Reinforcing Licensing Business Strategy

Sequans Communications S.A., a leading developer and provider of 5G/4G semiconductors and modules, today announced a non-exclusive manufacturing licensing agreement for its Monarch 2 LTE-M/NB-IoT platform.

This agreement grants our license partner the right to manufacture and market the Monarch 2 chip under their brand name.

The deal includes an initial payment of $15 million, with the opportunity for additional revenue in subsequent years.

“We are pleased to enter into this licensing agreement with a leading technology company, which underscores the exceptional value of our Monarch 2 technology for massive IoT cellular applications,” commented Georges Karam, CEO of Sequans.

“This partnership not only expands our revenue potential but also creates significant mutual benefit for both organizations and paves the way for future collaborative opportunities. In addition to our product offering, Sequans has a proven track record of generating revenue through licensing agreements, and we intend to enhance and expand this strategy.”

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UnaBiz, Massive Internet of Things service provider and integrator, proudly announces the launch of its innovative Hybrid Floor Wetness Sensor with Machine Learning capabilities.

This advanced solution is designed to help prevent falls in washrooms due to wet floors by triggering timely cleaning interventions.

The hybrid sensor solution transmits data through either the Sigfox 0G network or LoRaWAN, making it highly adoptable by all existing customers and beyond. Users just need to choose a preferred communication network during deployment.

Manual monitoring is impossible as water is transparent and hard to spot, especially on large floor areas. Using thermal sensors, this solution detects temperature differences to monitor wet floors 24/7.

The sensor reports four critical events to prompt cleaning and maintenance actions.:

Floor is normal,
Floor is wet
Floor is cleaned
Someone fell down

This cutting-edge solution utilises edge computing and AI to analyse washroom floors in real time, enabling facilities managers to take immediate action. Developed in-house by UnaBiz Singapore, the product leverages collected washroom data to train a predictive model. The sensor uses thermal imaging to gather floor temperature data, analyzes it locally, and only sends the final information to the cloud. This ensures anonymous monitoring with no privacy issues. Additionally, this accident prevention solution can reduce insurance liability.

Real-time monitoring and alerts significantly enhance safety and efficiency in facilities management. The potential for expansion into other use cases through additional machine learning applications makes this sensor a versatile tool for other use cases in various sectors.

Calvin Foo, Director of Ecosystem of UnaBiz Singapore, commented on the launch, “Our Hybrid Floor Wetness Sensor is a game-changer in facilities management. By combining thermal imaging, AI, and edge computing, we are delivering a solution that addresses the immediate needs of our customers – facility management companies that manage shopping malls, offices or public spaces. This significantly reduces the risk of slippage and severe accidents, particularly for the elderly in Singapore, due to the ageing demographic.”

Remi Lorrain, VP of Convergence at UnaBiz added, “Following the successful implementations of Sigfox and LoRa at both the device firmware (dual stack) and middleware (UnaConnect device management) levels, UnaBiz continues to break down barriers to LPWAN Convergence by offering comprehensive hybrid solutions that leverage the strengths of both the Sigfox and LoRa ecosystems.”

The Hybrid Floor Wetness Sensor will be launched at CleanEnviro Summit Singapore 2024, a biennial event organized by Singapore’s National Environment Agency. The summit brings together thought leaders, industry captains, and policymakers to discuss solutions for enabling a sustainable and clean environment.

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The proliferation of internet connectivity and deployment of 5G cellular technology in major countries such as China, India, South Korea, and Japan are expected to drive the demand for new connectivity features in cars in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

As a result, the APAC connected vehicle technologies market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 4% during 2023-2028, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest report, “Global Sector Overview & Forecast: Connected Vehicle Technologies – March 2024,” reveals that APAC held a significant share of the global automotive connected technologies market in 2023, with Asian countries leading in the adoption of OE smartphone and embedded connectivity units.

The APAC market is set to grow from 28.5 million units in 2023 to 34.6 million units in 2028.

Gorantala Sravan Kumar, Associate Project Manager, Automotive at GlobalData, comments: “Consumers, especially younger generations, are hooked onto their smartphones and gadgets and want to be connected all the time. Their reliance on the Internet and gadgets also seeped into their vehicles and want to stay connected even on the road.”

