In the current era of digital exploration, where access to information is remarkably easy, the significance of search engines in sculpting our internet journey cannot be overstated. Take a moment to digest this impressive number: Google handles around 99,000 search inquiries every single second. This amounts to a striking 8.5 billion searches daily and about 2 trillion searches worldwide annually.

Such numbers highlight the vast scale and influence of search engine technologies in our everyday activities. However, as technological advancements progress and the expectations of users adapt alongside, we need to know what steps can be taken to improve the search experience for today’s digital users. The introduction of vector searches presents an innovative method that could significantly alter the search engine domain, offering users a more refined and enhanced experience.

Understanding Vector Searches

Conventional search engines predominantly depend on algorithms centered around keywords to correlate user inquiries with pertinent content. Although somewhat effective, this method frequently overlooks the subtle connotations conveyed by words and expressions.

Conversely, a vector search adopts a more refined strategy by depicting words and documents as mathematical vectors within a multi-dimensional realm. Through scrutinizing the semantic connections among these vectors, algorithms rooted in vector-based search can grasp the contextual nuances and intentions underlying user queries, thereby yielding search outcomes that are more precise and pertinent.

Advantages of Vector Searches

A noteworthy benefit of employing vector searches lies in their capacity to augment semantic comprehension. Unlike conventional keyword-based searches that hinge solely on precise matches, vector searches have the ability to discern semantic resemblances among words and phrases. Consequently, search engines are better equipped to grasp the implicit meaning behind user queries, thus facilitating the delivery of more pertinent results.

Furthermore, vector searches empower search engines to dynamically adjust to user preferences and contextual nuances. Through the analysis of user behavior and feedback patterns, search algorithms can tailor search outcomes to better suit individual preferences and requirements. This personalized approach not only enriches the user journey but also bolsters user interaction and contentment levels.

Applications of Vector Searches

Vector searches have wide-ranging potential applications that extend across diverse domains, ranging from e-commerce to enterprise search systems. Within e-commerce platforms, these searches hold the capacity to fuel personalized recommendations, aiding users in discovering products that resonate with their individual interests and preferences. Similarly, in platforms dedicated to content discovery, vector searches facilitate context-aware search experiences, ensuring the delivery of content that not only aligns with the user’s needs but also considers timeliness and contextual relevance.

In the business world, the adoption of vector searches stands to optimize information retrieval processes significantly. By incorporating an understanding of the context surrounding user queries, enterprise search systems can effectively surface the most pertinent documents and resources.

Challenges and Limitations

Navigating the world of vector searches reveals a landscape filled with promise yet beset by hurdles and ethical quandaries. At the heart of the dilemma lies the issue of data privacy and ethical stewardship of information. As these search mechanisms delve deep into and sift through the vast seas of user data, privacy infringement and the potential mishandling of personal details loom large. It falls upon the creators of these systems to champion the cause of privacy and security around the information entrusted to them.

Furthermore, the intricacies involved in setting up and running vector-based search frameworks can present formidable obstacles for developers. The creation and upkeep of these systems necessitate a deep understanding and proficiency in fields such as machine learning, natural language processing, and the retrieval of information. It’s also vital to address and ensure the objectivity and openness of search algorithms to prevent biases and guarantee that access to information remains fair and unbiased.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, despite the hurdles encountered, the future prospects for vector searches appear bright. With ongoing technological progress, we anticipate further strides in vector search capabilities, rendering it more user-friendly and readily available. The integration of vector searches into everyday applications stands to not only enrich user interactions but also catalyze innovation across multiple sectors.

Furthermore, the widespread acceptance of vector searches harbors the promise of equalizing access to information, narrowing the disparity among various user demographics and levels of digital proficiency. By championing inclusivity and accessibility, vector searches can enable individuals from diverse backgrounds to effortlessly navigate the expansive digital realm with assurance and ease. Consequently, the trajectory of vector searches holds considerable potential in fostering a fairer and more inclusive digital landscape.

