LTE (Long Term Evolution) is the fourth-generation (4G) of wireless cellular services for smartphones and mobile devices. The 4G/LTE Standard was developed by 3GPP to provide higher voice bandwidth and data services than 3G.

The LTE protocol uses the LTE UE (User Equipment) Categories to define the performance specifications of an LTE device. Each LTE category has fixed parameters like datarates, power, bandwidth, etc. which tells users or base stations what to expect from a device. For example, LTE Category M1 is the standard used for IOT Devices (not listed below) and requires low data rates whereas LTE Category 18 supports very high data rates and can be used for FWA or other higher data rate applications. LTE devices usually relay their LTE UE category to a base station, which then communicate with the device accordingly.

There are 22 different LTE UE categories that have been defined in lastest 3GPP release 13.

LTE UE Categories

   LTE UE Categories   

Downlink (Mbps/s)

Uplink (Mbps/s)

3GPP Release

Operating Frequencies

Channel Aggregation Capability

Category 4
(Titan Home Router)

150.8

51.0

Rel 8

Band 2 (1900 MHz), Band 4 – AWS (1700/2100 MHz)
Band 5 (850 MHz) Band 12 (700 MHz) Band 13 (700 MHz) Band 14 (700 MHz)


No C.A.

Category 5

299.6

75.4

Rel 8



Category 6
(MR40 Router)

301.5

51.0

Rel 10

LTE bands 1–5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 28–30, 40, 41, 66
Yes. 2x C.A.

Category 7
(Olive Box CPE)

301.5

102.0

Rel 10

Band 2 (1900 MHz), Band 4 – AWS (1700/2100 MHz)
Band 5 (850 MHz) Band 12 (700 MHz) Band 13 (700 MHz) Band 14 (700 MHz)
Band 66
Band 71


Yes. 2x C.A.

Category 12
(MR40 V2 Router)

603

102

Rel 11

AT&T: 2, 4, 5, 12, 29, 30, 46, 66.

Verizon: 1, 2, 4, 5, 13, 46, 48, 66.

T-mobile: 2, 4, 5, 12, 26, 41, 46, 66.


Yes. 4x C.A.

Category 16

979

N/A

Rel 12



Category 18

1174

N/A

Rel 13



Category 19

1566

N/A

Rel 13