Concurrently, advancements in technology are being utilized to enhance passenger safety and boost the vehicles’ security features. Many startups have developed specialized chipsets that enable fast communication via 5G and decentralized networks.

Sravan Kumar explains: “This makes it possible for vehicles to utilize nearly real-time information to improve performance and safety. Automakers are actively looking at these developments and collaborating with such startups or developing in-house technologies to incorporate such features in their offerings.”

The middle and affluent classes are growing rapidly across various Asian countries, leading to an increased demand for smart and connected vehicles.

Sravan Kumar continues: “Consumers are now seeking features such as in-car infotainment, connected services, and advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), which have accelerated the development of connected vehicle technologies. Asia-Pacific nations have made significant investments in upgrading their digital infrastructure, including the deployment of 5G networks. These high-speed networks are crucial in providing reliable and fast communication between vehicles and the surrounding infrastructure.”

“Developing nations are building new urban areas to accommodate their growing populations. To make transport networks and traffic management more efficient, many of these innovative metropolitan areas are being developed as “smart cities” that integrate connected technology across various levels of infrastructure.”

Sravan Kumar concludes: “As cars become more advanced, consumers are quickly coming to expect seamless connectivity while driving. This means that automakers and suppliers must keep up with the demand for cutting-edge technology to offer a smooth user experience. This is becoming increasingly important to attract younger consumers, who have grown up with networking technology and are more likely to embrace it. To ensure seamless connectivity, most customers now expect their cars to come equipped with features such as MirrorLink, Android Auto, or Apple CarPlay. These smartphone integration platforms are crucial enablers of connected car technology.”

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Investment Propels FOSSA’s mission to revolutionise industrial IoT with advanced satellite connectivity.

FOSSA Systems announced today it has raised a €6.3M Series A round to grow its IoT satellite constellation focused on remote asset management for industrial use cases.

The funding was co-led by Indico Capital Partners and Nabtesco Technology Ventures, with the participation of Newmind Venture and Sabadell Venture Capital.

This capital raise will help FOSSA grow its IoT satellite constellation focused on remote asset management for industrial use cases and will support the creation of its 80-satellite direct-to-device communications network for customers to securely track and monitor their remote assets. FOSSA has extensive space heritage, with 17 nanosatellites launched into orbit since 2022, proving its ability to provide IoT communication. The full constellation will provide low-latency communications to its customers across the globe.

FOSSA recently announced a collaboration with Microsoft to provide accessible IoT satellite connectivity for agriculture use cases, and is rapidly growing their customer base in the Maritime, Logistics, Energy and National Security use verticals.

The IoT market has not kept pace with the rapid growth of broadband satellite communications, as companies still depend on terrestrial providers covering only 20% of the Earth and costly legacy satellite operators. Sectors like agriculture, forestry, resource extraction, logistics, energy, and defence require affordable, low-power, reliable data sources for optimal performance and rapid response to unexpected events. FOSSA’s IoT satellite constellation also promises to aid sustainable initiatives in remote offshore environments that are typically difficult to access for monitoring and maintenance, such as in energy, aquaculture, ocean monitoring and efficient cargo routing. FOSSA is well-positioned to meet this growing demand, with the global IoT market projected to grow 20% annually through 2030, potentially reaching $4 billion.

The Spanish based startup opened an R&D centre in Portugal late last year and is beginning its international expansion to provide both dedicated satellite networks and asset management services through its constellation.

Julián Fernández, CEO and Co-Founder of FOSSA, says:

“We’re thrilled to strengthen our satellite IoT offering as a commercial service and consolidate our nanosatellite technology at the core of our business model. This investment will drastically accelerate FOSSA’s time to market and consolidate our position as a dominant satellite IoT solution provider.”

Stephan Morais, Managing General Partner at Indico Capital Partners, added: “We look forward to supporting FOSSA through the Indico Blue Fund. Their solution addresses a critical need for IoT connectivity in remote areas, in a world where reliable monitoring and tracking of assets is greatly valued, namely in the ocean.”

