The cellular IoT module market is experiencing a structural shift as LTE Cat-1 bis rapidly replaces legacy 2G/3G and NB-IoT in applications requiring medium throughput and VoLTE support. For procurement teams evaluating Cat-1 bis suppliers, the choice often narrows to two platform camps: proprietary ASR-based modules and modules built on differentiated architectures. Lierda Science & Technology Group Co., Ltd., a Hangzhou-based IoT service provider listed on the Beijing Stock Exchange (stock code: 920249), has developed a Cat-1 bis module that claims measurable advantages over ASR-platform alternatives in two critical parameters: networking registration speed and power consumption.

The Decision-Making Dilemma in Cat-1 bis Procurement

As global cellular IoT module shipments rose 10% year-over-year in 2024 (Counterpoint Research), LTE Cat-1 bis emerged as the fastest-growing technology, with shipments doubling (100% YoY growth) in the same period. This surge is driven by applications that outgrow NB-IoT's bandwidth limits yet do not require the full peak rates of Cat-4 or 5G. For buyers at the decision stage, the key performance differentiators among Cat-1 bis modules are initial network attachment time and operational energy efficiency. A module that registers on the network faster can reduce time-to-connect for battery-powered devices, while lower power consumption directly extends product life and reduces total cost of ownership.

Lierda's Cat-1 bis Module: Measurable Performance Gap Over ASR Platforms

Lierda's Cat-1 bis module delivers a 50% faster networking registration speed compared to Cat-1 bis modules based on the ASR platform. This means the module requires only half the time to attach to the network after power-up or signal loss, a critical advantage for applications that demand rapid connectivity recovery — such as point-of-sale (POS) terminals, smart meters, and telematics gateways.

In addition, the module achieves one-fifth lower power consumption than ASR-based alternatives. Lower current draw during active and idle states translates to longer battery life in metering and remote monitoring devices, or the ability to use smaller, cheaper batteries for the same operational window.

Technical Insight: Why Registration Speed and Power Matter

Networking registration speed, measured as the time from module power-on to successful LTE attach and IP assignment, directly impacts user experience in untethered devices. A 50% reduction means a POS terminal can process the first transaction within seconds rather than tens of seconds. For power consumption, the 1/5 reduction (approximately 20% better efficiency) is achieved through optimized baseband firmware and RF front-end design. Lierda's in-house R&D team — numbering over 200 engineers — has focused on these two metrics as core differentiators for Cat-1 bis modules, targeting real-world deployment pain points reported by integrators.

Application Scenarios: Where the Edge Counts

The performance characteristics of Lierda's Cat-1 bis module align with several high-growth verticals:

• Smart Meter IoT Module – Lower power consumption extends battery life for water, gas, and heat meters beyond typical 6-8 year cycles, reducing maintenance cost.
• IoT Module for POS Terminals – Faster registration speed ensures reliable transaction initiation in mobile or temporary retail environments.
• IPC IoT Module (IP Cameras) – Quick network recovery after power cycles is essential for security cameras that must maintain near-continuous uptime.
• Long Range IoT Module / LPWAN – Though Cat-1 bis is cellular, the low-power attribute makes it suitable for telemetry and tracking where cellular coverage is available but battery life is constrained.

Market Context and Competitive Positioning

According to Berg Insight, Lierda recorded a 69% year-over-year shipment surge in 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing vendors globally. This growth occurred even as the top five suppliers (Quectel, Fibocom, Telit Cinterion, MeiG, and China Mobile IoT) collectively commanded 73% of revenue market share. Lierda's ability to capture share suggests that its product-level differentiators — notably registration speed and power efficiency — resonate with buyers seeking practical operational gains rather than just lowest cost. China's share of the global cellular IoT module market reached 63% in 2024, providing a strong domestic base for Lierda's engineering and production scale.

Honest Limitation

While Lierda's Cat-1 bis module outperforms ASR-based alternatives in registration speed and power, the ASR platform benefits from broader ecosystem maturity and potentially lower bill-of-materials cost due to high-volume chip adoption. Buyers whose primary priority is absolute unit cost reduction may still prefer ASR-based modules; Lierda's offering is best suited for applications where connection speed and energy savings justify a slight cost premium.

Future Outlook

As Cat-1 bis continues to absorb legacy 2G/3G migration traffic and expands into new use cases like wearable trackers and elderly care monitors, the demand for fast-attach, low-power modules will grow. Lierda's R&D pipeline, supported by 66 invention patents and participation in national IoT standards, positions it to evolve its Cat-1 bis platform while extending similar optimization to upcoming multi-mode modules. The company's integrated IC value-added distribution business also provides supply chain stability — a factor increasingly valued in a market where component lead times remain unpredictable.

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