The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing how businesses operate, connecting billions of devices for smarter, faster decisions. However, scaling IoT solutions demands more than plugging devices into a network; it requires mastering IoT connectivity architectures. Let’s unleash its potential.

IoT Connectivity Architecture: Engineering Guide to Enterprise-Scale Implementation

In wireless product development, what happens behind the scenes when selecting, designing, and integrating an antenna into a product? What is the journey of a PCB antenna, or more specifically, a PCB-mounted embedded antenna?Designing and integrating an antenna may seem complex, but it can be broken down into manageable steps. It begins with defining the product’s requirements, which drive the antenna specifications. Next, you select and design the appropriate antenna type. Then, verify the design’s performance through simulations. After building and testing prototypes, manufacturing begins.Each step demands careful attention. This article offers a clear, step-by-step guide to the PCB antenna design process, explaining each stage and providing practical tips to help you successfully integrate the antenna into your wireless product.<h2>Step 1: Requirements Engineering</h2>The first step in designing an antenna for wireless solutions is to identify and document the product's essential needs. This process is known as Requirements Engineering (RE).RE focuses on understanding what needs to be designed, not how. To effectively define these requirements, the design team must conduct a thorough problem analysis. This analysis should address several critical questions to ascertain the operational and environmental conditions under which the product will function. These include:<ul><li>What types of communication protocols will the product support (e.g., WiFi, cellular, GPS)?</li><li>What operating frequency and bandwidth are required?</li><li>What are the coverage, gain, and cost expectations?</li><li>Will the product operate indoors, outdoors, or under specific environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures or high humidity?</li><li>How much space can be afforded for antenna clearance on the PCB?</li></ul>The product requirements define the necessary antenna specifications, which help narrow down the possible antenna technologies. When proposing antenna solutions, include a detailed assessment of the costs, timeline, and, if possible, recommendations for placement and orientation.Document all antenna and product requirements in a way that supports testing. These requirements should guide the design process and serve as a checklist during testing to ensure the design meets the goals.<h2>Step 2: Design</h2>The design stage starts by using the requirements defined in the RE phase to select the appropriate antenna type and design its specifications to meet those needs.The antenna must be designed to cover the required frequency and range. Its key parameters, such as efficiency and directionality, should align with the product’s needs. The polarization of both the transmitting and receiving antennas must match to maximize power transfer. The Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) should be kept low and the return loss high.When attaching the antenna to a PCB, match the antenna's impedance with the characteristic impedance of the feed line connecting it to either a transmitter or a receiver. Impedance mismatches can significantly reduce the RF link budget, lowering the antenna's efficiency and range.Remember, an antenna is a sensitive component. Its performance is greatly influenced by its placement, surrounding components, the ground plane, and the enclosure or casing.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1729781924459-1729781924459.png" alt="Antenna design pcb" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><ul><li>Antenna Placement: Antenna placement on the PCB is crucial. Datasheets often suggest various placement options. Choose one of these for optimal performance. If you need to place the antenna elsewhere, you'll need to validate the placement through careful study.</li><li>Nearby Components: Placing metallic objects near an antenna can interfere with its performance. Metallic objects reflect the antenna’s radiated energy back to the antenna. It’s best to avoid this, or at least account for these components when designing and tuning the antenna. Finalize the device's mechanical layout before tuning the antenna, as changes later on can disrupt the tuning.</li><li>PCB Size and Ground Clearance: PCB size is crucial for ground-dependent antennas because the board itself affects radiation. Follow ground clearance guidelines in datasheets to avoid poor performance due to detuning or reduced efficiency.</li><li>Casing: Materials used to manufacture the device casing can be critical for the antenna’s performance. This is even more critical for small antennas. If the dielectric material properties are available, it is better to choose a material with low permittivity and dielectric losses that are as low as possible. Such materials are virtually transparent to the antenna’s radiation.</li></ul>For more in-depth guidance during antenna design, refer to our previous white paper covering six essential considerations for PCB antenna design.<h2>Step 3: RF Simulation</h2>To shorten and ensure reliable design cycles for PCB antennas, designs must be verified early on. However, predicting antenna performance is challenging, as solving Maxwell's equations requires complex algorithms. Electromagnetic simulators can help predict performance and optimize antenna designs before building physical prototypes.Remember, however, these simulators are tools, not replacements for the designer. They can predict performance based on the designs you give them, but you need a strong understanding of antenna theory to use them effectively.Choosing the right simulation method is also important. Popular algorithms include the Method of Moments (MoM), Finite Element Method (FEM), Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD), and Finite Integration Technique (FIT). Each has specific advantages and disadvantages summarized below:<table><thead><tr><th scope="col">Algorithm</th><th scope="col">Advantages</th><th scope="col">Limitations</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Method of Moments (MoM)</td><td><ul><li>Analyzes complex layered structures effectively.</li><li>Simulates designs with many ports efficiently, without added time costs.</li></ul></td><td><ul><li>Cannot handle general 3D structures, limiting its use to planar designs.</li><li>Demands large storage and increases computational time sharply with the size of the problem.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>Finite Element (FEM)</td><td><ul><li>Can analyze arbitrarily shaped 3D structures, not just layered setups, offering an advantage over the MoM.</li><li>Simulates designs with many ports efficiently, without added time costs.</li><li>Offers the most flexible approach to electromagnetic analysis.</li><li>Serves as a frequency-domain solver, making it ideal for problems with periodicity like phased arrays, frequency-selective structures, and band gap antennas.</li></ul></td><td><ul><li>Simulating complex antenna structures uses significant computer memory.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD)</td><td><ul><li>Can analyze 3D structures.</li><li>It has an advantage over the FEM method in that it does not require solving a matrix, allowing it to handle very large problems with relatively small amounts of computer memory.