Final Thoughts

Vector searches stand at the forefront of reshaping the search engine domain, offering users enhanced precision, relevance, and personalized search encounters. Through harnessing the capabilities of semantic comprehension and context sensitivity, vector searches are primed to redefine our methods of accessing and engaging with digital information. As developers and enterprises delve deeper into this burgeoning technology, the scope for pioneering advancements and fundamental shifts remains boundless.

The post Redefining Search Engines for Modern Users With Vector Searches appeared first on IoT Business News.

Millions of smart toothbrushes hacked and “turned into secret army for criminals?” Sounds like Hollywood pretense or something born from the collective imagination of today’s security pros and, in this case, it was.

In late January, Swiss publication Aargauer Zeitung wrote an article describing how hackers had launched a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack against approximately 3 million smart toothbrushes. The story claimed damages to be millions of euros. Numerous English-language publications, including ZDNet, Tom’s Hardware and The Sun, picked up the story and reported on the attack.

It wasn’t until a week later that Fortinet, Aargauer Zeitung’s source, clarified that the situation was a hypothetical attack discussed during an interview—blaming a translation error for the misunderstanding. While there has understandably been some fallout over the viral nature of the story, I caution companies from dismissing this scenario entirely.

It didn’t happen, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t. And while it’s unlikely that a connected toothbrush would cause the chaos outlined in the original Swiss article, it still serves as an important reminder that IoT devices remain a sought-after hacker target.

With that in mind, following are some important considerations to ensure their security:

Enable All Security Features

Many connected devices offer encryption or other additional security features. Too often organizations and consumers fail to enable them, making it much easier for a threat actor to compromise the device.

Strengthen Authentication

Using multifactor authentication (MFA) whenever possible is also an important step as part of a layered approach to IoT security.

Evaluate Unneeded Features

Another best practice is to disable any unnecessary features, as well as ensuring that any older unused devices are disconnected from the network. The latter often have outdated security, which can create a weak point on the network that cybercriminals can easily exploit.

Ensure Devices are Up to Date

Frequently check all IoT manufacturers’ websites for firmware updates and patches. If the smart device has an accompanying app, ensure that the most up-to-date version is in use.

Change the Default Settings

It wasn’t too long ago that many IoT devices were shipped with the same default password as standard—for example, in 2019 600,000 GPS trackers arrived all with 123456 as their password. While manufacturers no longer assign the same credential to all products out of the box, it’s still important to change the password and all other default settings prior to use.

IoT Security Demands Threat Intelligence

Unfortunately, changing a device’s password isn’t enough from an enterprise security perspective. People typically reuse passwords across numerous applications and systems, with one study finding that 72% of individuals deploy the same one in their personal life and nearly half of employees simply change or add a digit or character. Given the high rate of data breaches, all it takes is one attack for these credentials to be available on the Dark Web for threat actors to utilize in subsequent breach attempts.

This is a key reason that threat intelligence is a vital component of any modern IoT security strategy. Organizations need real-time insight into the integrity of the credentials used to secure and access connected devices so that they can take immediate action in the event of a compromise—and prevent any subsequent damages from occurring.

Giving IoT Security Some Teeth

Once the Aargauer Zeitung story was debunked, many articles pointed out that threat actors generally pursue attack avenues more closely linked to monetary gain. And while connected toothbrushes don’t contain financial data, the same can’t be said for enterprise IoT devices used for predictive maintenance, smart energy management, or occupancy monitoring.

As such, the hypothetical attack scenario is a timely nudge to ensure the security of these and other enterprise connected devices. The news media will soon forget about this viral (if untrue) story, but the same can’t be said for hackers’ fixation on smart devices’ security vulnerabilities.

The post Don’t Brush Off the Toothbrush Story: Connected Device Security is A Major Concern appeared first on IoT Business News.

