World's First Cellular NB-IoT Module Combines Easy, Affordable, Global Connectivity With Over 10 Years' Battery Life for Low Data Rate IoT Applications

World's First Cellular NB-IoT Module Combines Easy, Affordable, Global Connectivity With Over 10 Years' Battery Life for Low Data Rate IoT Applications

u-blox SARA-N2 Narrowband IoT module optimized for applications that need to securely communicate small amounts of data over long periods

THALWIL, Switzerland, June 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

    u-blox (SIX:UBXN), a global leader in wireless and positioning modules and chips,
today announced forthcoming availability of its SARA-N2 Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) module,
the world's first cellular radio module compliant to the 3GPP Release 13, Narrowband IoT
(LTE Cat. NB1) standard. Designed for use in applications such as smart buildings and
cities, utilities metering, white goods, asset tracking, and agricultural and
environmental monitoring, the module will operate for between 10 and 20 years from a
single-cell primary battery. Its 16 mm x 26 mm LGA form factor, using u-blox nested
architecture, facilitates simple upgrades from u-blox GSM, HSPA or CDMA modules and
ensures future-proof, seamless mechanical scalability across technologies.

(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150826/261282LOGO )

    The SARA-N2 module provides secure, private communications over licensed spectrum with
guaranteed quality of service. It supports peak downlink rates of up to 227 kbps and
uplink rates of up to 21 kbps. Simultaneous support for three RF bands means that the same
module may be used in most geographic regions.

    The benefits of NB-IoT over other cellular radio technologies include lower device
complexity, ultra-low power operation and support for up to 150,000 devices per single
cellular cell. Most significantly, the technology offers a 20 dB link budget improvement
over GPRS to give excellent performance under poor coverage conditions such as underground
or inside buildings.

    Compared with unlicensed spectrum Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) solutions, NB-IoT offers
greater security and freedom from interference because it uses a licensed spectrum based
network. Other advantages include lower latency than mesh networks, thanks to its
point-to-point topology, the ability to run it adjacent to existing 2G and LTE networks -
it needs just 200 kHz of bandwidth - and a higher transmit power limit, which improves
reliability and range. It also allows for robust 2 way communication which means that
features such as firmware upgrade over the air are achievable. Furthermore, global roaming
is possible with NB-IoT, which is not the case with localized unlicensed spectrum based
technologies.

    Stefano Moioli, Director Product Management Cellular at u-blox, commented: "u-blox has
been an early pioneer of NB-IoT and we've worked closely with companies including Vodafone,
Deutsche Telekom and Huawei to complete the first successful commercial trials of
pre-standard NB-IoT in smart metering and parking applications. These trials proved
conclusively that NB-IoT networks operate far more efficiently than GPRS and we're
confident of the technology's future because of the many advantages it offers over
alternative approaches.  We're therefore pleased to be able to announce the world's first
fully 3GPP compliant module that will enable customers to take full advantage of this
exciting technology."

    For more information about u-blox, please visit http://www.u-blox.com

            Moti Tabulo, Product Manager Cellular, u-blox 
        Tel: +44-1763-269749 
        E-Mail: moti.tabulo@u-blox.com 

     

    Photo:
    http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150826/261282LOGO

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150826/261282LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150826/261282LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
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