</li><li>Highly suitable for parallel processing, which allows it to leverage modern GPUs to speed up simulations.</li><li>Simpler to implement a basic FDTD solver compared to MoM and FEM solvers.</li><li>Well-suited for simulating specific antenna types such as horn antennas, waveguides, microstrip antennas, conformal antennas, and small planar array antennas.</li></ul></td><td><ul><li>Requires running a separate simulation for each port in a design, making it less efficient for designs with many ports.</li><li>Not optimal for certain types of antennas like wire antennas, aperture antennas, reflector antennas, and those with electrically large structures.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>Finite integration technique (FIT)</td><td><ul><li>Effective for analyzing antennas with inhomogeneous materials, wideband issues, and ultra-wideband (UWB) applications.</li><li>FIT underpins many commercial simulation tools because it can handle the entire spectrum of electromagnetics, from DC to high-frequency and optical applications.</li></ul></td><td><ul><li>Not well-suited for simulating wire antennas.</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table><h3>Choosing the Right Simulation Method</h3>Selecting the appropriate EM(Electromagnetic) analysis tool depends on factors like ease of model creation, integration with circuit simulation tools, and the level of EM expertise required.For planar structures, such as PCB interconnects and planar antennas, the MoM is most effective. For fully 3D structures like connectors, packages, and 3D antennas, FEM or FDTD methods are better.For complex 3D structures with many ports, FEM is ideal. FDTD is best for large structures with fewer ports, such as antenna placements on vehicles or aircraft, and for evaluating antenna performance near detailed human body models.<h2>Step 4: Performance Tests and Optimization</h2>After optimizing the designs, prototypes are built for testing. These tests take place in an anechoic chamber designed to absorb all sound waves. Key measurements include return loss, efficiency, maximum gain, Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP), Total Radiated Power (TRP), Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS), and impedance. These measurements fully assess the antenna’s performance. If the results show any issues, the design can be adjusted.Testing falls into two categories: passive and active.Passive antenna testing evaluates the antenna alone, without the influence of the rest of the device. The antenna port is isolated from the RF front end and connected to a vector network analyzer (VNA) set to specific frequencies and amplitudes. The VNA measures data, which is then used to calculate efficiency, gain, directivity, and EIRP.Active antenna testing measures the antenna as part of the entire system, including the RF front end. The main measurements are TRP and TIS.TRP measures the total power radiated by the antenna when it is transmitting across a frequency band. TIS measures the average sensitivity of the receiving antenna system over a frequency band. TRP and TIS are key indicators of signal quality, offering a reliable gauge of the system’s overall performance.<h3>Practical Considerations During Testing</h3><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1729781924565-1729781924565.png" alt="Antenna design considerations" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><ul><li>If possible, make the prototype from the same materials, using the same manufacturing processes and facilities as the final product. This ensures accurate testing.</li><li>Start critical measurements and prototype testing early. This speeds up the successful production of the final product.</li><li>Antennas must be customized to their specific environment and materials, as they may not perform as expected based on datasheets. Testing should simulate real-world conditions by considering the intended use cases and positions, such as near the head, body, or on different surfaces.</li><li>When planning tests, verify if the product must meet specific regulatory requirements. For instance, for cellular IoT devices, TRP and TIS are crucial, as failing to meet carrier standards for these parameters can prevent product approval.</li><li>Follow regulatory standards for electromagnetic emissions and safety. Include electromagnetic emissions compliance checks throughout the design and testing process. This ensures legal compliance and prevents interference with other devices.</li></ul>Antenna testing offers significant advantages. It allows designers to optimize the antenna’s design for better radio performance, considering factors like product size, typical use, manufacturing costs, and RF exposure. Even a small improvement, such as a 6 dB gain, can double coverage, while a 3 dB gain can cut the power amplifier’s energy consumption in half, leading to longer battery life. As a result, users experience extended range and enhanced signal quality.<h2>Step 5: Manufacturing</h2>The final step is manufacturing. Success in this stage depends on a stable design, a reliable production process, and effective end-of-line testing. Even the best designs are useless if they can't be produced efficiently and with high quality. To achieve this, consider the following when selecting and collaborating with a manufacturer:<ul><li>Early Collaboration: Involve the manufacturer early in the design process. Close collaboration between design, manufacturing, and materials teams throughout all stages—from design and prototyping to production—ensures a smooth transition to manufacturing, saving time and costs.</li><li>Quality Assurance: Choose a manufacturer that offers robust quality assurance, including innovative end-of-line testing methods. Ensure any overseas facilities comply with local legal standards and maintain strict confidentiality agreements.</li><li>Timely Production: The manufacturer must meet your deadlines and pricing requirements without compromising on quality. Confirm their average lead time to ensure they will deliver on schedule and within budget.</li><li>Fabrication Tolerances: Select a fabrication process capable of meeting tight tolerances. Use prototyping and testing to evaluate the manufacturer’s capabilities and limitations and how their fabrication tolerances impact antenna performance.</li></ul><h2>Conclusion</h2><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1729781924596-1729781924595.png" alt="Red pcb design" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Designing and manufacturing antennas is a complex process. It is crucial for the success of any wireless product. Choosing the right partner is essential. The design team must work closely together. They need to understand the product’s requirements. They must also follow regulations on frequency, power output, EMC, and testing.The design should consider factors like PCB size, ground plane, casing, placement, and nearby components. Early design verification is important. Rapid prototyping helps speed up production. Ultimately, even the best designs are only valuable if they can be manufactured efficiently.<h4 id="isPasted">Ready to start your PCB Antenna prototype?</h4><a href="https://factory.macrofab.com/quick_quote?utm_term=electronic%20manufacturing%20systems&utm_campaign=ampliva-search-electronics-manufacturing&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc" target="_blank">Get an Instant Quote Now</a>

