Cisco NIM-LTEA-EA
CAT6 LTE Advanced NIM for Europe and North America
Product Highlights
When wired WAN links are unavailable, unreliable, or too costly to deploy, your branch offices and remote sites still need enterprise-grade connectivity. The Cisco NIM-LTEA-EA is a CAT6 LTE Advanced Network Interface Module purpose-built for Europe and North America, delivering high-speed cellular WAN directly from a NIM slot on your Cisco ISR 4000 Series or ENCS 5400 Series platform.
Powered by the Sierra Wireless EM7455 modem with Qualcomm MDM9230 chipset, this module supports 3GPP Release 10 LTE Advanced Category 6 with download speeds up to 300 Mbps and upload speeds up to 50 Mbps. Carrier aggregation combines multiple frequency bands into a single high-throughput data pipe, while multimode fallback to UMTS and DC-HSPA+ ensures persistent connectivity even outside LTE coverage areas.
The NIM-LTEA-EA features dual SIM slots for carrier redundancy and automatic failover, integrated GPS for location-aware applications, and full integration with Cisco IOS features including QoS, Multi-VRF, advanced VPN, and multiple APN support. Whether deployed as a primary WAN link for bandwidth-intensive applications like video and telepresence, or as a resilient backup path for business continuity, this module transforms your Cisco router into a complete wireless branch-office gateway.
Features & Benefits
LTE Advanced Cat 6 Performance
The NIM-LTEA-EA supports 3GPP Release 10 LTE Advanced Category 6, delivering up to 300 Mbps downlink and 50 Mbps uplink. Carrier aggregation bonds multiple 20 MHz carriers simultaneously, providing the bandwidth needed to run voice, video, and data services over a single cellular connection — up to 150 times faster than legacy 3G links.
Broad Multi-Band Coverage
Designed specifically for Europe and North America, this module supports FDD LTE bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 20, 25, 26, 29, and 30, plus TDD LTE band 41. Multimode backward compatibility with UMTS and DC-HSPA+ ensures seamless handoff and persistent connectivity across diverse carrier networks and coverage areas.
Dual SIM Redundancy & Auto-SIM
Dual SIM card slots allow you to maintain subscriptions with two different carriers. If the active SIM loses network connectivity, automatic failover switches to the alternate SIM slot — keeping your WAN link alive without manual intervention. The Auto-SIM feature automatically selects the correct carrier firmware after a SIM slot switch.
Enterprise-Grade Integration
Tightly integrated with Cisco IOS, the NIM-LTEA-EA supports Quality of Service (QoS), Multi-VRF for cellular, advanced VPN, and multiple active APN configurations to separate corporate and internet traffic. These capabilities make it a true enterprise WAN module — not just a consumer modem in a router slot.
GPS & Location Services
The integrated GPS receiver enables location-based services, fleet tracking, and asset management. GPS data is accessible via CLI show commands and SNMP MIBs, making it easy to integrate location intelligence into your network management workflows.
Deployment Scenarios
Primary WAN for Remote & Branch Offices
Deploy the NIM-LTEA-EA as the primary WAN uplink in locations where wired broadband is unavailable or cost-prohibitive. With LTE Cat 6 speeds up to 300 Mbps, branch offices can run full enterprise services including voice, video conferencing, and cloud applications over cellular.
WAN Failover & Business Continuity
Add the NIM-LTEA-EA as a backup WAN path alongside your primary wired connection. When the primary link fails, traffic automatically fails over to LTE, maintaining uninterrupted connectivity for critical business operations. Dual SIM support adds an additional layer of carrier-level redundancy.
Mobile & In-Vehicle Connectivity
Equip mobile platforms such as buses, trains, emergency vehicles, or field service trucks with enterprise-grade LTE connectivity. The integrated GPS and broad band support enable real-time communications and asset tracking across Europe and North America.
Rapid Deployment & Pop-Up Sites
Spin up temporary network connectivity for construction sites, events, or disaster recovery operations in minutes. The wireless nature of LTE eliminates the lead time associated with provisioning wired circuits, while the Cisco ISR platform provides full routing, security, and VPN services on-site.
General
Performance
Wireless Bands
Features
Physical
Compatibility
Compliance
Compatibility Notes
Compatible Platforms
- Cisco ISR 4000 Series: ISR 4221, ISR 4321, ISR 4331, ISR 4351, ISR 4431, ISR 4451-X
- Cisco ENCS 5400 Series
Slot Requirement
- Requires one available NIM slot on a compatible platform.
Antenna Requirements
- External antennas are required (two SMA antenna connectors on the front panel). Cisco offers compatible antennas and ultra-low-loss LMR 200 / LMR 400 extension cables.
SIM Cards
- Accepts two standard SIM cards (dual SIM slots located on the bottom of the module). An active carrier data plan is required.
Software
- Requires Cisco IOS XE. Refer to the Cisco 4G LTE-Advanced NIM Software Configuration Guide for minimum supported software versions.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| NIM-LTEA-LA | Cisco LTE Advanced NIM for Asia Pacific / LATAM | Covers Asia Pacific, Australia, and Latin America LTE bands instead of Europe/North America |
| P-LTEA-EA | Cisco LTE Advanced Pluggable Module (EU/NA) | Smaller pluggable form factor (P-LTE) for the same EU/NA region — fits P-LTE slots rather than NIM slots |
| NIM-4G-LTE-NA | Cisco 4G LTE NIM for North America | Previous-generation LTE NIM (non-Advanced) — lower throughput, no carrier aggregation |