Enabling Connected Intelligence With Low-Power Wide-Area IoT Connectivity

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Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF (QIM225) is designed to deliver power-optimized LPWA connectivity, purpose-built for smart meters, sensors, trackers and more NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / July 28, 2026 / By Danny Tseng What you should know: Intelligently connecting virtually everything around us is the vision that drives our work at Qualcomm Technologies, and it's why we deliver a broad portfolio of purpose-built processing and connectivity solutions to meet the needs of diverse industries. A key focus area is low-power, wide-area (LPWA) connectivity designed for massive IoT deployments, where deep coverage and multi-year battery life are must-haves. This is where 3GPP-standardized LPWA technologies, narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC) aim to provide secure, globally interoperable connectivity for sensors, meters, trackers and other low-complexity IoT devices designed to operate for years on a single battery charge. Figure 1: eMTC and NB-IoT are globally standardized LPWA IoT technologies. Power consumption drives differentiation and device selection For most LPWA IoT applications, power consumption is often the primary design constraint: devices must deliver reliable coverage while having multi-year battery life, so every microamp counts in both low-power and active modes. Lower power extends operating life and reduces maintenance visits-cutting total cost of ownership (TCO)-and it can also enable smaller device form factors by requiring a smaller battery, improving overall aesthetics and sustainability. That's why the Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF leads in LPWA IoT, purpose-built to support both LTE Cat-M1 and Cat-NB2 with advanced power efficiency. It is developed to pair optimized power consumption with a compact, cost-effective design and rich peripheral support-helping customers build smaller, longer-lasting devices without compromising features. Figure 2: Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF is the eMTC/NB-IoT modem-RF chipset of choice, delivering key benefits for LPWA IoT use cases. Proven power efficiency: Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF vs. competitors To quantify the advantage of Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF, we measured its power consumption in our lab across different power modes and representative use cases - then benchmarked those results against one of the most deployed eMTC and NB-IoT dual-mode chipsets, the Altair ALT1250. Power measurements in sleep and active modes Figure 3 below shows a comparison of the measured results of E51 versus ALT1250's published specifications. The takeaway is clear: E51 delivers >20% power savings across all power modes, from ultra-low-power modes such as power save mode (PSM) to active transmit/receive states. Figure 3: Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF consistently delivers lower power consumption across all active and low-power modes. A closer look at the power performance curves In extended discontinuous reception (eDRx) mode, the power profile is defined by both the baseline sleep current and the periodic paging wakeups. A closer look at the curves shows E51 implements power optimizations to reduce total energy in these low-power states - delivering 33% lower deep-sleep current and a more efficient wakeup mechanism with 67% shorter paging wakeup time. The result is smaller current spikes, which reduces overall battery draw while maintaining network reachability. Figure 4: Comparison in eDRx power performance. Real-world battery life simulations for IoT use cases To go beyond lab measurements, we also ran system-level simulations based on our lab-measured power data to model end-to-end modem behavior in real-life operating profiles. These simulations translate sleep, wake, attach and transmit events into expected battery draw over time - showing how E51 can support battery life required by targeted use cases. In this study, we looked at the power profiles for three different low-power, wide-area use cases and their battery life requirements, including smart meters, remote sensors and asset trackers. Figure 5: Meeting 15-year battery life requirement for gas and water meters. Figure 6: Meeting 5-year battery life requirement for remote sensors. Figure 7: Meeting 3-month battery life requirement for asset trackers. Advancing massive IoT with ultra-low-power connectivity At Qualcomm, high-performance wide-area connectivity and ultra-low-power design are part of our DNA. This is the foundation needed for delivering cutting-edge products like the Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF. Engineered for LPWA use cases, it helps devices run longer on a single battery charge, connect more reliably, and scale deployments more cost-effectively. We're excited to help power what's next in IoT, and we'll continue to share updates as the ecosystem advances toward the vision of connecting virtually everything. Go Deeper How does the Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF achieve its power efficiency advantage? We engineered the E51 to implement power optimizations that reduce total energy, resulting in smaller current spikes, reduced overall battery draw and maintained network reachability across PSM, eDRX and active modes. Our lab measurements showcased it delivers >20% better power efficiency than one of the most widely deployed eMTC and NB-IoT dual-mode chipsets on the market. Explore the Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF Are there more LPWA use cases and power efficiency insights beyond what's covered here? Beyond smart meters, remote sensors and asset trackers, the LPWA IoT landscape continues to expand - and so does our work of pushing the boundaries of power-efficient connectivity. We'll continue sharing new benchmarks, use case coverage and ecosystem updates as the industry advances toward the vision of connecting virtually everything. Sign up for Qualcomm IoT Connection newsletter to stay up to date Find more stories and multimedia from Qualcomm at 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Qualcomm Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/qualcomm Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Qualcomm View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

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