ETSI TS 103 636 — IMT-2020 (5G) standard
Codium does not watch this technology from a distance. We develop it, we implement it, and we deploy the products. In production.
DECT NR+ (DECT-2020 NR, ETSI TS 103 636) is recognised by the ITU as an IMT-2020 standard — part of the 5G family. It covers mMTC and URLLC. It operates on the licence-free 1880–1930 MHz band in Europe. The network is a self-organising mesh, with no operator.
At Codium, we do not read the specs from a distance. We implement them. Our engineers design the hardware around the Nordic nRF9151/nRF9131 chipsets, write the firmware on Zephyr, and deploy the products at our customers' sites. We have field feedback — not hypotheses.
A complete DECT NR+ deployment means several types of boards with different roles. We design them all — from the sensor node to the network aggregation sink.
Compact board powered by battery or mains. Integrates the Nordic nRF9151 chipset for the DECT NR+ radio and the application-specific sensors (temperature, current, vibration…). Zephyr firmware with fine-grained power management.
Exit point of the mesh network towards the information system. Collects the data from all nodes and forwards it over Ethernet, Wi-Fi or LTE-M. Cluster Controller role in the NR+ hierarchy.
Implementation of the DECT NR+ mesh firmware on Zephyr RTOS. Role management (RD, PT, Cluster Controller), MAC slot scheduling, multi-hop routing, handling of associations and reconnections.
PCB-integrated antenna design (PIFA, patch) optimised for the DECT band. Our RF specialist measures the S11 coefficient, tunes the impedance matching network and qualifies the antenna before RED certification.
Mesh sizing (number of nodes, range per hop, topology), integration with the customer backend (MQTT, CoAP, REST API), network monitoring dashboards. We deliver a complete system, not just a board.
Complete technical file for the RED directive and ETSI TS 103 636. Codium prepares the EMC pre-tests, coordinates measurements at an accredited laboratory and draws up the EU Declaration of Conformity for placing on the market.
DECT NR+ is not a universal solution — it is the right answer to a precise scope: dense private mesh network, no operator subscription, with enough throughput for audio or low-resolution video.
LoRa remains relevant for long rural distances at very low data rates. LTE-M is the right choice for mobile products with nationwide coverage. DECT NR+ is the middle ground that neither of the other two covers.
| Criterion | DECT NR+ | LoRa | LTE-M |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topology | Private mesh | Star (gateway) | Cellular |
| Frequency | 1,880–1,930 MHz | 868 MHz | 4G/LTE bands |
| Subscription | ❌ None | ❌ None (private) | ✅ Operator |
| Native mesh | ✅ Self-organising | ❌ (fixed gateway) | ❌ |
| Data rate | >1 Mb/s | ≤50 kb/s | ~1 Mb/s |
| Audio/Video | ✅ Possible | ❌ | ✅ Possible |
| Maturity | Early (2023–) | Mature | Mature |
The difference between a design office that follows DECT NR+ and one that deploys it is the depth of field feedback. Here is what Codium brings in practice.
The self-organising mesh architecture opens up use cases that are impossible with conventional star topologies.
Lighting control and monitoring over a building mesh, without additional network cabling.
Water/gas/energy meter reading over a private mesh network, without operator subscription.
Shop-floor sensors on a standalone mesh network for real-time monitoring of production lines.
Smart charging stations in areas without mobile coverage, with a local mesh network.
Temporary standalone network for monitoring equipment on construction sites without permanent telecom.
Meshed detectors for monitoring industrial or logistics sites, resilient by design.
Real-time audio transmission over mesh — industrial intercom, voice communication without telecom infrastructure.
Low-frame-rate video streams over mesh — monitoring of sites where the >1 Mb/s data rate of DECT NR+ outperforms LoRa.
Everything you need to know before starting a DECT NR+ project.
Yes. The 1880–1930 MHz band is licence-free in France and throughout the European Union (CEPT/ERC/DEC/(97)02 decision). No prior authorisation is required to deploy a DECT NR+ network.
The ETSI TS 103 636 standard was finalised at the end of 2023 and the first commercial deployments have been under way since 2024. Codium is among the first companies in France to design and deploy industrial DECT NR+ boards.
In open space: 300 to 500 metres per hop. Indoors in an industrial setting (concrete, machinery): 50 to 150 metres per hop. The advantage of mesh: the total range of the network is theoretically unlimited, as each node relays the signal of the others.
A deployment of 10 nodes typically covers 5,000 to 50,000 m² depending on the environment. Codium helps you size it through coverage simulation before the boards are produced.
No. The network is self-organising (SON): nodes discover each other automatically, elect their routes and reconfigure themselves in the event of a failure. There is no mandatory central gateway, no LoRaWAN-type network server, no operator subscription.
The only prerequisite is a "sink" node connected to your IT system via Ethernet, Wi-Fi or LTE-M. We design custom sink boards adapted to your infrastructure.
No — they are complementary. LoRa excels at very low data rates over long distances with well-established public or private networks. DECT NR+ brings mesh, a higher data rate and subscription-free autonomy over shorter distances.
DECT NR+ is relevant as a replacement for LoRa in dense industrial scenarios where the star topology creates points of failure and where the limited data rate is a constraint. For rural deployments or public networks, LoRaWAN remains the reference.
We have already covered the first miles with DECT NR+. Tell us about your project.