Making your prototype from the same materials using the same manufacturing processes and facilities as your final product ensures accurate testing and better final results. This article also outlines other best practices. 

PCB Antenna Design: A Step-by-Step Guide

Perhaps IoT businesses are just IT businesses. So why the fixation on hardware? Hardware has long been considered the cornerstone of the IoT industry, but we're increasingly recognizing that success hinges not on the physical devices themselves but on the software that drives them. This shift mirrors patterns we've seen in the world of cloud computing, where software is being written without considering the hardware it runs on. Let's dive into this transformation.<h3>Commoditization: Scaling Through Common Hardware</h3>At the heart of the transformation from hardware-centric to software-focused solutions is commoditization. Jason Kridner, founder of <a href="http://beagleboard.org/" target="_blank">BeagleBoard.org</a>, aptly stated:"If you make a reprogrammable machine, then that machine can be used in a whole lot of other applications. We can pretty much put everything into that box. Then you drive the hardware to commodity because that’s what scales."By commoditizing hardware, companies can focus their resources on software development, where true differentiation occurs. Kridner emphasizes that it's the software engineers who ultimately "win" because “that’s where you put your differentiation”. Hardware becomes the scalable foundation upon which innovative software solutions are built.The saying: “hardware is hard” still resonates with many in the industry. Hardware development is associated with complexities, high investments, lengthy development cycles and significant security risks. By treating hardware as a common, reliable platform, businesses may find ways to work around these obstacles and focus on their core competencies.<h3>Software Defined Everything</h3>Hardware lacks flexibility, until it doesn’t. The move from hardware commoditization to software-defined solutions feels like a natural progression. “Software gets abstracted from the hardware layer”, as Gregory Roth from <a href="https://monogoto.io/" target="_blank">Monogoto</a> explains, “leading to more flexible solutions”.This abstraction enables agility and it liberates companies from the complexities of hardware-specific constraints. Francisco Xavier Garcia (<a href="https://www.picmg.org/" target="_blank">PICMG</a>) reinforces this point:"You want a modular solution that is quickly scalable and quickly deployable because you want to respond swiftly to the rapidly changing industry. When you have embedded software and hardware tightly coupled, your flexibility is limited, your adaptability to respond to threats is limited. Extensibility is needed, where you can extend your capability and grow what your system can do. Software gives you all that ability."By decoupling software from hardware, businesses enhance their ability to innovate, adapt, and scale, which is essential in a market characterized by constant change.<h3>Adopting Cloud Practices: Stealing from the Best</h3>The IoT industry's shift mirrors the evolution seen in cloud computing over the past decade. In 2011, Adam Wiggins, one of Heroku’s founders, published the <a href="https://12factor.net/" target="_blank">Twelve-Factor App</a>, outlining twelve principles of modern application development. While many of these principles seem obvious today, they weren’t at the time, highlighting how far we've come in embracing common cloud practices.Brandon Satrom from <a href="https://blues.com/" target="_blank">Blues</a>, drew inspiration from these principles to create a similar set for the connectivity landscape called the <a href="https://12factor.io/" target="_blank">Twelve Factor Thing</a>. This initiative aims to enhance developer efficiency and product reliability, increasing market trust in connected devices that adhere to these principles. Satrom doesn’t want to impose these 12 factors to anyone, but merely initiate the conversation on how to grow the market in terms of efficiency, security and reliability.Consider the common practices such as automated testing, DevOps, continuous integration, you name it. By applying these practices to the world of IoT, reliance on specific hardware components is significantly reduced – a lesson learned during recent chip shortages that exposed the vulnerabilities of tying software too closely to specific hardware.Eventually, there are a couple of things – or principles – we should be able to agree upon, already now. Think of the way we should approach <a href="https://12factor.io/factors/firmware/" target="_blank">firmware as a collection of dynamic assets</a> which change frequently through standardized firmware update processes. The necessity of testing, the 12 Factor Thing specifically mentions&nbsp;<a href="https://12factor.io/factors/hardware-in-the-loop/" target="_blank">Hardware-in-the-Loop test</a> (HIL). And, one of Satrom’s Things he’s most passionate about: <a href="https://12factor.io/factors/transport/" target="_blank">Harmonization of Radio Access Technologies</a> “you don’t want developers having to learn everything from soup to nuts” if they add an additional radio technology. This will “slow them down and increase the likelihood of failures”.<h3>Conclusion</h3>The IoT industry's future lies in embracing the fact that software people ultimately take all the credits. Hardware gets commoditized to better suit software-defined solutions, minimizing the learning curve for developers who can build their solutions using familiar interfaces and APIs, regardless of the underlying hardware.This approach not only streamlines development and deployment but also empowers businesses to swiftly respond to market changes and emerging threats. By focusing on software, companies can enhance flexibility, scalability, and adaptability. It's not just about building better machines; it's about redefining how we manage those machines and how we, as an industry, can better serve the needs of a constantly changing world.<blockquote>This article is based on the discussion that took place at <a href="https://iotstars.com/" target="_blank">IoT Stars</a>, held during Embedded World North America on October 8, 2024. Thanks to Brandon Satrom (Blues), Jason Kridner (<a href="http://BeagleBoard.org" target="_blank">BeagleBoard.org</a>), Francisco Xavier Garcia (PICMG) and Gregory Roth (Monogoto) for sharing their take on Software Defined IoT. To join future discussions on the developments in IoT, visit <a href="https://iotstars.com/" target="_blank">iotstars.com</a>.</blockquote>

In a world where software drives innovation, why are we still fixated on hardware in IoT?

