In release 8, there were five types of user equipment categories, each with different data rates and MIMO architectures. Categories allowed 3GPP to differentiate between LTE evolutions. Since release 8, more categories have been added. Categories combine the uplink and downlink capabilities as specified by the 3GPP organization. Typically, you will acquire a cellular radio or chipset that labels the category it is capable of supporting. While user equipment may support a particular category, the cell system (eNodeB, discussed later) must also support the category.
Part of the association process between a cell device and infrastructure is the exchange of capability information such as the category:
|
3GPP Release |
Category |
Max L1 Downlink Datarate (Mbps) |
Max L1 Uplink Datarate (Mbps) |
Max Number of Downlink MIMO |
|
8 |
5 |
299.6 |
75.4 |
4 |
|
8 |
4 |
150.8 |
51 |
2 |
|
8 |
3 |
102 |
51 |
2 |
|
8 |
2 |
51 |
25.5 |
2 |
|
8 |
1 |
10.3 |
5.2 |
1 |
|
10 |
8 |
2,998.60 |
1,497.80 |
8 |
|
10 |
7 |
301.5 |
102 |
2 or 4 |
|
10 |
6 |
301.5 |
51 |
2 or 4 |
|
11 |
9 |
452.2 |
51 |
2 or 4 |
|
11 |
12 |
603 |
102 |
2 or 4 |
|
11 |
11 |
603 |
51 |
2 or 4 |
|
11 |
10 |
452.2 |
102 |
2 or 4 |
|
12 |
16 |
979 |
n/a |
2 or 4 |
|
12 |
15 |
750 |
226 |
2 or 4 |
|
12 |
14 |
3,917 |
9,585 |
8 |
|
12 |
13 |
391.7 |
150.8 |
2 or 4 |
|
12 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
13 |
NB1 |
0.68 |
1 |
1 |
|
13 |
M1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
13 |
19 |
1566 |
n/a |
2, 4, or 8 |
|
13 |
18 |
1174 |
n/a |
2, 4, or 8 |
|
13 |
17 |
25,065 |
n/a |
8 |