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What is the Cat-M cellular network?

The Cat-M network is a portion of the LTE cellular network, dedicated to low-power Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Compared to traditional (Cat-1) LTE, it has a smaller bandwidth and slower upload speeds but is capable of handling significantly more devices through its unique way of controlling traffic on the cell towers.

One of the primary advantages of Cat-M is that it utilizes flexible power-saving modes to drastically increase the battery life of devices. For example, Cat-M devices like Alarm.com Flex IOsensors communicate over the cellular network when needed (for example, when the sensor is opened or closed, tampered with, or has a low battery) and conserve power when the device is idle. 

Note: Alarm.com Flex IOsensors are currently only available on CAT-M Verizon and CAT-M AT&T. 

 

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Alarm.com technology is sold, installed, and serviced by licensed service providers near you.

 

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