“FOSSA has clearly demonstrated its technical prowess in the development of nanosatellites,” says NTV managing partner Hiroshi Nerima. “We are excited to see its continued expansion across industries and geographies.”

With this Series A funding, FOSSA Systems is well-positioned to lead the transformation of IoT connectivity through its innovative satellite network. By expanding their satellite constellation and enhancing their global reach, FOSSA aims to provide robust, reliable, and cost-effective solutions for remote asset management across various industrial sectors. This investment not only underscores the confidence of key investors in FOSSA’s vision but also marks a significant milestone in their mission to revolutionise the IoT landscape.

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Innovative network will enable more powerful and cost-effective IoT solutions, laying the foundation for systems integrators and IoT solution providers to address new markets.

ORBCOMM today announced the enrichment of its managed network offering with the launch of its next-generation satellite IoT service, OGx, featuring innovative network capabilities and flexible pricing.

Today’s release initiates the network’s rollout, featuring patented technology designed to significantly reduce IoT solution power consumption. This will help enable IoT solutions to either match traditional performance at lower costs or exceed it at the same cost.

The OGx network joins ORBCOMM’s industry-leading end-to-end industrial IoT managed network technology ecosystem, which includes satellite and terrestrial services, IoT devices and data analytics platforms.

OGx helps enable IoT solution providers to bring powerful, more affordable IoT solutions to market across low-, medium- and high-data usage applications in agriculture, heavy equipment, maritime, mining, oil and gas, transportation, utilities and more. Applications range from optimizing agricultural production and enhancing cargo safety to helping ensure responsible fishing practices and reducing the environmental impact of resource extraction. IoT solution providers can use OGx to drive new revenue streams and growth in high-value industrial markets.

“OGx combines innovation with affordability to deliver a state-of-the-art IoT service, further enhancing our ability to provide efficient connectivity and secure data flow throughout our IoT network infrastructure”, said Dave Roscoe, ORBCOMM’s EVP/GM.

“OGx embodies our mission by empowering systems integrators and IoT solution providers to develop IoT applications that help their customers improve productivity, reduce waste and increase sustainability.”

With over a decade of experience operating its previous-generation IsatData Pro (IDP) satellite service, ORBCOMM developed OGx to maintain its standards of near-global connectivity, comprehensive regulatory compliance and industry-leading development tools, resources and support. OGx leverages existing network infrastructure with new technology to help efficiently tap its full potential.

ORBCOMM value-added reseller AMCi Wireless has already seen power efficiencies while testing OGx in the oil and gas industry, according to Michael Carton, AMCi’s CEO.

“What has been remarkable in our early testing is the power savings,” said Carton. “We have already seen lower power usage and we expect this will get even better as we roll out OGx across our service offerings. OGx will be central to our industrial digitalization initiatives because lower power consumption will lead to continuing savings and will help streamline facility processes and procedures with visualization for enhanced automation, productivity and asset utilization.”

The OGx network’s unique design can help considerably reduce the power consumption of terminals compared to those on the IDP network. The power savings help solution providers reduce hardware costs—by using smaller batteries, solar panels, power supplies and enclosures—or increase message frequencies and reduce latencies using the same hardware.

The network is compatible with ORBCOMM’s existing ST-series of IoT devices with a local or over-the-air firmware upgrade, so current users can take advantage of the new service without requiring new hardware.

OGx is offered with flexible data pricing designed to allow customers to use as much data as they need when they need it, helping reduce overage charges and enabling innovative IoT applications for a broader customer base with new use cases across multiple industries.

ORBCOMM’s OGx IoT service will be commercially available with nearly global coverage starting June 18, 2024. ORBCOMM will be rolling out additional features and functionalities for the network in the near future, opening ongoing growth opportunities for IoT solution providers and further enhancing ORBCOMM’s industrial IoT managed network technology.

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Testing is one of the most crucial steps in software development. It is, therefore, evident that automating this process can significantly improve the process. In particular, it can reduce time to market and cut costs associated with software development. In this article, we will further discuss what testing automation is and how it works.

The importance of speed in software development

The software development industry is highly competitive, so rapid delivery is of paramount importance. Businesses must not only regularly develop new and innovative solutions, but also respond quickly to ever-changing market and customer demands. In order to stay competitive, they have to pay attention to the latest technologies, especially the fast development of AI (Artificial Intelligence) language learning models.

