A network device (30, 50), comprising: transceiver circuitry (36, 56); and processing circuitry (32, 52) operatively associated with the transceiver circuitry and configured to: transmit or receive, via the transceiver circuitry, using a Long Term Evolution - Machine Type Communication, LTE-M, carrier within the bandwidth of a New Radio, NR, carrier with guard bands that are immediately adjacent to each end of the LTE-M carrier and that fit entirely within the NR bandwidth, wherein the center of the LTE-M carrier is aligned with an NR subcarrier on a 100 kHz NR raster grid, and wherein a maximum number of subcarriers in the LTE-M carrier align with subcarriers in NR, wherein the center of the LTE-M carrier is located within the NR bandwidth such that at least one of: a minimum number of NR resource blocks are occupied by any part of the LTE-M carrier and the guard bands at each end, given a predetermined bandwidth for each of the guard bands; and given a predetermined number of NR resource blocks that can be occupied by any part of the LTE-M carrier and the guard bands at each end, a minimum guard band bandwidth from each end of the LTE-M carrier to the respective immediately adjacent NR resource block not occupied by any of part of the LTE-M carrier and the guard bands is maximized. transceiver circuitry (36, 56); and processing circuitry (32, 52) operatively associated with the transceiver circuitry and configured to: transmit or receive, via the transceiver circuitry, using a Long Term Evolution - Machine Type Communication, LTE-M, carrier within the bandwidth of a New Radio, NR, carrier with guard bands that are immediately adjacent to each end of the LTE-M carrier and that fit entirely within the NR bandwidth, wherein the center of the LTE-M carrier is aligned with an NR subcarrier on a 100 kHz NR raster grid, and wherein a maximum number of subcarriers in the LTE-M carrier align with subcarriers in NR, wherein the center of the LTE-M carrier is located within the NR bandwidth such that at least one of: a minimum number of NR resource blocks are occupied by any part of the LTE-M carrier and the guard bands at each end, given a predetermined bandwidth for each of the guard bands; and given a predetermined number of NR resource blocks that can be occupied by any part of the LTE-M carrier and the guard bands at each end, a minimum guard band bandwidth from each end of the LTE-M carrier to the respective immediately adjacent NR resource block not occupied by any of part of the LTE-M carrier and the guard bands is maximized. transmit or receive, via the transceiver circuitry, using a Long Term Evolution - Machine Type Communication, LTE-M, carrier within the bandwidth of a New Radio, NR, carrier with guard bands that are immediately adjacent to each end of the LTE-M carrier and that fit entirely within the NR bandwidth, wherein the center of the LTE-M carrier is aligned with an NR subcarrier on a 100 kHz NR raster grid, and wherein a maximum number of subcarriers in the LTE-M carrier align with subcarriers in NR, wherein the center of the LTE-M carrier is located within the NR bandwidth such that at least one of: a minimum number of NR resource blocks are occupied by any part of the LTE-M carrier and the guard bands at each end, given a predetermined bandwidth for each of the guard bands; and given a predetermined number of NR resource blocks that can be occupied by any part of the LTE-M carrier and the guard bands at each end, a minimum guard band bandwidth from each end of the LTE-M carrier to the respective immediately adjacent NR resource block not occupied by any of part of the LTE-M carrier and the guard bands is maximized. a minimum number of NR resource blocks are occupied by any part of the LTE-M carrier and the guard bands at each end, given a predetermined bandwidth for each of the guard bands; and given a predetermined number of NR resource blocks that can be occupied by any part of the LTE-M carrier and the guard bands at each end, a minimum guard band bandwidth from each end of the LTE-M carrier to the respective immediately adjacent NR resource block not occupied by any of part of the LTE-M carrier and the guard bands is maximized.