The Reprogrammable Machine: The rise of software-defined IoT

Most modern Internet-of-Things appliances and devices can be monitored, controlled and activated from anywhere in the world. These things generate data regularly,&nbsp;and collectively they account for a massive amount of data. To access information and services quickly and reliably, companies across all sectors are more invested in connectivity, which entails faster, more reliable networks and better encryption and security.Smart cities have the potential to better people’s lives by bridging the gap between the connected consumer and a connected infrastructure. Imagine a world where you save time getting to your flight because an application in your cellphone let you know of an open parking spot on level 4, or if traffic lights could more dynamically control traffic flow to ease commutes. Imagine if a connected lighting pole in front of your house could communicate with the utility company when the lights go out.Connectivity is a key part of making this a reality.Utilities and companies developing products for smart cities have several connectivity options, and the Wi-SUN field area network (FAN) is a good option. Why? Let’s start by considering its reliability.Most common network topologies are star or mesh (shown in <a href="https://www.ti.com/document-viewer/lit/html/sszt224?keyMatch=wireless%20connectivity#R_DOCUMENT-HEADER1_FIG1" data-di-id="di-id-d6fb6dc7-f2bdb606" target="_blank">Figure 1</a>); Wi-SUN is a mesh network.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1728285513761-GUID-3EFD7940-459B-4C51-BC94-BB8C2D12EA0A-low.png" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 1 Example of mesh and star networksThe star topology is simple and easy to configure, having a hierarchical structure, where bridges and switches are normally connected to a small number of end nodes. Because of its structure, it can have a single point of failure, which may cause concerns when a field crew must perform maintenance or replace a malfunctioning device to keep the network up and running.A mesh topology is not a hierarchical structure, and as such, you can add routers dynamically to the network to extend the range of a node, using self-configuration to connect to other routers. In the event of a router failure, the network will go into “self-healing” mode, during which the routers find another available connection to allow traffic to continue. What does that mean for end users? A more robust network and reduced downtime for the thousands of connected nodes.Wi-SUN is based on a frequency-hopping scheme, which contributes to its robustness and reliability because it reduces potential packet losses caused by interference from other networks, especially in high-density areas like city downtowns (shown in <a href="https://www.ti.com/document-viewer/lit/html/sszt224?keyMatch=wireless%20connectivity#R_DOCUMENT-HEADER1_FIG2" data-di-id="di-id-ee77b11a-499d32a" target="_blank">Figure 2</a>). Frequency hopping also makes it possible to transmit high-output power in Canada and in the Americas, up to +30 dBm.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1728285532756-GUID-4F64B902-0E17-4C7E-8D0F-D3BF7808E1BC-low.png" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 2 Example of how frequency-hopping can avoid interferenceWi-SUN supports a range of data rates, trading off coverage versus throughput. This enables the Wi-SUN FAN to meet the needs of a wide range of network deployment applications, like electric vehicle charging stations, smart transportation, smart parking, environmental sensors and traffic management (<a href="https://www.ti.com/document-viewer/lit/html/sszt224?keyMatch=wireless%20connectivity#R_DOCUMENT-HEADER1_FIG3" data-di-id="di-id-9d147ffe-6cb3c431" target="_blank" id="isPasted">Figure 3</a>). Consider the smart city example – throughput and coverage needs can vary widely among certain applications. Smart meters and smart parking, for example, have a need to transmit different amounts of data. The Wi-SUN FAN can scale as needed to meet these varied demands, enabling the applications illustrated below.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1728285551351-GUID-3D6F6448-2D9D-4A18-B2AA-52D864BA34C3-low.png" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 3 Example of potential applications using the Wi-SUN FANAnother concern that Wi-SUN addresses is security. Hackers are sharpening their skills by the minute, and networks must be resilient against potential threats designed to steal data. Wi-SUN has a security profile that uses device certificates authenticated by trusted root certification authorities to prevent unauthorized network access. It also uses cryptoalgorithms such as elliptic curve Diffie-Hellman, elliptic curve digital signature algorithm and Advanced Encryption Standard-128 cipher block chaining-message authentication code to preserve message confidentiality and integrity. This is important when adding new devices to the network and enabling their identification and authentication. Wi-SUN equipment manufacturers can even obtain a cybersecurity certificate indicating compliance with the FAN Technical Profile Specification.Because Wi-SUN provides scalability reliability, security and high speed, you may be wondering if it is costly. The good news is that Wi-SUN is an open-standard solution, based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4g wireless standard. As an open standard, it allows the interoperability of equipment from different manufacturers, which may translate to competitive prices for consumers. To guarantee compatibility, manufacturers must go through a formal certification process, which should give city managers and utility companies peace of mind.As of this month, there are more than 230 members of the Wi-SUN alliance representing 26 countries, with more than 96 million devices deployed worldwide.Texas Instruments provides transceivers and network processors that support Wi-SUN FAN 1.0. For example, the low-power and high-performance <a href="https://www.ti.com/product/CC1200" target="_blank" data-di-id="di-id-aca99eaa-a03fa6f8">CC1200</a> wireless transceiver supports a maximum transmission data rate of 1 Mbps and has a sensitivity of -122 dBm at 1.2 kbps, which translates to high speed and long range. It also meets North American, European and Japanese standards.For developers looking for a network processor, <a href="https://www.ti.com/product/CC1312R" target="_blank" data-di-id="di-id-479cf99c-d47db8bb">CC1312R</a> and <a href="https://www.ti.com/product/CC1352P" target="_blank" data-di-id="di-id-479cf99c-2279ca15">CC1352P</a> wireless microcontrollers include a 48-MHz Arm® Cortex® M4F, with flash memory (so you can update your firmware over the air) and a cryptoaccelerator for security purposes. Block diagram shown in <a href="https://www.ti.com/document-viewer/lit/html/sszt224?keyMatch=wireless%20connectivity#R_LEADING_INDUSTRY_CONNECTIVITY_AS_A_WI-SUN_ALLIANCE_PROMOTER_MEMBE_FIG1" data-di-id="di-id-effaa648-b73565f1" target="_blank">Figure 4</a> below.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1728285585273-GUID-0CC59979-23D9-45DD-9B1F-DF489DD4B4F9-low.png" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 4 CC13x2 Block DiagramWi-SUN brings these benefits to utilities, equipment manufacturers and end users:<ul><li>A robust network with low downtime due its mesh configuration.</li><li>A reliable communication technology that uses frequency-hopping scheme, resulting in a very low number of packet losses in noisy and high-density areas.</li><li>A secure network through a well-defined security profile.</li></ul><hr><h2>Additional resources</h2><ul><li>Check out our&nbsp;<a href="https://training.ti.com/wi-sun-connected-lights-demo-smart-cities" target="_blank" data-di-id="di-id-f84d052b-a737642a">demo video</a> exploring the benefits of a Wi-SUN mesh network.</li><li>Learn about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wi-sun.org/wp-content/uploads/Wi-SUN-Alliance-Fact-Sheet.pdf" target="_blank" data-di-id="di-id-1a43033b-4aa5aee6" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">Wi-SUN FAN certification program</a>.</li><li>Explore&nbsp;<a href="https://wi-sun.org/cyber-security-certificates/" target="_blank" data-di-id="di-id-e0bdc1fa-5eea0d1">cybersecurity certification</a>.</li><li>Request information about the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ti.com/licreg/docs/swlicexportcontrol.tsp?form_id=324287&prod_no=WISUN-STACK&ref_url=epd_connect_sub1ghz%20" target="_blank" data-di-id="di-id-dc31faa5-5043dcf9">software TI provides for WI-SUN projects</a>.</li></ul>

To access information and services quickly and reliably, companies across all sectors are more invested in connectivity, which entails faster, more reliable networks and better encryption and security.