However, acting fast is not as easy as it sounds. The process is inherently time-consuming and prone to human errors, so prioritising quantity over quality may lead to poor quality products or mistakes. Testing, alone, can consume a big chunk of this time, as it must be done carefully and thoroughly. This is where an automation testing service can be of help.

Efficiency and accuracy of automated testing

Automated testing does not just speed the process up – it also boosts its efficiency and accuracy. Repetitive tasks can be completed much faster than using human testers, which significantly reduces the time needed for testing cycles. The tests can also be run simultaneously on multiple platforms and configurations, while also simulating thousands of users interacting with the application at once.

In addition to efficiency, accuracy is a great benefit. Automated testing minimises human errors, which are inevitable during manual testing processes. It ensures consistency and provides reliable results every time. Another important aspect is continuous feedback, which allows developers to identify and solve issues very swiftly, improving the quality of the software.

Cost reduction through automation

While there will be an initial investment in automated testing tools, the long-term savings and return on investment can be substantial. One of the main ways in which costs are cut is through reduced need for labour. Automated tests perform the same tasks as multiple manual testers, which decreases the need for a large testing team. This saves on labour costs and makes managing the whole project much simpler.

Moreover, early detection of software defects and errors is a crucial factor in cost savings. Mistakes can be complex and time-consuming to fix down the line, so if you can detect them early on, it will be cheaper and easier. Although this can also be the case with manual testing, automated tests are much faster and more cost-effective, which means you are more likely to find any defects earlier.

Impact on time to market

Testing automation can significantly reduce time to market, or the overall software development cycle. Software developers can integrate continuous tests into their pipelines, receiving immediate feedback on code changes. This closes the feedback bottlenecks, enabling a more efficient testing and problem resolution workflow.

Not only that, when a company is aiming for frequent releases, they may be working on multiple projects at once. This, again, is where automated testing will be indispensable. It will ensure that the development team can focus on the more important tasks in finalising the project, while the testing stage can be left to automation. The ability to run these tests continuously also means that any changes or newly added features will be validated in real-time, without having to submit the project for review and further delay the process after each update.

Enhanced test coverage and reliability

Automated testing provides comprehensive test coverage, far surpassing what is feasible with manual testing. It can cover a wide range of scenarios, including edge cases and boundary conditions, making sure that the software is tested thoroughly. It also includes different types of tests, such as load, stress, spike, endurance, and scalability tests.

Such a wide testing coverage leads to higher reliability, as potential issues are identified and addressed way before the software reaches its end-users. The same goes for any further updates that are uploaded to the application after release.

Important considerations

Despite its numerous benefits, automated testing can have certain challenges. As mentioned before, the initial setup requires an investment of time and resources. Developing and maintaining automated test scripts will need a knowledgeable team that has expertise in both scripting languages and automation tools. For most businesses, this will mean outsourcing to a third-party company. Not only that, it will have to be a long-term partnership is regular updates to tests scripts will be needed.

Furthermore, the testing process cannot be 100% automated – it requires a balanced approach between automation and manual interference. While it does excel at repetitive and complex tasks, certain parts of testing benefits from human intuition and creativity. Therefore, a hybrid between the two will ensure the most effective results.

Conclusion

With the market being highly competitive, introducing automation to your software development practices is not just useful, but also essential for not falling behind. It streamlines the whole development process, helping you create high-quality applications faster and more productively.

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Netmore Group, a leading global LoRaWAN network operator, has entered into a agreement with Stena Fastigheter, a Swedish real estate company to implement LoRaWAN technology across Stena’s property portfolio.

This initiative aims to enhance energy efficiency and digital capabilities of Stena’s real estate operations.

Project scope and implementation

The project involves providing Netmore’s LoRaWAN connectivity to apartments across Stockholm, Malmö, and Gothenburg. The implementation includes the installation of a large number of LoRaWAN gateways to support Stena’s rollout of submetering (IMD) and temperature/humidity sensors, including up to approximately 42,900 meters and sensors.

