Experimental validation and analysis of the performance of DECT NR+ radio access technology

Abstract

Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications New Radio+ (DECT NR+) is a recently introduced non-cellular radio access technology operating in the global license-exempt 1.9 GHz band, specifically designed for dense Internet of Things (IoT) deployments. Targeting key Fifth Generation (5G) communications such as massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC) and Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC), it promises high reliability, low latency, and extended range. However, limited empirical data exists on its practical performance.

This thesis presents a comprehensive experimental evaluation of DECT NR+ at the physical layer (PHY) using Nordic Semiconductor's nRF9161 development kits, DECT Shell (DeSh), and custom firmware. The testbed characterizes four key performance metrics: communication range, throughput, latency, and energy efficiency. Range tests conducted in both indoor and outdoor environments revealed a maximum Line-of-Sight (LoS) range of 730 meters outdoors with 80% Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR). Meanwhile at short range, maximum measured throughput was 2.498 Mbit/s at Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) 4 with 8 sub-slots, compared to the theoretical maximum of 3.36 Mbit/s. Latency measurements showed a minimum Round-Trip Time (RTT) of 2.255 ms for a 12-byte packet. Energy per bit ranged from 0.26 to 2.6 μJ/bit depending on the MCS level.

Findings confirm that DECT NR+ offers significantly higher range and data rates than typical Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) solutions but incurs higher energy costs, in both transmitter and receiver modes. These results highlight DECT NR+'s suitability for low duty-cycle, long-range, and latency-sensitive IoT applications, while identifying key areas for modem-level energy optimization.