Sequans Communications S.A. announced the availability of a new series of Cat 1 IoT modules based on its second generation, LTE Cat 1bis chip, Calliope 2. The new Calliope 2 GC02S1 modules are low-cost, low-power, IoT-optimized solutions that support VoLTE and throughput higher than LTE-M for applications including wearables and hearables with music streaming; smart city/smart home IoT devices such as security cameras, alarm panels, and utility meters; and data aggregators that can require throughput up to several megabits per second. Calliope 2 GC02S1 modules are optimized to support three regional variants covering North America, Japan, and Europe.

Advancements in Sequans’ Calliope 2 chip technology remove the cost and power consumption barriers that have thus far limited the widespread adoption of Cat 1 for IoT. These advancements include 1) higher integration for lower cost, 2) lower power consumption in both active and power-saving modes, near the level of LTE-M, thus extending the battery life of Cat 1 devices significantly, and 3) advanced signal processing techniques that provide superior radio performance. LTE Cat 1 is available worldwide on all cellular networks, including those areas where LTE-M and NB-IoT are not, making it ideal for IoT companies wishing to deploy products globally.

Calliope 2 GC02S1 modules are 5G-ready and compliant with the 3GPP Release 15 massive IoT standard. User application software and interfaces are compatible with Sequans’ Monarch 2 LTE-M/NB-IoT platform, allowing easy migration among Cat 1, LTE-M, and NB-IoT massive IoT technologies.

Calliope 2 GC02S1 Module Features include: Supports 3GPP Release 14/15, including PSM and eDRX for ultra-low power consumption; Cost-effective support for Cat 1bis data rate: up to 10 Mbps DL and 5 Mbps UL; Ultra-small “S1” LGA package; Power supply supports 3.1V-5.5V; Supports VoLTE and high-quality voice; Supports external SIM and eSIM as well as integrated SIM and integrated eSIM; Common Criteria (CC) EAL5+ security for iSIM; Compatible with Sequans Monarch 2 LTE-M/NB-IoT platform for easy migration among Cat 1, LTE-M, Cat NB1/NB2;