Initial focus on energy optimization and enhanced quality of living

A key aspect of the partnership is the use of technology for energy optimization. The primary applications include sub-metering enabled by the deployment of water meters, along with temperature and humidity sensors, which are expected to contribute to more efficient energy management in Stena’s properties. Additionally, this technological integration is anticipated to enhance the quality of living for residents, offering a more comfortable and sustainable living environment.

Eric Collinder, Country Manager Nordics at Netmore Group, stated, “We are now entering a phase where LoRaWAN becomes the natural choice of access technology for property owners. We are particularly proud to have Stena Fastigheter, a leading property company in the Nordics, as our customer. They are a prime example of this, opting to equip their portfolio with Netmore LoRaWAN. Providing connectivity for solutions of this scale aligns well with our strategic goals and reflects our established expertise in the property sector.”

Peter Mikulic, Head of Digital Transformation at Stena Fastigheter, expressed, “By equipping our properties with meters and sensors, we can constantly align with the consumption patterns of the buildings and the needs of our tenants, while ensuring that any excess consumption is minimized. After a thorough evaluation of various access technologies and connectivity providers, we chose Netmore LoRaWAN. With Netmore’s connectivity, we can continue to maintain the high level of innovation and environmental consideration that our tenants have come to associate with us.”

Potential for future technological integration

While the initial focus is on energy optimization, the partnership and LoRaWAN technology also allows for the exploration and deployment of additional technological applications in real estate management in the future, demonstrating the versatility of Netmore’s LoRaWAN solutions.

Potential applications include:

Water Leak Detection: Sensors to identify and alert about water leaks, preventing damage and conserving water.
HVAC System Monitoring: Advanced monitoring and control of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems for optimal energy use and resident comfort.
Waste Management Optimization: Intelligent waste collection solutions to optimize resource use and reduce environmental impact.
Smoke Detection: Deployment of smoke detectors for enhanced safety and rapid response in case of fire.
Radon Measurement: Utilization of radon measuring devices to monitor and ensure healthy indoor air quality.

Effortlessly connect your property portfolio to Netmore LoRaWAN

Netmore, in collaboration with property owners and application developers, has developed a streamlined, reliable, and cost-effective LoRaWAN offering that enables scalable deployment of sensor networks in both individual properties and extensive property portfolios throughout Europe. Property owners gain several advantages with Netmore LoRaWAN:

Efficient and Rapid Deployment of Large-Scale Sensor Projects: Property owners can quickly and easily set up expansive sensor networks.
Professionally Monitored Dedicated Network: As the operator, Netmore provides property owners with their own network, which is professionally monitored and maintained.
Open and Future-Proof Network: The network allows for a wide range of valuable and useful digitalization applications, ensuring longevity and adaptability for future needs.
Access to Netmore Market: Property owners can access a comprehensive range of turnkey digitalization solutions specifically designed for real estate through the Netmore Market.
Comprehensive Coverage within Properties: With Netmore LoRaWAN, property owners can reach all measurement points, regardless of their location within the property.
Extended Sensor Battery Life: LoRaWAN technology enables up to 15 years of battery life per sensor, significantly reducing maintenance and replacement needs.

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The cellular IoT module market shows signs of recovery

According to IoT Analytics’ Global Cellular IoT Module and Chipset Market Tracker & Forecast (updated early June 2024), which shares quarterly granular revenue and shipment data regarding IoT modules and chipsets across industry verticals and regions for cellular IoT deployments, the cellular IoT module market grew by 7% year-over-year (YoY) in Q1 2024. This growth is driven by an upswing in module demand in China.

Key insights:

In Q1 2024, the cellular IoT module market grew 7% year-over-year, according to IoT Analytics’ latest Global Cellular IoT Module and Chipset Tracker & Forecast update.
Driving this growth was an upswing in module demand in China, which counterbalanced the remaining inventory and demand issues in much of the world.
Connectivity technologies like 5G and LTE Cat-1 bis experienced a combined 67% market growth year-over-year, contributing to the overall cellular IoT module market growth.
Cellular IoT modules witnessed the strongest growth in the embedded automotive and both fixed and mobile access points sectors.
The top 5 companies by module shipments — Quectel, Fibocom, Telit Cinterion, China Mobile, and LG Innotek — account for 60% of the global market in 2023.