Although the initial adoption of IoT was fairly slow, it has fast become vital to businesses over the last five years. IoT is enabling businesses to increase revenue, create operational efficiencies and deliver new product lines in new markets, our research found. In today’s always-on and fully integrated world, fast and reliable connectivity between all devices is an extremely important business enabler, and those who invest in their IoT strategy are seeing the benefits. It is also a key driver behind digital transformation and holds the keys to allowing businesses to evolve and adapt to modern, digital-first practices. However, there is still a lot that can be done to fully unlock the potential of IoT across almost every industry.

Smart connectivity is the gateway to automation

As the adoption of IoT becomes more widespread, and IoT matures as a technology, traditional implementations of simple networks and connected devices will not be intelligent enough. The beauty of having all of your devices fully connected is that it provides a wealth of real-time data, which enable the system to be more proactive in its response to changing conditions. This does, however, require more processing and analysis on the part of the network, meaning a much more intelligent system is needed.

To fully take advantage of everything that IoT can offer, businesses should implement a ‘smart connectivity’ solution. As an example of this, take a system that monitors the heartbeat of a patient. While this could easily be set up to alert a healthcare professional once the heart rate exceeds a certain limit, this would not allow enough time for a doctor or nurse to respond, depending on the severity of the patient’s condition.

With smart connectivity, this system could be vastly improved. To link the intelligence in the IoT device to the health monitoring analytics and operational dashboards in the cloud, you need intelligent or ‘smart’ connectivity built into the device that enables secure, compliant, and resilient device-to-cloud connection. This would allow the system to be much more proactive, giving it the data and analytics it needs to respond to events before they happen, as opposed to being reactive. In terms of healthcare, the real benefit of this could be saving lives.

There is also a growing need for remote patient monitoring (RPM), which allows patients to be discharged earlier and be safe in the knowledge that highly accurate data about their health will reach their healthcare providers. An excellent example of this being put into practice is Telli Health’s RPM offering, which uses Eseye’s multi-network eSIM connectivity solution, as this is much more reliable than Bluetooth. This reliability is further bolstered by not having to rely on only one network, which also allows for greater geographic coverage for connection.

Keeping up with digital transformation

Organisations strive to take advantage of modern technology as much as possible, in a process dubbed ‘digital transformation’, and IoT is one of the main drivers of this in many industries. One sector that benefits massively from the adoption of IoT is logistics.

Logistics touches every industry that deals with physical goods, and it plays a huge role in the day-to-day activities of most organisations. Due to the highly decentralised nature of the supply chain, IoT technology is a perfect match to solve some of the industry’s biggest challenges.

One main benefit is enhanced visibility and control over the disparate elements that make up the supply chain. A fully integrated network of devices allows companies the ability to monitor their assets, assess risks, and respond quickly to any issues that may arise.

IoT is also a great enabler for automation. Many logistics companies strive for a greater level of self-sufficiency, as it reduces human labour and associated costs, as well as reduces the margin for human error. However, to achieve a high degree of automated processes across the supply chain, it is essential to connect the devices connected to a central network and each other.

The past year has also seen an explosion in the usefulness of AI, and companies want to get as much out of this emerging technology as they can. This is achieved with a robust IoT solution, as it can be used, for example, in warehouses to manage inventory with automatically updating shelves.

Sustainability into the future

Another way in which IoT can help a business excel is in achieving sustainability targets. There is increasing pressure on organisations to become more efficient and decrease waste, as well as reduce harm to the environment. Through a fully connected IoT solution, techniques such as energy harvesting can be employed to extend the lifetimes of devices, as well as optimise energy use to improve overall efficiency.

IoT is essential for the electric vehicle industry, particularly when it comes to EV charging points. This is needed for practically every function of an EV charger, from payment processing and software updates to collecting user analytics. Unreliable connectivity can lead to delays which reduce the efficiency of charge points, limit customer throughput and – perhaps most concerning in a sector where adoption is still at an early stage – dent customer confidence. The technology pioneered through Eseye’s partnership with InstaVolt proves that these issues can be overcome with the right expertise, connectivity and implementation.

