
Furthermore, 11 operators are in the process of planning, deploying, or piloting LTE-M networks, while nine operators are engaged in testing or trialing LTE-M technology.
Rise in IoT Equipment:
GSA has observed a substantial rise in devices supporting 3GPP IoT standards since September 2022, with 1,366 devices supporting either Cat-M1, Cat-NB1 (NB-IoT), or Cat-NB2.
Within this total, 534 devices support Cat-NB1, 156 support Cat-NB2, and 676 devices support Cat-M1.
The report from GSA highlights the evident trend of operators increasingly investing in NB-IoT networks, signaling a market nearing saturation for initial LTE-M rollout. The steady growth in IoT technologies is further substantiated by the increasing number and variety of devices supporting 3GPP IoT standards, underlining the industry’s ongoing evolution.