Select quotes:

Satyajit Sinha, Principal Analyst at IoT Analytics, comments that:
“The cellular IoT module market is recovering, driven by demand from China. Despite this, the overall market stability remains weak, with continued declines in other regions. Our analysis suggests that the cellular IoT module market will experience a broader recovery outside of China in the latter half of 2024. Additionally, 5G and LTE-Cat 1 bis will play a key role in the global recovery of the cellular IoT module market in 2024.”

Cellular IoT module market overview

The cellular IoT module market shows signs of recovery. According to IoT Analytics’ Global Cellular IoT Module and Chipset Market Tracker & Forecast (updated early June 2024), which shares quarterly granular revenue and shipment data regarding IoT modules and chipsets across industry verticals and regions for cellular IoT deployments, the cellular IoT module market grew by 7% year-over-year (YoY) in Q1 2024.

Demand from China, 5G, and LTE Cat 1 bis contributed to this market upswing. Renewed demand for cellular IoT modules, primarily in China, drove this recovery in Q1 2024; however, much of the world continued to execute low-inventory strategies to prevent overstocking chips. Meanwhile, two technologies continued to contribute to market revenue growth and further aid in the market upswing: 5G and LTE Cat 1 bis.

Renewed demand for cellular IoT modules lowers inventories and drives shipments. In June 2023, IoT Analytics reported a decline in the cellular IoT module market due to device manufacturers adopting low-inventory strategies to avoid overstocking and minimize excess costs, reducing demand for these modules. This decline continued throughout 2023. However, according to the tracker, there was a recovery in demand in Q1 2024, driven primarily by China, where device manufacturers have largely depleted their existing inventories, prompting a renewed need for cellular IoT modules.

Global market heavily influenced by developments in China. To demonstrate China’s influence on the cellular IoT module market, the market tracker treats it as separate from the other Asia-Pacific countries. China accounts for 54% of the market, representing the largest revenue share, and its 23% revenue growth in Q1 2024 was enough to swing overall market revenue back into positive territory.

Recent Chinese market commentary from IoT module vendors

“The main reason for the growth is that the market conditions in this period are improving, the number of contracts signed for wireless communication modules and engineering services has increased, the order delivery volume has increased, and the revenue has increased.” – SUNSEA, Q1 2024 financial report (translated)

IoT module market outside China declined in Q1. Outside of China, the cellular IoT module market experienced a continued decline in revenue in Q1 2024 at a -6% YoY. North America and Europe were the only regions that experienced (single-digit) growth, while most other areas experienced double-digit revenue declines YoY. However, there are positive signs for these regions. Based on the market tracker, expectations are set for a broader recovery in demand for cellular IoT modules in the upcoming quarters.

Recent market commentary from non-Chinese IoT module vendors

“The results achieved in the first quarter of 2024 were weak as expected. Our view for 2024 is unchanged: based on our experience and input from customers, we expect a sequential recovery over the next quarters.” – u-blox, press release regarding Q1 2024 financial results, April 24, 2024

Technology market trends: 5G and LTE Cat 1 bis on the rise

5G is on track for the highest revenue gain in 2024. According to the market tracker, 2024 started with 5G holding the highest share of the overall cellular IoT module market by revenue. The increased shipments of 5G modules also resulted in the largest revenue boost, and revenue for 5G modules is forecasted to grow 61% in 2024. This highlights the expanding reach and adoption of 5G technology across various sectors like automotive, industrial automation, and smart cities.

Double-digit growth expected for LTE Cat 1 bis. Though only 6% of the cellular IoT module market in Q1 2024 was LTE Cat 1 bis based, it is the best-selling cellular IoT module type in China. LTE Cat 1 bis experienced the steepest climb in shipments in YoY, and the market forecasts a continued upward trend in this regard, resulting in 14% revenue growth in 2024. The demand for this technology is particularly notable in applications where ultra-high-speed connectivity is not essential, like point-of-sale terminals, smart meters, vehicle telematics units, and asset-tracking devices. It offers a balanced, efficient, and sufficient performance for many IoT and mobile applications.