Additionally, as electric vehicles become the standard, any charging points that are installed now will need to be future-proof to be ready for the increasing adoption of EVs. The goal, therefore, is to create charging points that can run for 10 years, or more, with minimal human intervention. Having a low-maintenance, durable charging point network is achievable with IoT.

As we move into 2024 and beyond, businesses must embrace IoT if they want to stay ahead of the curve in a fast-paced and ever-evolving world. Choosing the right connectivity partner to provide high-quality service and maximum flexibility will ensure operational resilience and efficiency into the future, regardless of industry. Above all, reshaping industries with IoT can benefit not only the business but also the environment.

The post Practical Applications of IoT in Business appeared first on IoT Business News.

IoT Analytics has published a new analysis focusing on smart meters.

It is derived from the comprehensive “Global Smart Meter Market Tracker”. The tracker includes installed base, shipments and shipment revenues for electricity, gas and water smart meters. The current analysis underscores the global adoption rate of smart electricity meters in 2024, providing an in-depth regional exploration and market forecast.

Key insights:

By the end of 2023, 1.06 billion smart meters (electricity, water and gas) have been installed worldwide, according to IoT Analytics’ Global Smart Meter Market Tracker 2020–2030.
Smart meters enable utility service providers across the world to digitalize their distribution infrastructure and services efficiently with near real-time data.
North America has the most mature smart electricity meter market, with nearly 77% electricity meter market penetration, while Latin America has largely lagged in its adoption of the technology. Some European Union countries and the East Asian region, too, have high rates of smart electricity meter market penetration.
South Asia, Latin America, and Africa represent a high-growth potential for smart meters, as some regional governments have become convinced of the need to update their aging grid infrastructure and are more actively engaging with smart grid industry stakeholders to develop regulatory policies to drive the adoption of smart meters.

Key quotes:

Knud Lasse Lueth, CEO at IoT Analytics, remarks: “IoT-based smart electricity meters have become a reality in the world but adoption varies greatly by country and region with countries like Sweden, France, or Canada having completed or nearly completed their roll-outs while others like Germany are yet to start their initiative in a meaningful way. India is likely to see the largest roll-out in the coming years.”

Adarsh Krishnan, Principal Analyst at IoT Analytics, adds that: “Digital transformation is sweeping the utility industry as global service providers’ smart meter deployment, a foundational smart grid technology, exceeds installed base of 1 billion units. While advanced economies embrace feature-rich smart meters, emerging markets focus on more cost-effective solutions for their grid upgrades. Furthermore, future advancements in AI and edge computing will bring greater operational efficiencies and innovative consumer services, creating sustainable and resilient smart grids.”

By the end of 2023, Utility Service Providers (USPs) around the world will have installed over 1.06 billion smart (electricity, gas, and water) meters, according to IoT Analytics’ updated Global Smart Meter Market Tracker 2020–2030. As IoT devices, smart meters are enabling energy and water USPs to build resilience into their operations with near real-time data from their distribution networks. With sustainability and the digitalization of utilities gaining traction worldwide, the installed base of these devices is expected to exceed 1.75 billion by 2030 (CAGR 6%), making the smart meter market a market to watch closely.

Smart electricity meter adoption is far ahead of the adoption of smart gas and smart water meters at this point, though the picture could change by 2030, with smart gas and water meter adoption expected to grow at 10% and 16% CAGR, respectively.

While the tracker provides in-depth coverage of smart electricity, gas, and water meters across 52 countries and 5 regions—including installed base, shipments, revenue, market penetration, and connectivity technology—IoT Analytics plans to offer highlights for each smart meter submarket separately as its own article, starting here with smart electricity meters.

