Frequently Asked Questions

DECT NR+ is a non-cellular 5G wireless technology designed for reliable, low-power, large-scale machine communications. It allows organisations to deploy private wireless networks for applications such as smart metering, industrial IoT, smart buildings, smart infrastructure, and professional edge devices. You can learn more in our article on DECT NR+ as a private 5G technology⁠.

No. NR+ is part of the 5G technology family, but it is not cellular in the traditional operator-managed sense. Cellular systems typically depend on mobile network operators, SIM cards, subscriptions, and public network infrastructure. NR+ enables organisations to deploy and operate their own private wireless networks instead. LMS uses this capability as the wireless foundation for the LM10xx System on Chip⁠.

NR+ and LoRa both address long-range wireless IoT, but they are designed around different priorities. LoRa is widely used for low-data-rate sensing over long distances. NR+ is designed for private, standards-based networks that can support higher data rates, low latency, mesh and star topologies, IPv6-based networking, and large-scale professional deployments. That makes NR+ especially relevant where applications need more than occasional sensor messages, such as industrial systems, smart buildings, professional audio, and utility infrastructure. Learn more about these use cases in DECT NR+ Applications⁠.

DECT NR+ operates in the DECT spectrum around 1.9 GHz. This spectrum provides a relatively clean operating environment compared with many heavily used ISM bands, while giving NR+ a strong foundation for predictable private-network deployments. The LM10xx series includes a low-power multiprotocol 1.9 GHz radio for NR+ applications. You can read more in our DECT NR+ fundamentals article⁠.

Yes. DECT NR+ is an open ETSI standard rather than a proprietary wireless technology. 

This allows products from different vendors to interoperate, reduces supplier lock-in, and provides a long-term standards roadmap for professional deployments.

Yes. NR+ natively supports both mesh and star network topologies. 

Developers can choose the architecture that best matches their application, whether that is large-scale sensor networks, deterministic industrial control, or simple point-to-point links.

Wi-Fi is well suited to high-speed local networking, especially where mains power, existing access points and consumer or enterprise IT infrastructure are already available. NR+ is designed for a different class of problem: private, large-scale, low-power wireless networks for professional edge devices. It can be a better fit where devices need long battery life, predictable coverage, private network ownership, and reliable operation across buildings, industrial sites, utility networks or infrastructure deployments. NR+ is not a replacement for Wi-Fi in every application. It gives product developers another option when Wi-Fi is too power-hungry, too congested, or too dependent on local IT infrastructure.

No. NR+ does not require a SIM card or cellular subscription. It is designed for private, autonomous wireless networks that can be owned and operated by the organisation deploying them. This can reduce system costs and recurring operator costs, while giving customers more direct control over their communications infrastructure. LMS develops NR+ System-on-Chip technology to make this type of private wireless edge connectivity practical and cost-effective. The LM10xx System on Chip⁠ is an example of this approach.

Yes. NR+ is particularly well suited to private 5G networks for IoT, industrial, utility, building, and infrastructure applications. It allows organisations to deploy autonomous wireless networks without relying on public cellular infrastructure, while supporting scalability, low latency, mesh networking, star networking, and secure communications. LMS uses NR+ as the wireless foundation for the LM10xx series⁠ and for applications such as smart energy, industrial IoT, smart buildings, and smart cities⁠.

With NR+, the organisation deploying the system owns and operates the wireless network. 

There is no dependency on a public mobile operator, making it particularly attractive for industrial facilities, utilities, campuses and commercial buildings.

No. NR+ operates in licence-exempt DECT spectrum and does not require SIM cards or recurring operator subscriptions.

Yes. NR+ supports IPv6 networking, allowing devices to communicate with IP-based systems, cloud platforms and enterprise infrastructure while also supporting non-IP industrial protocols where appropriate.

The LM10xx series is a family of NR+ System-on-Chip devices from Last Mile Semiconductor. It combines an integrated NR+ radio, RISC-V processing, secure device capabilities, and low-power operation in a single-chip platform for professional IoT and smart edge applications. The LM10xx series is designed for products that need secure, scalable, and cost-effective wireless connectivity without relying on cellular infrastructure. More details are available on the LMS System on Chip page⁠.

LM10xx integrates a high-performance RISC-V processor alongside the NR+ radio, allowing both application software and wireless networking to execute on a single System-on-Chip.

Yes. LM10xx includes secure boot, secure firmware update, secure storage, cryptographic acceleration and an integrated Secure Element to support professional IoT deployments.

Yes. Smart metering is one of the key application areas for DECT NR+. NR+ supports large-scale device networks, private infrastructure ownership, autonomous networking, and operation in licence-exempt DECT spectrum around 1.9 GHz. These characteristics can help utilities reduce dependency on public network operators while supporting smart meters, grid sensors, distributed energy resources, and other smart energy applications. LMS lists smart metering and smart energy among the target applications for the LM10xx series⁠.

Yes. NR+ is well suited to building automation, energy management, access control, environmental monitoring and connected building services that require reliable wireless communication across large commercial sites.

Yes. NR+ was designed for professional and industrial wireless systems where reliability, scalability, low latency and long product lifetimes are important.

Many sensing, monitoring and control applications can be deployed wirelessly using NR+, reducing installation cost while maintaining reliable communications. The suitability depends on the latency, bandwidth and safety requirements of the application.

Yes. NR+ has been designed with the low latency, reliability and spectrum efficiency required by demanding professional audio applications, including wireless microphones, in-ear monitoring and production communications.