How Wi-SUN FAN Improves Connected Infrastructures

When we think of&nbsp;fleet&nbsp;management&nbsp;our&nbsp;thoughts tend to turn towards the major transport&nbsp;and&nbsp;logistics&nbsp;companies,&nbsp;and the enormous fleets of vehicles they&nbsp;must&nbsp;keep&nbsp;a track&nbsp;of&nbsp;across the supply chain.&nbsp;But even the world’s biggest trucking company, United Parcel Service (UPS),&nbsp;that&nbsp;operates&nbsp;more than 340,000 vehicles&nbsp;across some 200&nbsp;countries[1],&nbsp;has a&nbsp;miniscule&nbsp;‘fleet’&nbsp;compared with&nbsp;the&nbsp;17&nbsp;billion[2]&nbsp;or so connected IoT devices that are currently employed in countless different industries, including in UPS’ own trucks.&nbsp;Billions of these devices are also deployed in fleets by the companies that service them, in practically limitless applications. It might be vending machines, medical devices, EV charging stations, or any of the smart sensors, actuators or monitoring devices installed in smart cities around the world. But deployment is just the first step, these fleets of IoT devices can’t just be launched into the wild and then forgotten about. Any IoT device fleet must be managed throughout its lifecycle to ensure effective and secure operation as well as adequate maintenance and updates, and to achieve that they require robust, stable IoT device management from the Cloud. &nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>IoT device&nbsp;data&nbsp;management&nbsp;and security</h2>Throughout the lifecycle of an IoT device—from provisioning to decommissioning—various management tasks are essential, and chief among them is data management. A fleet of IoT devices are essentially an army of data collectors, and while local processing can be efficient, it has limited scope. Sending data to the Cloud enables that data to be analyzed at scale and in near real time, driving value to the IoT device fleet owner.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Cloud-services/Device-Management" target="_blank">Cloud-based device management</a>&nbsp;also ensures the data continues to flow without any problems.&nbsp;&nbsp;The second reason IoT devices need Cloud device management is for security. On average, every week 54 percent of organizations suffer from attempted cyber-attacks targeting IoT devices[3]. It’s an alarming statistic and highlights the need for vigilance to protect devices and data from unauthorized access and attacks. Regular firmware updates make it easier to keep devices secure, bug-free, up-to-date with new features, and capable of adapting to evolving requirements throughout their lifecycle. For the majority of IoT devices this can’t be performed via physical access or manual intervention, so the ability to execute firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updates from the Cloud is essential.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Performance, scalability,&nbsp;and compliance</h2>In addition to data management and security, Cloud-based IoT device management can assist with performance, scalability, and compliance requirements. Identifying and addressing performance issues remotely and as quickly as possible not only ensures devices are operating at their full potential, but it can also greatly reduce the cost of ongoing maintenance. And as the number of IoT devices grows, deploying and managing large fleets can become a significant challenge. Certain operations for masses of devices should always be done simultaneously and a Cloud device management platform simplifies this process across different devices and applications.&nbsp;&nbsp;Finally, IoT device operators must ensure all ongoing regulatory and compliance requirements have been fulfilled, and a Cloud device management platform can ensure compliance by enforcing policies, maintaining audit trails, and facilitating reporting and documentation as may be required.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>One-stop solution for the IoT</h2>This growing demand for a flexible and scalable Cloud device management platform was behind the expansion of Nordic Semiconductor’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Cloud-services" target="_blank">Cloud Services</a>&nbsp;offering earlier this year to include&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Cloud-services/Device-Management?lang=en#infotabs" target="_blank">nRF Cloud Device Management</a>&nbsp;alongside the existing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Cloud-services/Location-Services?lang=en#infotabs" target="_blank">location</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Cloud-services/Security-Services?lang=en#infotabs" target="_blank">security</a>&nbsp;services provided in the&nbsp;<a href="https://nrfcloud.com/?__hstc=8439722.f1ebab9b9306be644289de1432e134ad.1698403132381.1725606365510.1726203396952.45&__hssc=8439722.2.1726203396952&__hsfp=1429543644#/" target="_blank">nRF Cloud</a>&nbsp;suite. The launch marks the first time IoT developers and businesses have had a one-stop solution (hardware, software, and Cloud services) for the deployment and management of IoT devices at scale.&nbsp;nRF Cloud Device Management provides tools for onboarding, configuration, monitoring, and FOTA updates, as well as for comprehensive management of IoT device fleets across their lifecycle. The tools also facilitate sensor data collection services and enable technicians to ensure that fleets remain up-to-date and operate at peak efficiency. Together with the complementary location and security services, it promises developers the perfect quartet of IoT deployment requirements – reduced time-to-market, scalability, future proofing, and cost savings.<hr>References:&nbsp; 1. <a href="https://www.fleetequipmentmag.com/fleet-profile-ups-shares-results-of-strong-investment-in-alternative-fuel/" target="_blank">UPS shares results of strong investment in alternative fuel</a>.&nbsp;Fleet Equipment Magazine, January 2024 2. <a href="https://transformainsights.com/research/reports/global-iot-forecast-report-2023-2033" target="_blank">Global IoT Forecast Report, 2022-2033</a>.&nbsp;Transforma Insights, May 2024 3. <a href="https://blog.checkpoint.com/security/the-tipping-point-exploring-the-surge-in-iot-cyberattacks-plaguing-the-education-sector/" target="_blank">The Tipping Point: Exploring the Surge in IoT Cyberattacks Globally</a>. Check Point Research, April 2023&nbsp;

When we think of fleet management our thoughts tend to turn towards the major transport and logistics companies, and the enormous fleets of vehicles they must keep a track of across the supply chain.

Managing IoT Devices from the Cloud

Agriculture has been a&nbsp;vital part of human history for over 12,000 years, marking a significant transition from hunting and gathering. Although the exact reasons for this shift are not clear, one theory suggests it was driven by the need for a more efficient way to obtain food.Farmers are still facing this need today, while grappling with the challenges of exponential population growth and climate change.&nbsp;Today, roughly 1 billion people on the planet lack access to sufficient food – so even without future population growth and the impact of climate change, we need to improve our efficiencies and yields.&nbsp;Climate conditions are also continually shifting in ways that traditional farming can’t easily address.&nbsp;Additionally, consumer expectations have evolved significantly in recent years, with many preferring to purchase food produced through ethical and sustainable growing practices. This often requires farmers to optimize the use of resources and reduce waste. In short, farmers are increasingly expected to achieve more with less.&nbsp;<h2>The capabilities of precision farming</h2>The latest advancement in agriculture is the development of “precision farming”. This system employs wireless connectivity, autonomous machines, drones, and data analytics to provide a detailed understanding of crops and livestock. Precision farming enhances resource efficiency, optimizes growing conditions to maximize yield, and reduces the need for human intervention —saving both time and money. Additionally, it helps pre-empt problems—for example, preventing flooding from burst irrigation pipes by using sensors to detect leaks before they escalate.&nbsp;Asset monitoring is also crucial for farms, as tractors, harvesters, and irrigation systems are expensive and essential for operations. Over large areas of land, assets can be easily misplaced, improperly stored or damaged. Using technology to keep track of these assets helps farmers&nbsp;get&nbsp;the most&nbsp;from&nbsp;expensive equipment.&nbsp;And it’s not only traditional farms that can benefit from this approach. Vertical farms—consisting of rows of plants stacked on shelves in a fully enclosed and controlled environment—can also use these techniques efficiently. In these farms, LED lights replace sunlight, closed-loop recycled water systems are used, and the protected environment eliminates the need for pesticides. According to Science Focus magazine, vertical farming can yield ten times more produce per given land area compared to traditional methods.&nbsp;&nbsp;Another advantage of vertical farming—also known as Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) —is that the ability to grow food in the location it’s needed. This can significantly reduce transportation costs and minimize spoilage.&nbsp;<h2>Transmission across extended distances</h2>Implementing smart farming presents several challenges. One major issue is transmitting data across the large distances typical of farms. While Bluetooth LE and mesh can help bridge some of the distance, there is a limit to the range these networks can reliably achieve.&nbsp;An alternative to Bluetooth networks—and a technology that can be used effectively in combination with them—is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Wireless/Low-power-cellular-IoT" target="_blank">cellular IoT</a>. Devices like the Nordic’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF9151" target="_blank">nRF9151</a>&nbsp;System-in-Package (SiP)—which uses an LTE-M/NB-IoT modem—offer extended transmission distances of the order of kilometers, making them ideal for smart agricultural applications. Cellular IoT devices can transmit aggregated data—such as light, temperature, humidity, and soil moisture levels—directly to the Cloud for analysis, eliminating the need for expensive and complex gateways. The nRF9151 also features enhanced GNSS support, which aids in tracking key assets across large distances on the farm.&nbsp;&nbsp;The nRF9151 SiP also includes built-in support for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Wireless/DECT-NR" target="_blank">DECT NR+</a>, a non-cellular radio standard recently included as part of the 5G standards by the ITU, operating on the dedicated, license-exempt 1.9 GHz DECT band. This standard is especially beneficial because it reduces deployment costs by allowing the creation of a private network through a private service provider, eliminating data charges. Alternatively,&nbsp;as DECT NR+ is comparatively easy to setup and run, a farmer could set up the network by themselves without the need for third party support.&nbsp;&nbsp;For farmers requiring extensive monitoring, this standard is highly scalable, supporting anywhere from 100 to 1 million nodes within a single square kilometer and offering a range of up to three kilometers between nodes.&nbsp;&nbsp;To enhance the data collection of associated sensors, the nRF9151 integrates with Nordic’s Cloud services, called nRF Cloud. nRF Cloud provides tools for onboarding, configuration, monitoring, and firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) updates, for example. The Cloud services support IoT device fleets throughout their lifecycle, ensuring maximum utilization.&nbsp;<h2>Extended battery life</h2>Battery life is crucial for most outdoor applications, which generally lack access to mains power. However, when wireless sensors are deployed across vast areas, making battery changes a major operation, its importance becomes even more significant. LTE-M and NB-IoT’s low-power characteristics make it ideal for devices that must operate over long distances and extended periods, such as sensors in smart agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;The nRF9151 SiP is designed from the ground up to minimize power consumption, extending battery life. It takes full advantage of the low-energy possibilities associated with cellular IoT technologies, such as Power Saving Mode (PSM) and eDRX.&nbsp;Additionally, the nRF9151 boasts a 20 percent smaller footprint compared to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF9161" target="_blank">nRF9161</a>&nbsp;SiP, making it ideal for space-constrained sensor or asset monitoring applications.&nbsp;Low power 5G services, such as those supported by the nRF9151 SiP, help enable real-time data collection and analysis, allowing for more precise monitoring and management of crops and livestock. This leads to more informed decision-making, improved resource efficiency, and better overall farm management.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Agriculture has been a vital part of human history for over 12,000 years, marking a significant transition from hunting and gathering. Although the exact reasons for this shift are not clear, one theory suggests it was driven by the need for a more efficient way to obtain food.

