Sequans Communications S.A. announced the availability of two new modules optimized for the design of devices for LTE CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) networks. The two modules deliver cost-effective LCC (leadless chip carrier) modules designed from the ground up to enable easy and massive deployment of IoT devices on private LTE CBRS networks.
These modules are suitable for a range of medium-rate data applications and are based on Sequans’ Cassiopeia LTE technology. Benefiting from Sequans’ experience in 3.5 GHz spectrum deployments, CB410L and CB610L offer highly-optimized cellular connectivity for CBRS networks and they are pin-to-pin compatible, supporting LTE Cat 4 (CB410L) or LTE Cat 6 (CB610L).
Cassiopeia is a compact, cost and power-efficient chip platform optimized for IoT,M2M, and broadband devices for the design of medium-rate data applications. Cassiopeia provides necessary features along with low power consumption at a low cost for a price/performance capability. Cassiopeia’s software suite includes the entire LTE Release 10 software stack along with all drivers and host applications required for a complete 4G system and a turnkey package for key operating systems.
Cassiopeia also includes Sequans’ standard compliant OMA-DM and IMS clients and a wide range of application software for SMS, VoLTE, location-based services, Wi-Fi SoftAP. A field diagnostic tool is available for faster time-to-market.
The CB610L and CB41L modules are based on Sequans’ Cassiopeia LTE-Advanced platform, which is compliant with 3GPP Release 10 specifications. Cassiopeia supports a frequency range from 170 MHz up to 3.8 GHz and highly flexible dual-carrier aggregation that allows the combination of any two carriers of any size up to 20 MHz each, contiguous or non-contiguous, inter-band or intra-band. Cassiopeia also includes Sequans’ advanced receiver technology for improved performance.
The very small form factor LCC package enables easy mounting into small and thin devices or onto mini-PCI or M.2 NGFF carriers. CB410L and CB610L embed Sequans’ carrier-proven LTE protocol stack and comprehensive application software and are compliant with CBRS networks operating on LTE band 48 in the US.
The modules can also operate on other networks in the 3.5 GHz spectrum block, including LTE bands 42 and 43. Drivers for host operating systems drivers are also available, optimizing time-to-market and product cost.
Sequans is a member of the CBRS Alliance, an industry organization dedicated to supporting the development, commercialization, and adoption of LTE solutions for the US 3.5 GHz Citizens Broadband Radio Service.
CB610L and CB410L are ideal for adding LTE connectivity to electronics devices for industrial Internet of Things (IoT), Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and broadband consumer applications. The LCC package allows for a cost-efficient platform and simple PCB design. The modules support a wide variety of interfaces, including USB 2.0 host and device, SDIO 3.0 host, USIM, UARTs, GPIOs, SPI and I2S/PCM- TDM for audio.
CB410L evaluation kit enables plug-and-play testing of connectivity of Sequans CB410L on CBRS network and supports of module integration with host platform through the USB interface.
According to Mobile Experts, a wireless ecosystem research company, “Key building blocks for the CBRS market have been solidified, which means the market is ready for a commercial rollout beyond trials,” said Kyung Mun, analyst. “We expect a surge in small cell shipments between 2020 and 2023—an annual shipment of about 400,000 small cells and radio equipment revenue reaching over $900 million, and more than 550 million handsets, CPEs, and IoT devices cumulatively shipped during that time.”
“As we near commercial launch, our members are demonstrating the wide scope of CBRS OnGo use cases,” said Alan Ewing, executive director, CBRS Alliance. “Industrial IoT is proving to be one of the first applications for shared spectrum, and we are seeing a wealth of OnGo-enabled IoT devices coming into the market, enabled by companies like Sequans.”
“We believe our new modules offer the industry’s most highly-optimized cellular connectivity for CBRS network devices,” said Didier Dutronc, Sequans’ chief marketing officer. “The LCC packaging is a first, and in addition to the rich set of features, the modules share the same proven software architecture of Sequans’ other LTE modules, thereby ensuring easy integration and fast time to market.”
