LPWAN
In Europe, major networks such as Vodafone have announced their intention to not support 3G networks across Europe beyond 2020, whilst retaining support for 2G only until 2025.
Low Power Wide Area Network is the new technology filling the gap. Primarily this is covered with LTE-Cat M1 for mobile devices and NB-IoT for stationary devices, as this it does not cover the base station handover. Both are cellular technologies based on the 3GPP specification, which is also used for LTE and sub-categories of LTE.
There are also non-cellular technologies such as LoRaWAN and Sigfox, not specified by 3GPP, but evolving in the market, nonetheless. LoRaWAN currently uses ISM Bands 868 / 915, as well as 2.4 GHz, covering areas up to 40km.
Avnet Silica offers LPWAN technology from our market leading suppliers, available as modules, including solder own, and pluggable modules with Mini-PCIe formfactor.
Our LPWAN linecard will help guide you to the right solution, and if you need to talk to one of experts about your design, you can reach them here.
| Products and features | NB-IOT | LTE CatM | LoRaWAN | LoRaWAN gateways | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formfactor | Chip | Module | Chip | Module | Chip | Module | Chip | Module | ||
| Supplier | ||||||||||
| Insight-SiP | ✔ | |||||||||
| Microchip | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||
| Miromico | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||
| Nordic Semiconductor | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||
| Quectel Wireless Solutions | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Semtech | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||
| STMicroelectronics | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
WiFi
Avnet Silica offers a full range of WiFi products, including chips, modules, and devices, as well as a full technology range from WiFi 4 to WiFi 6e. We also support routers and gateways.
ISM 2.4GhZ and Sub-GHz
ISM radio bands are portions of the radio spectrum reserved internationally for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) purposes. ISM Bands are license free and not available for Telecomm Applications, which are regulated.
ANTENNAS
Avnet Silica offers antennas from specialised suppliers, that focus solely on antenna design and production, such as Antenova and 2J Antenna, along with other suppliers that offer antennas as part of overall portfolio for wireless products, such as Quectel.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is one of the most common wireless technologies in the market, propelled into the consumer world by the smartphone, as well as increased demand for fitness, health, and entertainment devices.
RFID / NFC
Radio Frequency Identification, is a technology that enables simple, secure and fast identification of things, persons and animals. It is mainly made for very short ranges, with one exception, the UHF based RFID called RAIN-RFID for mid range identification, used mainly in logistics.
ROUTER / GATEWAYS / MODEMS
Connecting short range wireless devices, or some wired devices to a wired or wireless infrastructure, requires bridging technologies, such as Modems, Gateways or Routers / Access Points.
Cellular
Evolving from GSM to GPRS then to 3G (UMTS / WCDMA) we are now seeing global coverage with LTE / 4G, with next generation 5G leading the way in applications which require higher data transfer.
UWB / Ultrawide Band
Ultra-wideband is a radio technology that can use a very low energy level for short-range, high-bandwidth communications (approx. 500 MHz or 20% of the arithmetic center frequency) over a large portion of the radio spectrum. This co-existing with other radio standards is a major advantage.
GNSS
Today GNSS technology is not only used for military and cars, but for many types of vehicle, in applications such as container tracking, animal and people tracking and logistics.
DECT
Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications, or DECT, was introduced to the market in 1992. It mainly uses the frequency bands 1880 to 1900 MHz, but due to the extension of the ETSI, also 2010-2025 MHz and 24-00 – 2480 MHz are specified.