How cellular IoT can improve agricultural yield and the lives of farmers

Each day&nbsp;a&nbsp;myriad&nbsp;of&nbsp;items&nbsp;are transported across vast distances. And many of those items have a high value. For example, any one of the 250 million containers used to shift cargo across sea and land (according to the World Shipping Council)[1]&nbsp;could contain millions of dollars of manufactured goods, machine tools, medicines, vehicles, food, chemicals or various other assets.&nbsp;Although the intermodal freight transport system is mature and efficient, things can go wrong. According to&nbsp;The New Yorker[2], a single shipping container can hold five thousand individual boxes, a single ship offloads nine thousand containers within hours and the largest ports process as many as a hundred thousand containers every day. The numbers make it a major challenge to keep track of everything. Inevitably, items go missing or get damaged in transit. Poor handling, incorrect packing and exposure to adverse environmental conditions are among the primary causes of loss.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Nordic pioneers cellular IoT asset tracking</h2>Nordic supports cellular IoT asset tracking applications by supplying an end-to-end cellular IoT platform which brings simplicity, stability and cost efficiency to cellular IoT design, manufacture and deployment. For the first time, vendors can access chips, software and services that are designed, controlled and supplied by a single company.&nbsp;This comprehensive cellular IoT solution saves asset tracker developers considerable time, money, engineering resources and the frustration that result from dealing with fragmented supply chains.&nbsp;Development is made easier through Nordic’s unified and scalable nRF Connect SDK. The nRF Connect for Desktop software also offers unique cellular IoT tools for optimizing power consumption and evaluating, monitoring and debugging network connectivity.&nbsp;<h2>Cellular IoT powers energy&nbsp;efficient asset trackers&nbsp;</h2><a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Wireless/Low-power-cellular-IoT" target="_blank">Cellular IoT</a>&nbsp;(LTE-M or NB-IoT) offers an ideal solution for intermodal logistics asset tracking. The tech leverages mature cellular infrastructure and offers kilometer-plus range with low power consumption enabling long battery life. While shipborne, a cellular IoT asset tracker based on a Nordic nRF91 Series SiP, for example, can store location data derived from GNSS and information from sensors about whether a container door has been opened, together with impact, vibration, temperature, humidity and other key data. When back in range of a cellular network the data can then be uploaded to the Cloud for access from anywhere.&nbsp;Nordic’s nRF91 Series SiPs feature a multimode modem allowing the asset tracker maker to select NB-IoT or LTE-M connectivity. NB-IoT is useful for fixed assets while LTE-M is better suited for mobile tracking such as a shipping container on a truck or train. Different regions or carriers might support one or the other protocol; by supporting both, Nordic can offer a much more global solution, which is often a key requirement for asset tracking in logistics.&nbsp;An example of the latest generation of asset trackers is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2024/01/Tavago-Techs-Tuff-uses-Nordic-nRF9160-SiP-nRF7000-companion-IC-nRF52833-SoC-and-nPM1100-PMIC" target="_blank">Tavago Tech’s Tuff</a>. The product uses Nordic’ nRF9160 and features a combination of cellular IoT, GNSS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE tech for indoor and outdoor tracking of personnel, cargo and assets. Tuff features a vibration sensor, a three-axis accelerometer for movement detection, a device tamper sensor and a sensor to detect if the device is removed from the asset.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2024/02/Controlant-Saga-Card-employs-low-power-nRF9160-SiP" target="_blank">Controlant Saga Card</a>&nbsp;also uses the nRF9160. In addition to cellular IoT connectivity, the Saga Card integrates an accelerometer, barometer and light sensor, to detect when and where a box has been opened and a product used, and when a box starts or stops moving.&nbsp;<h2>Where are my assets?</h2>When linked to Nordic’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Cloud-Services" target="_blank">Cloud Services</a>, logistics companies can use nRF91 Series-powered asset trackers to determine location to sub-10 meter accuracy with GNSS. The Cloud Services also offer Assisted GPS (A-GPS)—which downloads satellite position data via LTE, reducing time-to-first-fix (TTFF) and extending battery life—or Predictive GPS (P-GPS). The latter downloads up to two weeks of predicted satellite position data over LTE, not only saving power but also reducing LTE data costs compared with cell-based location services.&nbsp;&nbsp;If battery life is of overriding importance, location precision (with accuracy down to 200 meters) can be traded-off against energy consumption by taking advantage of Nordic’s Cloud Services’ single- and multi-cell (SCELL and MCELL) locationing technology.&nbsp;&nbsp;SCELL uses a single cell tower to provide location details while consuming little device power. It is useful for indoor locationing, or locationing without requiring GPS. MCELL uses up to 17 cell towers and trilateration to determine the device location. It offers greater accuracy than SCELL at the cost of a little more energy consumption.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Longer battery life and smaller size for tomorrow’s asset trackers&nbsp;</h2>High levels of integration, low power consumption and small size are key factors for developers building asset trackers. Nordic’s nRF91 Series incorporates an application processor, Flash and RAM, LTE-M/NB-IoT modem, RF Front End, GNSS and more into a single package. This high level of integration simplifies design, improves efficiency and saves space. And efficient operation extends battery life or allows for the use of more compact batteries for the same battery life. In some cases, low power consumption can even allow the asset tracker to run from harvested energy alone.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nordic has recently taken things a step further with the launch of a new addition to the nRF91 Series, the nRF9151&nbsp;SiP. The solution sets a new standard for highly integrated, low power consumption and compact SiP solutions specifically designed for cellular IoT applications. The high efficiency of the nRF9151 SiP allows asset tracker manufacturers to build lightweight, compact devices with long range and robust wireless connectivity, powerful processing capabilities and large memory capacity and which can run for years from a single battery charge.&nbsp;&nbsp;More compact than its predecessor, the nRF9161—with a significant footprint reduction of 20 percent—the nRF9151&nbsp;lends itself to asset trackers that are even smaller and lighter than previous designs.&nbsp;In addition, the nRF9151 SiP is designed from the ground up to minimize power consumption. It takes full advantage of the low-energy possibilities associated with cellular IoT technologies, such as Power Saving Mode (PSM) and eDRX.&nbsp;With the volume of goods shipped around the world set to reach 15 billion tonnes by 2025 (according to the International Chamber of Shipping[3]), keeping tabs on everything will be a major challenge. But with the increasing availability of cellular IoT-powered asset trackers it’s a challenge that’s becoming just a little easier.<hr><h3 id="isPasted">References</h3>1.&nbsp;World Shipping Council:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldshipping.org/news/world-shipping-council-releases-containers-lost-at-sea-report-2023-update" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.worldshipping.org/news/world-shipping-council-releases-containers-lost-at-sea-report-2023-update</a>.&nbsp; 2.&nbsp;The New Yorker:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/06/06/when-shipping-containers-sink-in-the-drink" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/06/06/when-shipping-containers-sink-in-the-drink</a>&nbsp; 3.&nbsp;International Chamber of Shipping:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ics-shipping.org/shipping-fact/shipping-and-world-trade-driving-prosperity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.ics-shipping.org/shipping-fact/shipping-and-world-trade-driving-prosperity/</a>&nbsp;