Global smart electricity meter market snapshot

As of late 2023, the smart electricity meter market achieved 43% penetration of the overall global electricity meter market, according to the market tracker.

Electricity grid modernization initiatives started in the late 2000s in Italy and the US and accelerated to national rollouts throughout the EU and APAC regions after 2010. Regulatory policies—supported by financial incentives from regional or national governments—have contributed to this growth, as these policies have encouraged utilities to replace mechanical electricity meters with smart meters to modernize their grid infrastructure.

However, as discussed below, not all parts of the world are modernizing their electricity infrastructure. According to the tracker, North America, Europe, and East Asia have had higher rates of smart electricity meter market penetration, but adoption rates still vary from country to country. Meanwhile, Latin America, Africa, and South Asia have been slow to initiate smart electricity meter projects across the board. Some countries have initiated large-scale smart electricity meter projects in recent years, though project implementation complexity, lack of regulatory policies, and cost hurdles have delayed rollouts in several countries.

Overall, the market for smart electricity meters looks promising, as the Smart Meter Market Tracker forecasts these IoT devices to achieve 54% adoption of the overall global electricity meter market by 2030.

Smart electricity meter market and adoption by region

While the smart meter market tracker shares market data down to the country level, the following are highlights about the smart electricity meter market at the regional level.

North America leads in smart electricity meter adoption

North America has the most mature smart electricity meter market, with nearly 77% electricity meter market penetration by the end of 2023.

In the US, smart electricity meters have 76% penetration in the overall electricity meter market as of 2023, driven by large-scale deployments from investor-owned utilities. Smart meter rollouts in the US are expected to slow down or plateau during the forecast period due to smart meter’s high penetration rate and long product life cycles. As municipalities with smaller budgets and cooperative-owned utilities replace their traditional electricity meters with smart meters, smart meter annual shipments in the US should see marginal growth through the rest of the decade.

Furthermore, the region will get a further boost in smart meter shipments, as Canadian utilities Fortis and Hydro One have announced plans in 2023 to replace their existing AMI with 2nd-generation smart meters.

The APAC region has the second most mature smart electricity meter market, driven by nationwide deployments in China and Japan.

Meanwhile, the APAC region has the largest addressable market for smart electricity meters, with over 1.1 billion electricity metering endpoints. In 2023, the APAC region accounted for almost 60% of the global smart meter installed base and more than 50% of annual smart meter shipments. In 2023, the region achieved a smart meter penetration rate of 49%, largely driven by successful nationwide rollouts in China and Japan. With planned nationwide deployments in Australia, South Korea, India, Indonesia, and Singapore, the region’s smart meter penetration is expected to reach 67% by the end of this decade.

Of note in this region, in 2021, India’s government set an ambitious goal of installing 250 million smart electricity meters by the end of 2025. To execute the implementation strategy, the government of India launched the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) not only to help financially support regional USP smart meter deployment and maintenance but also to expand the domestic manufacturing capacity to produce smart meters within India. By the end of 2023, India had achieved less than 3% of this goal, making it unlikely for this goal to be met before 2030. That said, by 2030, India is on track to become the single largest market for smart electricity meters in terms of annual shipment and revenue.

Europe comes third in smart meter adoption, though adoption differs greatly by country

Europe had 47% smart electricity meter market penetration across the continent at the end of 2023. France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries initiated nationwide rollouts in the last decade, while Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Romania only started their initiatives more recently.

Germany, with over 50 million electricity metering points, has largely lagged in its adoption rate, with under 10% of smart electricity meters deployed to date. However, in early 2023, the government of Germany revamped its 2016 Metering Point Operation Act to speed up smart meter deployments, targeting a complete rollout by 2032. The new law stipulates binding deadlines for USPs with a roadmap that includes 20% rollout by the end of 2025, 50% by the end of 2028, and 95% by the end of 2030 for residential and small business consumers, with targets extending to 2032 for large consumers. However, there is strong market skepticism around achieving these deadlines due to the need for clarity from the government around financial support for USPs, AMI technical specifications, data privacy, and security governance framework.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE lead in the Middle East and Africa region

In the Middle East and Africa region, Saudi Arabia and UAE are leading the way in the implementation of smart meters for electricity. In 2022, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned USP Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) announced the successful deployment of approximately 11 million smart meters over three years. Meanwhile, the UAE, which already has 1.6 million smart electricity meters installed, is expected to complete its nationwide rollout by the end of 2029.

