Sequans and Microchip Partner for Microcontroller-Based LTE-M/NB-IoT Cellular Development Kit

Bundling a Microchip development board and Sequans 5G communications chip, the kit aims to make developing cellular IoT easier.

Internet of Things (IoT) communication specialist Sequans and embedded giant Microchip have announced a partnership on a new development kit, due for launch later this year, which aims to simplify to use of 5G LTE-M and NB-IoT connectivity in microcontroller projects.

"Our collaboration with Microchip aims to make massive IoT a reality by providing developers with a simple yet powerful IoT development environment that integrates microprocessor power with 5G IoT connectivity," claims Georges Karam, Sequans' chief executive. "Microchip's highly sophisticated MCUs combined with Sequans' industry-leading Monarch LTE-M/NB-IoT chip platforms provide this by enabling the easy and rapid development of secure IoT applications across a wide range of markets."

The kit is based on Sequans' Monarch IoT communications chips. ( 📹: Sequans)

"Sequans' Monarch LTE-M/NB-IoT technology is an important part of our embedded IoT solutions strategy and our collaboration with Sequans helps to overcome the challenges developers face in connecting MCUs to the cloud via cellular IoT networks," adds Greg Robinson, associate vice president of marketing for Microchip's 8-bit microcontroller arm. "Sequans' Monarch platforms provide critically important and advanced IoT capabilities, including industry-leading low power consumption, secure connectivity, and global deployment capability."

The kit, which will combine Sequans' single-chip Monarch 5G communications platform with a Microchip-built development board, is aimed at shortening development time of microcontroller-based projects which use LTE-M and NB-IoT cellular connectivity. As well as communications capabilities, the Monarch chip will also provide indoor and outdoor positioning via Sequans' in-house IoT-Findit location engine.

Full specifications for the kit, and pricing, have not yet been released; interested parties are advised to keep an eye on the Sequans website for mode details.

Gareth Halfacree
Freelance journalist, technical author, hacker, tinkerer, erstwhile sysadmin. For hire: freelance@halfacree.co.uk.
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