Nordic supports cellular IoT asset tracking applications by supplying an end-to-end cellular IoT platform which brings simplicity, stability and cost efficiency to cellular IoT design, manufacture and deployment.

New cellular IoT SiPs power smaller, more efficient asset trackers

In a world where connectivity is king, the choice of SIM form factor plays a crucial role in the success of any deployment, from consumer electronics to IoT applications. As a versatile platform, Monogoto supports an array of SIM types, each tailored to meet specific operational needs and strategic goals. Whether you’re prioritizing security, seeking cost-efficiency, or navigating device constraints, we provide a solution to match. This comprehensive comparison of Physical SIM, MFF2 SIM, iSIM, and SoftSIM technologies aims to illuminate their unique advantages, guiding you toward the ideal selection for your project.&nbsp;<h2>A Comparative Look at SIM Form Factors</h2>Delving into the specifics of Physical SIM, MFF2 SIM, iSIM, and SoftSIM, we evaluate critical aspects such as security, OTA updates, SIM storage capabilities, and price. This comparison offers a foundation for understanding which SIM form factor aligns best with your project’s requirements.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1719853142970-Network-Settings-Storage-e.g.-FPLMNPLMN-1536x1086.png" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2>A Note from Monogoto</h2>At Monogoto, we’re thrilled by the shift from Physical SIMs to innovative software-based solutions like SoftSIM. This transition not only reflects our drive for cutting-edge technology but also our commitment to providing flexible and scalable connectivity solutions. As the telecom landscape evolves, our platform continues to support all SIM types, ensuring robust, secure, and adaptable options for every use case.&nbsp;<h2>Conclusion: Tailoring the Choice to Your Needs</h2>Monogoto’s horizontal platform embraces the diversity of SIM technologies, ensuring you have the freedom to choose the form factor that best suits your project’s demands. Whether you’re navigating the complexities of global IoT deployments or launching consumer tech, we are here to support you with state-of-the-art connectivity solutions that meet today’s needs and anticipate tomorrow’s challenges.Special thanks to ChatGPT for assisting in crafting this blog post. The integration of AI-driven insights has been invaluable in presenting a clear and comprehensive perspective on the diverse world of SIM technologies.This addition not only thanks ChatGPT but also underscores the innovative approach Monogoto takes in leveraging advanced technology tools like AI to enhance communication and insight sharing.

In a world where connectivity is king, the choice of SIM form factor plays a crucial role in the success of any deployment from consumer electronics to IoT applications. As a versatile platform Monogoto supports an array of SIM types, tailored to meet specific operational needs and strategic goals. 

The Right Approach for My Use Case. SIM Form Factor.

The micromobility industry is at an exciting crossroads. As cities worldwide strive for smarter, cleaner, and more efficient modes of transportation, the importance of reliable connectivity in the micromobility sector is paramount.&nbsp;Let’s explore the impact of connectivity on micromobility, offering insights into how businesses like&nbsp;<a href="https://getwhizz.com/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Whizz</a>, a New York City-based company that offers flexible e-bike rentals tailored for delivery riders, leverage software-defined connectivity to enhance customer satisfaction.<h2>The Right Connectivity Partner is the Backbone of Micromobility</h2>A trustworthy connectivity partner is the backbone of a micromobility provider. It enables real-time data collection and analysis, and, with the right monitoring software, can provide invaluable insights into device performance, user behavior, and operational efficiency.&nbsp;Micromobility device providers continue to be faced with &nbsp;two crucial challenges: maintaining profitability, and ensuring seamless operational integration. Innovators within the industry are pioneering solutions to these obstacles, leveraging technologies such as GPS tracking, AI, and machine learning to enhance user experience and foster brand loyalty, which in turn boosts revenue through repeat customers. Whizz, for example, uses Monogoto’s connectivity solutions to track their bicycles, monitoring operational health—including preventing device theft. &nbsp;<h2>Enhancing Customer Experience and Fostering Brand Loyalty</h2>Software-defined connectivity is revolutionizing how micromobility services operate, providing the agility to adapt to changing environments and user needs. From enhancing service reliability with private networks to automating maintenance through predictive algorithms, this approach is setting new standards for operational excellence and cost efficiency in the micromobility sector.&nbsp;At the heart of micromobility’s future is the imperative to deliver exceptional customer experiences and build lasting brand loyalty. Reducing failure rates and ensuring successful user engagements are critical to achieving this goal. Software-defined connectivity, like that offered by Monogoto, enables service providers like Whizz to develop reliable and user-friendly solutions that align with the high expectations of modern consumers. With Monogoto as their connectivity partner, Whizz can manage and scale their e-bike connectivity effortlessly, ensuring optimal service availability and performance. This technology also allows for better network management, security features, and seamless integration across different communication platforms, enhancing both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.Watch this webinar featuring Tanya Kashina, Head of Supply Chain at Whizz, to discover more about how software-defined connectivity solves salient challenges in the micromobility industry.&nbsp;WATCH THE WEBINAR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leR1ztubJuE&feature=youtu.be" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">HERE</a>As the micromobility industry evolves, embracing connectivity advancements will be key to unlocking new opportunities for growth and customer engagement. Monogoto stands at the forefront of this journey, offering cutting-edge connectivity solutions that empower micromobility providers to redefine urban transportation.&nbsp;<a href="https://lp.monogoto.io/book-a-demo" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Book a demo</a> with Monogoto today and take the first step towards a revolutionary experience.

