Abstract
This paper provides a comparative analysis of the physical layer (PHY) characteristics of DECT-2020 NR and LTE-M, two critical standards for IoT communication. DECT-2020 NR, developed by ETSI, is intended for industrial IoT applications and provides low-latency, reliable communication in high-density environments. In contrast, LTE-M, which is a member of the 3GPP family, is designed to provide broad coverage, energy efficiency, and mobility support for low-power devices. The study emphasizes the distinctions between the standards regarding data rates, modulation schemes, and frequency bands, displaying how each standard fulfills specific IoT requirements. Furthermore, it highlights the complementing characteristics of DECT-2020 NR and LTE-M, by providing performance insights such as bit-error rate (BER) analysis and spectral efficiency.