Latin America lags in smart electricity meter adoption

Finally, Latin America has seen the slowest smart electricity meter deployment, largely due to regulatory indecisiveness delaying project rollouts. Uruguay was the first country in the region to mandate a nationwide smart meter rollout, aiming for completion in 2026.

Analyst’s outlook on the electricity smart meter market

Though regional variations persist—with energy USPs in North America, Europe, and East Asia boasting much more mature markets than their counterparts—the regions of Southern Asia, Latin America, and Africa represent a high-growth potential for smart meters. Some key considerations for various stakeholders are as follows:

Market saturation and marginal growth in advanced economies: The implementation of more advanced and feature-rich 2nd-generation smart meters is already underway or in the advanced planning stages in countries such as Sweden, Italy, Finland, and Canada. This is likely to marginally drive up the average selling price of smart electricity meters.
Cost sensitivity in emerging markets: In regions such as South Asia, Latin America, and Africa, where penetration rates are lower, some national governments are convinced of the need to upgrade their aging grid infrastructure and are actively engaging with smart grid industry stakeholders to develop regulatory policies and standards to drive the adoption of smart meters. However, these are also cost-sensitive markets where low-cost smart meters are more likely to be successful.
Smart meter supply chain diversification: Several countries (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Brazil, India, and Indonesia) that are initiating large-scale rollouts are stipulating that smart meter OEMs localize the manufacturing of 40% or more of the smart meter demand.
Regulatory policy uncertainties: Policy indecisiveness creates complex and uncertain environments for smart meter stakeholders, hindering innovation and investments that subsequently delay smart meter deployments, as seen in countries such as Brazil, India, Mexico, and South Africa.
Future innovations and market trends: Innovations in ICs, edge computing, and AI (TinyML), as seen in 2nd-generation smart meters, may help reduce strain on communication networks, improve real-time responses to grid fluctuations, build resilience, and enhance data security and privacy.

Based on the Global Smart Meter Market Tracker 2020–2030, the traditional USP industry, once considered a laggard in adopting new technology innovations, is leading the digital transformation market with more than a billion smart meters and accelerating its digital footprint.

IoT Analytics will closely monitor this evolving USP industry and technology landscape to provide in-depth analysis and actionable insights into this market. Its next report on energy utilities (expected in Q2 2024) will provide a deep dive assessment of USPs in 10 countries to identify key trends in smart grid programs, such as distribution automation, green energy integration, and EV charging infrastructure.

The post Smart electricity meter market 2024: Global adoption landscape appeared first on IoT Business News.

Sateliot has achieved a 5G service connection after successfully integrating with KSAT Global Ground Station Network and the 5G virtualized core in AWS.

Sateliot, which operates a Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) 5G Internet of Things (IoT) satellite constellation acting as a seamless roaming extension of cellular networks, has achieved 5G service messaging connection via the Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) commercial network, KSATlite, together with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The collaboration between Sateliot and KSAT leverages the strengths of both entities to create a synergistic approach to 5G IoT satellite connectivity. Sateliot’s cutting-edge LEO satellite constellation seamlessly integrates with KSAT’s advanced ground network services, creating a robust system that ensures reliability, scalability, and global coverage.

Using AWS, Sateliot has built a fully virtualized cloud-native 5G core for Narrowband (NB)-IoT Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), providing flexible, low-cost, and hyper-scalable narrowband solutions supporting Sateliot’s end-to-end service.

