LTE refers to Long-Term Evolution, which was a standard wireless broadband that was initially developed for telecommunications. The goal of LTE was to increase the capacity and speed of wireless data networks using digital signal processing techniques, and has since been developed for infrastructure and critical communications due to its wide range and reliable connectivity.
LTE 450 operates on the 450MHz frequency band and offers deep signal penetration over considerably large areas due to its low frequency. LTE 450’s specific features of high and secure speeds, dependable connection and long range coverage makes it the perfect choice for modern infrastructure such as critical communications. The wireless technology is both reliable and economical due to requiring fewer base stations, and technologies such as 4G and 5G use separate frequency bands to avoid congestion.
So, what specifically makes LTE 450 a good choice for critical communications, and what other use cases are there?
Critical communications
Critical communications refers to a mandatory channel that needs to be reliable and always operational for certain infrastructure to function in an emergency state. An example of this is when a power grid experiences an issue, the main controller needs to be able to communicate with colleagues to resolve the issue and avoid widespread power outages. A separate example is with first medical responders that need to be able to exchange information on coordinates and a patient’s state in order to respond as best they can.
LTE 450 is the perfect choice for critical communications as it is free of congestion and interference compared to other high-frequency public networks. LTE 450 is also an economical choice for infrastructure as its wide coverage and deep penetration reduce the need for base stations, which also reduces the risk of failures and outages.
What are the specific use cases for LTE 450
Power grids
Areas such as Europe have adopted LTE 450 to manage the communications of their power grid infrastructure. In the specific case of Europe, their communication networks and other critical infrastructure are legally required to remain operational for at least 24 hours in the event of a power failure. Most commercial cellular networks fail to offer this reliability of connectivity, and LTE 450 was adopted due to its low frequency band providing extended battery life for emergency communications.
Utility infrastructure
Alongside power grids, utilities such as gas and heat networks also benefit from the features of LTE 450. These utilities need to be constantly operational and require reliable wireless communications to stay functional. Germany adopted LTE in 2020 for gas, heating and other services in order to avoid crisis scenarios where it could bring social life in the country to a stand still. Other emergency services such as healthcare and security authorities can also use the network when there is free capacity.
Meters, sensors and important devices
Similar to the benefits it can provide for power grids, LTE 450 has also been adopted for meters, sensors and important devices due to its reliable and wide range connection for M2M (machine-to-machine) communications. In 2020, Poland adopted LTE 450 to provide wireless connectivity for up to 14 million smart meters and 35000 SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) connections used to manage wind turbines and other devices.
LTE 450 integration
LTE 450 is continuing to be adopted in various emergency services and infrastructures. The low power consumption, wide range and deep penetration make it a solution for critical communications, as well as being futureproof for other use cases like isolated schools and healthcare facilities to join the network in future.
Click below to download our complete guide on LTE 450 to find out more on the wireless technology and how to integrate it into your device
