AT&T certified a new module to operate on its new Narrowband IoT network as well as its existing LTE-M Low-Power Wide-Area IoT network.
The module, made by Telit, enables various devices, including smart meters, point-of-sale terminals, healthcare monitors, home automation systems and industrial sensors, Telit said on June 17. It provides a power saving mode and extended discontinuous reception for applications needing low power and long battery life.
The module, named ME910C1-WW, is designed for remote use and rugged conditions, including at -40 degrees Centigrade to +85 degrees Centigrade.
AT&T said widespread wireless coverage and lower module and service costs are among the benefits of its NB-IoT and LTE-M networks. “Telit’s multi-mode module will play a critical role,” by allowing applications to work over both networks, said Chris Penrose, president of IoT Solutions for AT&T, in a statement.
The carrier turned on its NB-IoT network in April after upgrading its 4G LTE cell sites nationally.
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More than 110 LTE-M and NB-IoT commercial networks have been launched globally, according to the GSMA. A single multimode module is designed to give customers more access to these networks as they deploy IoT applications, Telit said. The new module supports LTE bands and 2G fallback for carriers in North America, Europe, Japan, China, and Australia, among others.
London-based Telit emphasized ease in deploying the new module, saying it can be a drop-in replacement of existing devices in the xE910 family, which will allow developers to cut costs in development time.