Sateliot has marked a significant milestone by establishing its first-ever 5G service connection using KSAT’s Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) network. This achievement was made possible by integrating Sateliot’s NB-IoT NTN Core Network deployed using AWS with the KSATlite multi-mission solution, which now functions as a 5G point-of-presence
(PoP).

In the context of Sateliot and KSAT’s collaboration, the PoP represents a crucial juncture in the seamless integration of ground and satellite services.

Together, it showcases the versatility and adaptability of Sateliot’s technology, demonstrating that Sateliot does not need to deploy its own dedicated Ground Gateways for Satellite IoT backhaul to provide an end-to-end standard 5G NB-IoT NTN service globally. This provides Sateliot with flexibility in locating its ground stations and super scalability.

The achievement validates further agreements between Sateliot and several stakeholders to improve millions of lives worldwide. During 2023, Sateliot closed agreements with hundreds of IoT solution providers to bring standard 5G satellite connectivity to their industries, revolutionizing and digitizing agriculture, livestock management, and maritime logistics, among others.

Sateliot also counts with an end-to-end service validation with Telefonica and the novel and patented Store and Forward technology. This is a particularly relevant feature for Sateliot’s delay-tolerant IoT services as it allows successful operations from day one, distinguishing the company from other satellite constellations reliant on a continuous link.

Marco Guadalupi, CTO at Sateliot, highlights: “The successful integration of Sateliot’s service into KSATlite solution brings unprecedented infrastructure optimization with fast and reliable data delivery. With KSAT, we reduce global service latency thanks to the strategic locations of their ground stations near the poles, thus allowing us to maximize daily ground contact passes.”

John Heskett, CTO at KSAT, adds:

“This is an exciting expansion of LEO satellite applications, providing a fully compliant 3GPP NB-IoT NTN service. KSAT is proud to have successfully integrated into Sateliot’s architecture, effectively serving as their feeder link gateways and their 5G-POPs. We look forward to Sateliot’s continued success and seeing this sector of the LEO satellite market grow!”

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The new ALT1350, a game-changer for asset trackers and smart utility meters, boasts unmatched low power consumption and advanced location capabilities.

Sony Semiconductor Israel (Sony), a leading provider of cellular IoT chipsets, announced that its advanced ALT1350 Wireless System on Chip (SoC) is now commercially available.

LPWA cellular modules have been designed by our partners and industry leaders AM Telecom, Fibocom, Murata, Quectel, Semtech, Telit Cinterion and Wistron NeWeb Corporation (WNC). The modules are now available for sampling, with mass production expected during the first half of 2024.

The Sony’s Altair ALT1350 is the first cellular LTE-M/NB-IoT SoC to adopt a low-power application MCU, a sensor-hub for data collection and processing, enhanced security, integrated SIM (iSIM) location technology and an additional sub-GHz LPWA/FAN customizable transceiver and NTN communication options in a single chip. It features cellular connected standby mode (eDRX) connectivity at a power consumption of below 3µA, and its overall power consumption performance achieves up to 10 times longer battery life compared to previous generations. The rich feature set and performance of the chipset makes it an ideal solution for smart utility meters and single-chip asset-tracking applications.

The ALT1350 chipset promises unparalleled connectivity options and can support connectivity choices for all industries and markets. In smart cities and utility spaces, the ALT1350 can perform as a low-power cellular modem, a low-power mesh device, and a router between cellular and mesh networks as well as provide multiple connectivity backup options. The rich feature set and performance make it an ideal solution for single-chip asset-tracking applications, bundling multi-tier location services optimized for battery operated devices.

“Commercial adaptation of the ALT1350 SoC by industry leaders demonstrates strong demand for new generation LPWA technology solutions,” said Nohik Semel, CEO of Sony Semiconductor Israel .

