How Can Utilities Leverage the License-Free ISM Band
(902-928 MHz)?

The industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band is cost-effective for deploying a private network. Spanning 902-928 MHz, the ISM band is a relatively wide and license-free band that many utilities find attractive for AMI and radio systems with no cost of spectrum usage. Ubiik has now enabled the operation of 4G LTE in this unlicensed band through our freeRAN™ LTE base station. This brings all the benefits of LTE standard connectivity straight to the unlicensed network. LTE is a 3GPP standard, which means the technology has global coverage and is future-proof, unlike most of the other traditional proprietary technologies currently deployed in this band.

Utilizing LTE in the license-free band offers several advantages. First, LTE's high spectral efficiency and adaptability enable it to deliver impressive throughput. This adaptability is crucial since the license-free band is prone to interference depending on the number of UEs in the area. While the quality of service and range may not match that of a deployment in a licensed band, the cost-effectiveness of LTE in the license-free band makes it an attractive option for utilities.

Ubiik’s freeRAN™ LTE base station is optimized for the ISM band and is great for metering applications. It is certified for a wide range of LTE UE categories, like LTE; Cat-M1 (Cat-M), Cat-1, and Cat-4. Since freeRAN™ is operating in the 902 to 928 MHz spectrum, there is overlap with the standard 3GPP band 8. This means that there is a wide range of existing ecosystems and devices can connect to freeRAN™ LTE base stations without requiring hardware or software changes. Ubiik has already conducted successful connectivity tests with LTE routers, Itron smart meters, and even with a Google Pixel 7 (or certain smartphones).

Another strong point of freeRAN™ is its integration of an embedded EPC (Evolved Packet Core). It can operate as a comprehensive all-in-one Access Point (embedded EPC/HSS/SGW/PGW), an eNodeB that connects with the customers’ external EPC over the S1 interface, or an external HSS (Home Subscriber Server) over S6a. It can also serve as a dedicated network with a Ubiik-hosted or an on-premise core network. This not only reduces the overall cost but also minimizes latency and enhances reliability, making it an ideal solution for smart metering and grid management, even in areas with limited coverage. It ensures that no meter is left behind, further solidifying the advantages of leveraging standard LTE technology on the license-free ISM band for utility networks.