What is Extended Coverage (EC)?
Mode A extended coverage is also a new LTE-M functionality that came out in 2020. It helps improve radio coverage indoors and for underground locations by +8 dBm (enabling penetration of a thick wall), thanks to repeated messages. The service also protects the various messages needed for the service to operate. So with this application option a website can be used securely, since the system includes content management verification.
Content management verification |
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Protect messages Ability to reconstitute messages Use a secure website |
Improved network coverage |
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Better coverage in underground locations Message repetition mechanism Improved indoor radio coverage |
High speed and low latency |
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Providing communication performance Development of data emission Ability to conduct an online conversation in real time |
This is a purely radio functionality, which activates automatically from a reception threshold of -124 dBm, with no configuration of the connected object needed.
The network tells the device EC is to be used and dynamically adjusts the number of times messages are repeated (up to 32 times) depending on the channel (data/control).
As soon as the device has communication performance, message repetition ceases. With the message repeated multiple times, the recipient is able to reconstitute the content.
Extended Coverage (EC) improves network coverage in buildings and underground by repeating the data emitted.