Quectel's BG770A-SN Promises Low-Power 5G-Ready Cellular and Satellite Connectivity for the IoT
Tiny low-power MIPS-powered module offers both terrestrial cellular and non-terrestrial satellite connectivity in a compact package.
Internet of Things specialist Quectel has launched a new cellular communication model boasting 5G-ready status and satellite compatibility for broad coverage in a compact package: the Quectel BG770A-SN.
"We're delighted to unveil the Quectel BG770A-SN ultra-compact 5G-ready satellite communication module," said Quectel's president and chief sales officer Norbert Muhrer of the company's latest launch. "This module meets the needs of size-constrained, global use cases that demand the comprehensive coverage that satellite connectivity provides. Combining those attributes with low power consumption and robust security makes the module applicable to a wide range of use cases from POS [Point of Sale] to trackers and wearables. We’re proud to have combined cutting edge 5G and NTN [Non-Terrestrial Network] capability in such a powerful, yet ultra-compact module."
The small-format surface-mount module, brought to our attention by CNX Software and measuring just 14.9×12.9mm (around 0.59×0.51") and 1.9mm in thickness (around 0.07"), supports 3GPP Release 13 and 14 Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Cat M1, NB1, and NB2 bands for terrestrial communication — but that's only part of the story. The module also supports satellite communication through Non-Terrestrial Network over Narrowband Internet of Things (NTN over NB-IoT), 3GPP Release 17 — meaning it can deliver connectivity anywhere in the world covered by the GEO constellation.
Other featuers of the module include a low-power MIPS 5150 processor, one USB 2.0 Full Speed interface, three UART buses, two analog to digital converters (ADCs), seven general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins, and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver compatible with GPS and GLONASS constellations. The chip is capable of delivering throughputs of up to 588kb/s down and 1,119kbps up over 3GPPS Release 14 LTE Cat M1, dropping to 127kbps down and 158kbps up on Cat NB2 — with the peak throughput via satellite listed in the spec sheet as "to be determined."
The module is now listed for sale in the channel starting at $48.50 in single-unit quantities; more information is available on the Quectel website.