“The overall market for Cat 1 bis modules has grown, and the price gap between NB IoT and Cat 1 bis modules is insignificant.” – Chinese module vendor during IoT Analytics’ research interviews in Q1 2024

Segment market trends: Embedded automotive and access points sectors drove 5G’s growth

The embedded automotive market segment leads in the use of cellular IoT modules. Embedded automotive held 22% market share in Q1 2024 and predominately leveraged 5G technology. The trackerforecasts that cellular IoT modules used in this segment will see an overall 14% revenue bump in 2024, driven mainly by applications of these modules in telematics and vehicle tracking, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and in-vehicle infotainment systems.

Access points (fixed and mobile) expected to contribute significantly to cellular IoT module revenue growth. According to the cellular IoT module market tracker,the access point segmentheld 14% market share in Q1 2024. This segment encompasses applications for smart buildings such as factories, transportation and logistics, public Wi-Fi, and high-definition content delivery. The cellular IoT modules used in these applications are predicted to see an overall revenue boost of 55% in 2024.

Recent market segment commentary on from IoT module vendors

“The three major areas, intelligent connected vehicles, fixed wireless access (FWA), and IoT, are all showing a recovery trend in demand, with FWA and IoT experiencing stronger demand from overseas customers.” – Meig, Q1 2024 financial report (translation)

Cellular IoT module competitive landscape: The top 5 companies

The top five cellular IoT module companies (based on revenue)—Quectel, Fibocom (including Rolling Wireless), Telit Cinterion, China Mobile, and LG Innotek—account for 60% of the global cellular IoT module market in revenue.

Here are additional insights about these top 5 module vendors:

1. Quectel: As the revenue leader with a 31% market share, Quectel experienced a 19% YoY growth in cellular IoT module revenue in Q1 2024.
2. Fibocom: Fibocom holds the #2 position with 10% market share. It experienced a 10% increase in revenue in Q1 2024 YoY, mainly due to strong sales of its advanced 5G cellular IoT modules.
3. Telit Cinterion: Telit Cinterion holds the #3 position in cellular IoT module revenue with 7% market share, though it is the only one of the top 5 that experienced a decline in its cellular IoT module revenue in Q1 2024, down 23% YoY. The company was founded in early 2023 as a result of the merger between Telit and Thales’s IoT module unit.
4. China Mobile: With 6% market share, China Mobile holds the #4 position. It experienced 70% cellular IoT module revenue growth in Q1 2024 YoY, mainly due to its 5G and Cat 1 bis modules. China Mobile sells its modules at a lower price than its competitors, giving it an advantage in the market.
5. LG Innotek: As a pure automotive communication module provider, LG Innotek holds the #5 position with a 5% share of global cellular IoT revenue.

Market outlook

Renewed demand outside of China on the horizon. Chinese cellular IoT module vendors are expected to maintain leadership in global market recovery into the second half of 2024. Additionally, Western companies are forecasted to increase shipments due to a resurgence in demand.

5G RedCap shipments starting soon. RedCap technology is set to enhance existing use cases such as wireless industrial sensors, video surveillance, smart grids, and smart wearables by enabling lower latency and improved energy efficiency. Currently, the operators are testing 5G RedCap networks and module shipments expected to begin in the 2nd half of 2024; however, only a few module vendors have developed or even launched 5G RedCap modules at this point.

Monitoring the speed of the recovery. The recovery of the cellular IoT module market shows how dynamic this market can be.

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As part of a strategic partnership, the industrial consortium between Europorte1 and Kerlink2, has announced the development of Track Value, a revolutionary traceability and monitoring solution for all freight activities (road, rail, air and sea).

This is the first industrial application dedicated to the freight and logistics sector to incorporate data transmission via Kinéis space connectivity. Track Value is scheduled to go on sale in the third quarter of 2024.

Raphaël Doutrebente, Chairman of Europorte, a subsidiary of the Getlink Group, comments: “We are delighted with this innovative partnership, which will enable us to provide a precise response to the need to secure goods being transported. With Track Value, Europorte, a subsidiary of the Getlink group and the leading private rail freight operator, is providing a solution for all customers in the transport logistics sector (road, rail, air and sea).”

