Choosing Cat.1 and Cat.1 bis
Cat.1 and Cat.1 bis are ordinary 4G device categories. They ride on the 4G networks operators built for phones and need nothing extra switched on, so they work wherever there is 4G: whether a device connects depends only on its bands. It is now the most shipped cellular IoT technology, about half of all module shipments. Cat-M1, NB-IoT and 5G RedCap all need the operator to launch them.12
- Cat-M1 supports mobility, over-the-air updates and voice; NB-IoT suits static, low-data devices.3
- RedCap targets mid-tier devices such as wearables, industrial sensors and surveillance cameras; eRedCap devices are expected later in 2026.45
Five technologies compared
| Technology | Operator must launch it? | Where it works | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat.1 / Cat.1 bis | No | Every market with 4G | Low-to-mid-rate devices that need wide coverage: meters, POS, telematics and trackers, cameras | Match the bands; stop counting on 2G/3G fallback |
| Cat.4 and up | No | Every market with 4G | Video and higher-rate data terminals | Match the bands |
| Cat-M1 (LTE-M) | Yes | 55 of the 74 markets here | Moving devices that need over-the-air updates or voice | Confirm the operator runs it; check roaming across borders |
| NB-IoT | Yes | 66 of the 74 markets here | Static, low-data, long-battery devices | Some operators have shut it (AT&T 2025, NTT Docomo 2020) |
| 5G RedCap | Yes, and 5G SA | Commercial in 10 of the 74 markets | Mid-tier devices that need 5G: wearables, industrial cameras, gateways | Early days; the operator needs both SA and RedCap |
Three checks for your device
- Bands: paste your module’s band list and check each operator.
- Technology: confirm Cat-M1, NB-IoT or RedCap on the IoT network map.
- Lifetime: check 2G, 3G and NB-IoT shutdown dates in the sunset calendar.
Sources
- B Global cellular IoT module shipments up 10% YoY in Q3 2025; Cat-1 bis almost half of shipments Counterpoint Research · 2025-12-11
- B What’s next for NB-IoT in 2025? (incl. NTT Docomo ending NB-IoT in 2020) Eseye · 2025-01-17
- B AT&T to shut down NB-IoT; nearly 90% of NB-IoT connections are in China Kurrant · 2024-11-24
- B 5G RedCap – April 2026 (42 operators in 27 markets; 14 commercial launches) GSA · 2026-04
- B 5G RedCap edges closer to reality (eRedCap devices later in 2026) Connectivity Technology · 2026-04
