How does DECT work?

Using DECT you can make cordless phone calls, use your FRITZ!Fon to listen to music, view pictures, read email, and control your smart home devices and media player. But what exactly is behind DECT?

What is DECT?

DECT stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications. It is based on a standard for cordless voice and data communication. Most FRITZ!Box models are equipped with a DECT base station. This means that DECT phones like our FRITZ!Fon models can be registered with the FRITZ!Box. Other developments, known as profiles, also play a role for DECT.

What are the profiles?

Since it was introduced in 1993, DECT technology has undergone continuous further development and profiles have been defined. These provide for optimizations or innovations in convenience and quality. These five profiles are important:

GAP (Generic Access Profile):
GAP This is a further development of the DECT standard, and has become the smallest common denominator for joint operation of DECT devices from different manufacturers. For instance, Gigaset DECT phones can run on the FRITZ!Box, or our FRITZ!Fons on a Speedport.

IAP (ISDN Access Interworking Profile):
This profile is relatively unknown, yet it provides for the high convenience users have come to expect. With this specification it is possible to use certain ISDN convenience features like Caller ID display and call waiting with a DECT phone. Nearly every DECT phone currently on the market supports IAP.

CAT-iq (Cordless Advanced Technology – internet and quality):
CAT-iq is a standard for DECT telephony that improves voice transmission and increases the interoperability of devices from different manufacturers. With CAT-iq it has become possible to update DECT phones with new operating software. Since CAT-iq is undergoing further development, new features are constantly being added.

DECT ULE (Ultra-low Energy):
The advantage of this standard is especially energy-efficient consumption, for instance by smart home devices. Since the amount of electricity required lies in the milliampere range, even at full transmitter power of 250 mW, DECT ULE is especially useful for battery-operated products. This standard is deployed in FRITZ!Smart Energy 200, 210 301 and 400. For the FRITZ!DECT Repeater 100, this standard is used in devices with FRITZ!OS 6.50 or later.

HAN FUN (Home Area Network FUNctional protocol):
Many FRITZ!Box models support the supports the HAN FUN standard, which is supported by many manufacturers as a further development of DECT ULE which allows for even more smart home scenarios.

Security is guaranteed

According to Germany's Federal Office for Radiation Protection, transmitter power of 250 mW is categorized as minimal. By comparison, the transmitter power of cell phones in mobile networks is around four times higher. There is no scientific evidence for health risks due to the use of DECT devices, not even for persons sensitive to radiation.

DECT connections are securely encrypted upon delivery. With the update to FRITZ!OS 6.50, two new encryption mechanisms were introduced for DECT connections. The first is called ‘Early Encryption’, which describes that the encryption procedure takes place before transmission. The second is ‘Rekeying’, during which new keys are generated during ongoing communication. Only FRITZ! products support this encryption during operation in repeater mode.

The advantages of DECT in overview:

• High range (up to 40m indoors, up to 300m outdoors)
• Secure encryption
• Very energy efficient
• Easy to expand thanks to manufacturer-independent standards
• Own frequency range independent of the Wi-Fi network