Technology

DECT NR+

DECT NR+ enables highly reliable and private wireless networks for industrial and IoT applications. There are no licensing costs, and no network operator is required.

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Overview

The DECT NR+ wireless standard enables the deployment of standalone private networks in the license-free, exclusive 1.9 GHz frequency band. Latencies as low as 1 millisecond between devices, a range of more than one kilometer, and the ability to connect millions of nodes are hallmarks of this versatile technology.

As an open wireless standard, DECT NR+ (referred to as DECT-2020 NR in the ETSI standard) was specifically developed to meet the requirements of industrial and mission-critical applications. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recognized DECT NR+ as the first and only non-cellular 5G technology that meets both the requirements for ultra-reliable real-time communication (uRLLC) and massive machine-type communication (mMTC).

What Sets DECT NR+ Apart

The following features make DECT NR+ an excellent wireless solution for industry:

Dedicated, license-free spectrum

DECT NR+ operates in the globally harmonized 1.9 GHz band. This band is reserved—unlike the often-congested 2.4 and 5 GHz ISM bands, which are crowded with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and countless other devices. Less interference means more stable communication, all without license fees or frequency applications.

Variable Topologies

DECT NR+ supports point-to-point, star, and mesh topologies. There is no central node whose failure would paralyze the entire network—a crucial advantage for mission-critical applications. For longer ranges, peers are used in a mesh configuration.

Infrastructure-Free Mode

Data is transmitted directly from unit to unit, with peers used to bridge greater distances in a mesh configuration.

Energy Efficiency and Range at the Same Time

DECT-NR+ devices feature very low power consumption, which is a key requirement, particularly for battery-powered sensors. At the same time, the high, dynamically adjustable transmit power enables ranges of up to one kilometer—and even beyond that in a mesh configuration.

Sensor Mode (Mass Machine-to-Machine Communication – mMTC)

Industrial-grade reliability, even at high density and with low power consumption in mesh topologies. Typical applications include, for example, the smart building sector.

Robot Control Mode (Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication – uRLLC)

Enables radio-layer latencies of less than 1 millisecond in a single connection. Services are provided simultaneously with low latency AND extremely high reliability for the most demanding use cases, such as robotics.

Flexible Frequency Operation

The unique 1.9 GHz frequency band for DECT NR+ is available almost worldwide. In addition, depending on national regulations, other TDD frequency bands ranging from 450 MHz to 6 GHz are supported by the standards.

Elements & concepts of this infographic sourced from Wirepas: www.wirepas.com

DECT NR+ vs. 5G according to 3GPP

In an industrial context, 5G is usually equated with cellular 3GPP mobile communications and private 5G campus networks. DECT NR+ achieves the same 5G performance class, but with a fundamentally different, more efficient approach. For local industrial applications, this is generally the more pragmatic and cost-effective solution:

Category	DECT NR+	3GPP 5G
Target Area	Industrial IoT, Automation, Smart Factories	Public mobile broadband, private enterprise 5G
Topology	Point-to-point / Star / Mesh	Operator- or enterprise-managed
Frequency Spectrum	1.9 GHz (license-free & exclusive)	Licensing required
Max. data rate	4 Mbit/s (1.9 GHz), 1.1 Gbit/s (6 GHz)	20 Gbit/s
Range	Local (typically > 1 km)	several tens of km
Mobility	local \| global
Latency	Ultra-low latency, deterministic (uRLLC) < 1 ms (between devices)	Ultra-low latency (uRLLC), but more complex to operate and subject to delays caused by infrastructure \|

The comparison shows that DECT NR+ is the superior technology for local industrial facilities: license-free, decentralized, deterministic, and without the overhead of a full cellular network.

The communication platform with DECT NR+ integration

With the Edge D, R3 Solutions is expanding the Edge Family with a DECT NR+ product specifically tailored for industrial automation and intralogistics applications. Like all Edge devices, the Edge D is based on the powerful i.MX8 processor, features a compact design, and is engineered for mobile applications.

The Edge D specifically leverages the strengths of DECT NR+: license-free operation in the 1.9 GHz band, long range, and low power consumption. In doing so, R3 Solutions applies the “Echo” collaboration principle—proven in EchoRing—to the DECT NR+ ecosystem, making the Edge D an attractive option not only for traditional sensor applications but also for ultra-reliable, near-real-time (uRLLC) applications. This makes it suitable for any scenario where private 5G is too costly and standard Wi-Fi is too unreliable.

Looking to the future, DECT NR+ also shows potential for direct connection to LEO satellites (5G/6G NTN)—a prospect that makes the technology attractive for applications without local infrastructure.

The Edge D is currently in development and is expected to hit the market in late 2026.

DECT NR+ in Real-World Projects

We collaborate with customers and research partners on DECT NR+ prototypes in both industrial and academic contexts.

The international MERCI project brought together leading DECT NR+ innovators in a single research consortium. In its final demonstration, we teamed up with Götting to present an autonomous mobile robot equipped with Wireless Safety Signaling via DECT NR+ (see video).

Typical Applications

Wireless Safety for Mobile Robotics

Highly reliable safety communication for AGVs and AMRs.

Large-scale sensor networks

Mass Machine Type Communication (mMTC) for sensor technology and telemetry, for example for condition monitoring or consumption tracking over long distances.

Long-Distance Communication

Networking over distances of up to one kilometer without license fees and without a network operator.

Commitment to DECT NR+

R3 Solutions views DECT NR+ as a key standard for the next generation of license-free industrial communication—and is actively helping to shape it:

Standardization

Together with partners, R3 Solutions is driving the development of Industrial Automation Profiles within the DECT group of the ETSI (TC DECT). In addition, R3 Solutions is actively involved in the DECT Forum.

R3 Solutions brings to the table the core expertise that has already distinguished the company with EchoRing: the development and implementation of MAC-layer mechanisms directly at the firmware level.

Direct Chip Access

For DECT NR+, R3 is collaborating with Nordic Semiconductor and has direct firmware access to the nRF9151 chipset. This enables the development of customized DECT NR+ stacks for industrial automation and intralogistics that are significantly superior to off-the-shelf standard functions.

Field-tested

As part of the international MERCI research project, R3, in collaboration with Götting, demonstrated an autonomous mobile robot whose safety signaling operates wirelessly via DECT NR+. This means the technology is not merely theoretical but has already been demonstrated in a real-world application context.

Other Technologies

EchoRing^TM

EchoRing combines the flexibility of wireless communication with the reliability of wired systems. A leader in Wi-Fi-based, highly reliable, and low-latency wireless communication solutions (uRLLC).

Safety-critical applications
Real-time control
AGV/AMR communication

More about EchoRing^TM

Industrial Wi-Fi

Industrial Wi-Fi extends proven Wi-Fi technology with industrial-grade reliability. Optimized performance and customizable features.

Optimized for AGV/AMR communication
High synchronizability possible (TSN)
Broadband applications (e.g., video transmission)

More about Industrial Wi-Fi

Hybrid TSN

Hybrid wireless & wired TSN clock synchronization using standard NXP chips

Combination of wired and wireless time synchronization
Precise synchronization via the TAPRIO scheduler
Determinism with maximum flexibility

More about Hybrid TSN

Daniel Thiel

Wireless Solutions Expert

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