Quectel Wireless Solutions, a supplier of cellular and GNSS modules, has announced that its LTE Cat NB1 module, BC66 has been certified by AT&T for operation on the carrier’s NB-IoT network. This approval will accelerate time-to-market for IoT integrators and providers in the US who are looking to deploy IoT/M2M solutions requiring reliable low rate connectivity and ultra-low power consumption in verticals such as smart metering, street lighting, smart waste management, smart wearables, home appliances, security, asset tracking and more.
Based upon MediaTek MT2625 chipset, BC66 is a multi-band NB-IoT module designed for global markets, which supports B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B8/B12/B13/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B66. The ultra-compact 17.7 × 15.8 × 2.0 profile makes BC66 a perfect choice for size-constrained applications. In addition, it is pin-to-pin compatible with Quectel GSM/GPRS M66 module, providing a flexible and scalable platform for migration from 2G to NB-IoT network.
BC66 features Power Save Mode (PSM) and Extended Discontinuous Reception (e-DRX), which have the potential to enable decade-plus battery life. This is crucially important for infrastructures, which usually need to serve for years, such as water meter, street lighting, smoke detector and manhole cover. Moreover, BC66 supports low power supply voltage of 2.1V~3.63V, making it ideally suited to IoT installations.
