Skyworks Solutions and Sequans Communications, a 4G chipmaker and leading provider of LTE chips for wireless device manufacturers worldwide, announced they have delivered the world’s first solution optimized for LTE Category M (Cat M) applications addressing the growing demand for embedded cellular connectivity across the Internet of Things (IoT). The device leverages Skyworks’ half-duplex RF front-end module and Sequans’ new Monarch LTE Cat M single chip to deliver a highly integrated, turn-key solution based on Release 13 of the 3GPP LTE standard. The Skyworks/Sequans platform, which is scalable to operator requirements worldwide, simplifies the design process, shortens OEM development time and significantly accelerates the launch of next generation LTE-based devices targeting low data rate, low power applications.
According to ABI Research, cellular/wide-area Internet of Things shipments will exceed one billion units over the next five years. In addition, the GSMA says cellular M2M connections could grow from around 300 million devices today to as many as two billion in 2020. Increasingly, IoT developers are choosing LTE for their connectivity as they realize that technologies like Cat M meet challenging cost and power efficiency needs while providing valuable longevity through a reliable, global connectivity standard like LTE.
The Sequans’ Monarch LTE Cat M single chip supports both Category M1 and M2 of the narrowband LTE user equipment categories defined in 3GPP Release 13. The Monarch chip integrates the baseband, RF transceiver, memory and power management functionality in a small 6.5 x 8 mm package, and is optimized for half-duplex FDD with intelligent on-chip RF filtering for global band support. When combined with Skyworks’ SKY68000-11 front-end module, an ultra-compact, fully integrated multi-band solution integrating all the active and passive RF front-end components, the solution provides one of the most highly optimized LTE platforms for IoT applications available today.
What is LTE Category M?
The deployment of 3GPP Release 13 LTE networks and devices supporting Category M1 and M2 is expected to commence with trials in 2016 and commercialization in 2017. These low-cost/low-power narrowband connectivity solutions will enable low data rate applications and will find high usage in large scale deployments such as smart meters, sensors and monitors for the smart city, agriculture, industrial, the environment and the smart home, consumer and healthcare wearables, and ubiquitous asset tracking tags for vehicles, cargo, children, the elderly, pets and even luggage.
Note: What is now known as Category M1 was formerly called Category M. Cat M1 specifies operation in 1.4 MHz bandwidth channels, providing approximately 300 kbps downlink and 375 kpbs uplink speeds in half-duplex FDD. Category M2 was formerly called narrowband IoT (NB-IoT). Cat M2 specifies operation in 200 kHz bandwidth channels, providing approximately 40 kbps downlink and 55 kbps uplink speeds in half-duplex FDD. With the completion of 3GPP Release 13, the M1 and M2 category designations will become official.
