Sierra Wireless announced that Maestro Wireless Solutions Limited, provider of tracking devices for Internet of Things (IoT) applications globally, has announced its first LTE Cat-1 tracker based on the AirPrime HL Series from Sierra Wireless.

Maestro’s newest tracker, the ruggedized MT-44, provides fleet and asset tracking capabilities in harsh mobile environments using the LTE Cat-1 module with maximum data rates of 10 Mbps downlink and 5 Mbps uplink.

The HL Series uses the CF3 form factor from Sierra Wireless that is footprint-compatible across product lines and network technologies, and is fully interchangeable with future versions of the modules including LTE-M variants when they become available.

LTE-M is a Low-Power Wide Area (LPWA) technology that will provide a highly efficient cellular option with lower radio-frequency complexity, significantly reduced power consumption (up to 10 years of service on a single AA battery), better in-building signal penetration, and lower costs.

Sierra Wireless is an active contributor to the LTE-M standard definition process within the 3GPP and has committed to launching compatible modules timed with network deployments, expected to begin in 2017.