LTE Cat 4 Modules for Industrial IoT Sourcing
1 resources tagged with "Lte Cat 4"
LTE Cat 4 modems remain the practical sweet spot for industrial gateways from China, with up to 150 Mbps downlink and broad band coverage that 5G modules don't yet justify on cost. Common parts here are Quectel EC25 and Fibocom L610-class modules, and the IIoT gateway case on this tag pairs Cat 4 cellular backhaul with IEC 61850 protocol support for EU substation work. Module unit cost typically runs $12–$25 depending on band variant and volume.
When you source Cat 4 hardware, the trap is band/region certification — an EU-bound gateway needs the right module SKU (e.g. EG25-G global vs a China-band part) plus CE RED approval, not just a chip that powers on. We check the exact module variant against the destination carrier bands before sign-off.
Cases (1)
FAQ
Why choose LTE Cat 4 over 5G for an industrial gateway?
Cat 4 gives 150 Mbps down / 50 Mbps up, which covers telemetry, remote access, and most SCADA traffic at a fraction of 5G module cost and power draw. For substation or factory backhaul, the 5G premium rarely pays back.
What certification does a Cat 4 module need for the EU?
The finished device needs CE under the RED directive, and the module itself should carry RED pre-certification (look for the global SKU like EG25-G). Reusing a module's cert speeds your own approval, but you still test the integrated product.
Can I buy direct from China and skip Hong Kong middlemen?
Yes — the IIoT gateway case on this tag shows an EU integrator saving about 22% by sourcing IEC-certified hardware direct. The saving comes from removing the HK markup, not from cheaper components.
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