“This SoC enables applications for smart cities, logistics and asset trackers, connected health devices, and in the wearables market as it brings in an era of connected everything in which battery consumption is no longer a concern. We are excited to be working with our partners to bring this SoC to the market and help them build innovative products.”

“It has been a great experience developing our connectivity module and network device based on the ALT1350 chipset, collaborating with Sony for the first time,” says Jin Gyu Lee, CMO of AM Telecom.

“This equips us with strong competitive edge in LTE network coverage as well as low cost by processing sub-GHz LPWA and LTE-M on a single SoC using the ALT1350. We believe this is a great opportunity for AM Telecom using small IoT devices based on the ALT1350 chipset which enables technically solving issues such as a battery life, WPS/GPS support, etc., disrupting the spread of IoT communications.”

“We are delighted to propel the 5G LPWA module solution in collaboration with Sony, and we are optimistic to bring empowerment in the application fields in the short term with today’s announcement on the commercial availability of the ALT1350,” said Kevin Guan, Director of MTC Product Marketing at Fibocom.

“Fibocom’s 5G LPWA module MS180 integrated with the ALT1350, adopts an ultra-compact size at 12.8*14.8mm and is designed to provide ultra-low power consumption and reliable wireless connectivity for the 5G massive IoT market. Looking forward, we are confident to empower industries such as smart metering, asset tracking, telematics, telehealth, smart city, and consumer electronics with the best-in-class module solution.”

“The collaboration with Sony, an industry leader in cellular IoT connectivity, ensures that Murata deliver unsurpassed feature integration, security, and system cost in the smallest form factor possible,” said Hirokazu Nakae, General Manager of Connectivity Module Product Department, Murata, “Murata’s ALT1350 module is designed to address specifications of vertical markets such as tracking, metering, wearables, and other emerging markets. Looking forward, it will offer worldwide operator certificates to allow customers to launch their product globally with a single design.”

“We are thrilled to be working closely again with Sony on the integration of Sony’s advanced ALT1350 chipset into our module solutions, underscoring our commitment to driving innovation and delivering superior performance to our customers,” commented Norbert Muhrer, President and CSO, Quectel Wireless Solutions. “Our Quectel BG950S-GL LPWA module will take the rich feature set and performance of the ALT1350 and set a new standard for IoT devices, enabling more efficient, reliable, and seamless communication across the globe. Together, Sony and Quectel are paving the way for a future where smart, connected devices transform every aspect of our lives, from the way we work to how we interact with the world around us.”

“Our long-time partnership with Sony has helped us to shape and innovate in the LPWA market, particularly with metering applications,” said Larry Zibrik, VP and GM of Modules at Semtech. “We are proud to continue our leading role in the evolution of LPWA technology through the use of the Sony’s Altair ALT1350 in our next generation HL7900 5G LPWA module, building on the success of our HL78 series. With the launch of the HL7900, we look forward to pushing boundaries for customers with even more efficient and long-lasting IoT solutions.”

“The low-power, multi-radio capabilities of the ALT1350 unlock a new set of use cases for the vast battery-driven cellular LPWAN and short range wireless IoT application markets,” said Manish Watwani, Chief Marketing and Product Officer at Telit Cinterion. “Telit Cinterion is elated to be part of this inflection point in the industry, introducing a strong lineup of modules, namely the ME310M1 Series, based on the SoC made possible not only by the ALT1350 broad set of advanced features, but also by the strong and longstanding partnership we have with Sony.”

“WNC is very excited to launch a module line based on Sony’s ALT1350 chipset and strengthen a broad, strategic partnership with Sony. WNC’s unique value-add in connectivity modules, antenna design, and turnkey ODM/CM services sets us apart from other module and CM players,” said Fayu Chen, SVP & GM of the Automotive, Module and Antenna Business Group at WNC. “Sony’s Cat-M SoCs are widely regarded as the gold standard in Cat-M technologies. We look forward to the ALT1350’s many cutting-edge features and the new world of opportunities that it will usher in.”

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