What should I expect when deploying in multiple countries?

LTE-M / NB-IoT (Monarch)
1

Hello there,

Any recommendation for using the modem adequately when deploying beyond the US? (I have another question on the LTE-M or NB-IoT usage… my question here is broader than the radio technology to check anything I might miss when having my tracker used outside of the US)

Thanks,

Brian

2

Dear Brian,

To operate outside the US, please pay attention to the following points:

  1. Coverage Availability: Some countries have LTE-M or NB-IOT. Depending on the location, your application may need to select the correct technology using the AT command (+SQNMODEACTIVE). Information about coverage and carriers can be found on the GSMA website: GSMA website link

  2. SIM Card Roaming: Ensure that the SIM card used has a roaming agreement in the country of interest. For example, Soracom offers various data plans depending on the usage of the device and the region where it will operate. In the case of an MNO SIM card, you need to check with your supplier that roaming is allowed and under what conditions. Please note that the modem will report a different +CEREG status:

    • +CEREG: 1 means “registered home network”

    • +CEREG: 5 means “registered, roaming”

  3. Configuration of Operator Mode and LTE Bands: Configure the operator mode and the LTE bands correctly. The operator mode must be configured using the command +SQNCTM, and the bands must be configured using the command +SQNBANDSEL. Each country has its own LTE bands, which depend on local regulations. A best practice is to define the bands per region. For example, for LTE-M:

    • North America: Bands 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 66

    • Europe: Bands 3, 8, 20

    • Japan: Bands 1, 18, 19, 26

    • Australia: Bands 3, 28

As the device cannot determine its location, the connection manager should implement logic to identify the region. Alternatively, you can enable all 17 bands supported by the hardware and software. However, this will result in a much longer scanning duration, especially for NB-IOT.

You can find useful information in the following documents:

  • Monarch2-SystemIntegrationGuideDM-Rev.2.pdf (section 3.4.2.7)

  • Monarch2-ModemAppBasics-Rev.4.pdf (section 2.1)

  • Monarch2-ATCommandsReferenceManual-LR82-Rev.3c.pdf

Thank you for your attention to these details.

Best regards,

3

Dear Brian,

In addition to Greg’s thorough points, I’d like to highlight one more important aspect:

Regulatory Compliance: When deploying devices internationally, it’s essential to ensure they meet local certification requirements. Key examples include FCC (U.S.), ISED (Canada), ACMA (Australia/New Zealand), RED (EU), UKCA (U.K.), JATE/TELEC (Japan), and NCC (Taiwan). Our modules are already certified in these regions, and you can leverage those approvals as part of your product certification process.

Best regards,

Jeremy