A response to the needs of the international freight market

Today’s road, rail, air and sea transport operators are faced with an increase in trade and must guarantee the safety of their goods and reduce the impact of their transport on the environment.

This strategic partnership brings together a wide range of expertise and has led to the creation of Track Value.

This innovative solution, developed by Europorte and Kerlink, improves the management of these flows by digitising multimodal transport activities. This digitisation improves the quality and reliability of services, thanks to data feedback and processing in near-real time and from anywhere in the world.

Yannick Delibie, Kerlink’s Technical Director: “Kerlink’s teams have contributed their expertise in tailor-made IoT connectivity solutions to develop the Track Value solution and offer a genuine innovation to meet the challenge of more sustainable freight.”

The data collected by the Track Value solution guarantees:

Goods security in near real time (traceability, optimisation, etc.),
Detecting and sending alerts (flow disruptions, equipment and infrastructure failures, etc.),
Anticipation of maintenance operations.

Benefits for the customer:

High performance, for equipment life and safety, and connectivity,
A low environmental footprint for data transmission (low energy consumption),
A future-proof, scalable solution tailored to needs,
A sovereign solution (100% French).

Alexandre Tisserant, Chairman of Kinéis:

“Kinéis’ space connectivity is now an established and essential offering in the IoT market. This partnership with Europorte and Kerlink for the Track Value solution illustrates the close links we are developing with industrial players in all sectors.”

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According to a new research report from the leading IoT analyst firm Berg Insight, the number of active fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in South Africa reached an estimated 2.3 million in Q4-2023.

Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3 percent, this number is expected to reach 3.8 million by 2028. South Africa is a relatively mature telematics market and the penetration rate is comparably high from an international perspective. Far from all deployments are however full-scale advanced fleet management solutions. A notable share of the installed fleet telematics systems on the South African market is represented by comparably low-end tracking systems, e.g. light FM solutions, including SVR systems extended with basic FM features.

Rickard Andersson, Principal Analyst, Berg Insight, said:

“The South African fleet management market is clearly dominated by five domestic players with broad telematics portfolios that together represent 70 percent of the total number of fleet management systems in use in the country.”

He adds that Berg Insight ranks Cartrack, Tracker and MiX by Powerfleet (formerly known as MiX Telematics prior to the business combination with Powerfleet) as the largest providers of fleet management solutions in South Africa.

“Cartrack alone has well over half a million active fleet management units in the country”, continued Mr. Andersson.

The remaining top-5 players are Ctrack and Netstar. Other top-10 players on the South African fleet management market include local providers such as Bidtrack (Bidvest Group), Digicell and GPS Tracking Solutions (Eqstra Fleet Management), as well as international players including Lytx and Webfleet (Bridgestone). Gurtam, Autotrak, Digital Matter, Scania and Powerfleet (excluding MiX by Powerfleet) are additional top-15 providers. Players just outside of the top list with at least an estimated 10,000 units include Key Telematics (Radius), FleetCam, iCAM Video Telematics, Geotab, Mtrack (Electronic Tracking Systems) and Globaltrack.

“In addition to Scania, comparably large installed bases of OEM fleet telematics systems in South Africa have also been achieved by manufacturers such as Volvo Trucks, Daimler Truck and UD Trucks”, concluded Mr. Andersson.

The new study also includes an outlook on the overall African market. Africa is clearly a highly diverse geographic region from a fleet management perspective. The continent can in general be divided into three subregions – South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) and Northern Africa. The South African fleet telematics market is far ahead of the rest of the continent in terms of adoption, whereas Sub-Saharan Africa is the least developed region if excluding South Africa. Northern Africa is comparably advanced and well ahead of Sub-Saharan Africa when it comes to fleet telematics penetration, though still quite a bit behind South Africa.

The African fleet management market beyond South Africa is by many industry representatives described as challenging. The weak economic conditions and foreign exchange rate fluctuations in combination with the unstable political climate make the Rest of Africa market a challenging business environment overall. There are however promising prospects for players adapting to the local market dynamics as the Rest of Africa market has considerably more untapped opportunity than what South Africa can offer at this stage.

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