AT&T, KPN, Orange and Swisscom activate LTE-M roaming across North America and Europe

AT&T, KPN, Orange and Swisscom have activated LTE-M roaming across their respective IoT networks. This enables IoT Low Power devices to efficiently operate on multiple networks across North America and Europe.

LTE-M enables a host of IoT applications with lower costs, compact modules, longer battery life and the ability to penetrate hard-to-reach locations. The network operates within licensed spectrum with carrier-grade security and is perfectly adapted to moving objects.

This global collaboration is an important step in the maturity of LTE-M as a leading IoT technology. LTE-M network deployments have grown in North America, Europe and globally during the last several years.

• AT&T deployed its LTE-M network across the U.S. and Mexico.
• KPN launched LTE-M across the Netherlands.
• Orange’s LTE-M network is available in France and Romania with Belgium, Slovakia, Spain and Poland coming this year.
• Swisscom has already deployed LTE-M across Switzerland.

The carriers expect to add additional supporting operators to this roaming arrangement to expand their cross-border capabilities in the coming months. According to the GSMA, LTE-M networks will fully cover Europe by end 2020.

John Wojewoda, AVP, Global Connections Management, AT&T: “More and more of our enterprise customers require global capabilities as they deploy IoT devices and applications. These LTE-M roaming agreements help meet that demand and make it easier for businesses around the world to benefit from the power of a globalized IoT.”

Carolien Nijhuis, Director IoT at KPN: "The introduction of LTE-M creates many new possibilities for our partners, customers and prospects. Roaming with LTE-M has been one of the most requested features by our customers in the market. We are very happy we're now able to fulfill their needs and unlock their international IoT-potential."

Didier Lelièvre, Director mobile wholesale & interconnection, Orange: "Enabling access to roaming on LTE-M for our customers is a clear priority for Orange. We’re proud to be among the first operators to deliver such a roaming capability to our IoT customers and more widely to our partners across this market.”

Julian Dömer, Head of IoT at Swisscom: “After offering the first nationwide LTE-M and NB-IoT networks in Switzerland, we are happy to prove our strong position on roaming and be among the first operators that enhance the key technology LTE-M for 2G replacement with international roaming.”