The micromobility industry is at an exciting crossroads. As cities worldwide strive for smarter, cleaner, and more efficient modes of transportation, the importance of reliable connectivity in the micromobility sector is paramount. 

Revolutionizing Transportation: How Connectivity Shapes the Future of Micromobility

In our digitally connected world, seamless integration and communication between devices are not just conveniences but necessities to ensure the success of businesses, whether just starting out or firmly established.The collaboration between Monogoto and Xyte introduces a groundbreaking solution in device management and connectivity. This partnership leverages Monogoto’s robust software-defined connectivity and Xyte’s comprehensive device management capabilities to create a unified platform—Xyte Anywhere. This platform is designed not only to streamline device operations but to enrich the end-user experience with reliability and innovation at its core. As detailed in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-K44sh9ax8" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">our recent webinar</a>, this collaboration isn’t just about enhancing product capabilities—it’s about transforming devices into service platforms.<h2>Enhancing User Experiences Across Industries</h2>The real-world advantages of the Monogoto and Xyte partnership are demonstrated through its diverse applications across multiple industry sectors. Here are specific examples of how their combined capabilities transform everyday operations and user interactions:<h3>Corporate Digital Signage</h3>In corporate settings, digital signage is crucial for internal communications. With Xyte Anywhere, companies can deploy signage solutions that are instantly connected and managed remotely, bypassing traditional IT setup challenges. This not only speeds up deployment but also ensures that content updates are swift and seamless, enhancing the way information is shared across campuses.<h3>Professional Audio and Video</h3>For the professional audio and video industry, reliable device management is vital. Xyte Anywhere enables remote monitoring and updates, which are essential for events and installations that depend on the flawless operation of audiovisual equipment. This reduces downtime and improves the delivery of media content, directly benefiting event managers and attendees by providing a smoother, uninterrupted experience.<h3>Industrial Automation</h3>In the field of industrial automation, connectivity and remote management are key to ensuring machinery and devices operate without interruption. Xyte Anywhere’s capabilities allow for continuous monitoring and immediate troubleshooting from remote locations, significantly reducing response times to malfunctions and maintaining high levels of productivity.<h2>Driving Business Innovation and Revenue</h2>Beyond improving operational efficiencies, the partnership between Monogoto and Xyte facilitates new business models for device manufacturers. By transforming devices into service platforms, manufacturers can unlock recurring revenue streams through subscriptions and as-a-service models. This shift not only increases profitability but also fosters long-term customer relationships by continuously providing value beyond the initial sale.<h2>A Future-Ready Connectivity Solution</h2>As industries continue to evolve, the demand for integrated and efficient device connectivity solutions grows. Monogoto and Xyte’s partnership is a proactive response to this demand, providing a scalable and robust platform that supports the future needs of businesses and their customers.<h2>Embrace the Connectivity Revolution</h2>For stakeholders in industries ranging from manufacturing to corporate communication and beyond, adopting the Monogoto and Xyte solution means not just keeping pace with technological advancements but leading the charge. Businesses are encouraged to leverage these innovations to enhance their product offerings, improve customer satisfaction, and explore new markets. In essence, the partnership between Monogoto and Xyte isn’t just about technological integration—it’s about redefining how businesses interact with technology to create more dynamic, responsive, and user-centric environments. As we look to a future where connectivity is increasingly synonymous with productivity and innovation, embracing this partnership could be your strategic step towards a more connected and successful enterprise.Device manufacturers and businesses looking to stay ahead in the digital curve are invited to explore the possibilities that this partnership offers. Embrace the future of connectivity with Monogoto and Xyte, and unlock new growth opportunities for your business. Contact us today to learn more about how our solutions can empower your devices and drive your business forward.

In our digitally connected world, seamless integration and communication between devices are not just conveniences but necessities to ensure the success of businesses, whether just starting out or firmly established.

How Transforming Devices into Service Platforms Creates More Revenue for Your Business

The advent of cellular IoT connectivity revolutionized the way businesses were able to track assets and fleets around the world, and the exponential growth of connected devices continues at a rapid pace. The GSMA reports that between 2020 and 2022, the number of LTE-M networks increased nearly 30%. This increase demonstrates how fundamental connectivity has become to support the way businesses manage their fleets.&nbsp;But what happens when those fleets move outside the boundaries of cellular services? How can businesses circumvent issues when assets are in remote locations? Here we’ll discuss the benefits of satellite asset tracking, and how using satellite connectivity along with cellular should become standard for the future success of asset management enterprises.<h2>Combining Satellite and Cellular Connectivity for More Effective Asset Tracking</h2>The ability to track fleets on the move and on the ground in areas where cellular connectivity is reliable and readily available has significantly improved in recent years. But as companies expand their global presence, sending assets or fleets across oceans or into remote areas, cellular connectivity is no longer a viable or singular option for asset monitoring. In the shipping industry, for example, cellular connectivity allows companies to check ship location statuses from port to port, but not in between.&nbsp;Satellite tracking bridges the gap when ships are traveling across oceans, allowing for more efficient and effective fleet tracking. And while satellite services were once prohibitively expensive, demand has pushed prices down, and more satellite providers make the cellular/satellite connection financially viable. Now, the use of cellular and satellite networks offers a perfect balance between performance and price.Plus, when devices are on the move in remote locations—where cell towers are scarce or non-existent—satellite connectivity becomes the only reliable method to track assets and fleets.<h2>When The Assets You’re Tracking are People: NEYOS Otrac</h2>There are recognizable use cases for a combined cellular/satellite asset tracking—container shipping, as we’ve mentioned, and other supply chain logistics. But there are other use cases—ones in which the devices that need to be tracked are people.NEYOS, a manufacturer of a portable geolocation beacon, was founded following a life-threatening incident in which its co-founder was unable to reach emergency services while located on a mountain. Based on that experience, they developed the NEYOS Otrac, the first satellite and cellular geolocation beacon that allows the tracking of remote sporting activities, like ultra-marathons. And this tracker has become available at a time when ultra-marathoning is rapidly growing. Ultra marathon participation has vastly increased over the years—a staggering 345% in the last decade.&nbsp;As more people become interested in this activity, tracking participants becomes even more essential to ensure runner safety.NEYOS provides sporting event organizers the Otrac and a subscription connectivity plan that offers 4G cellular and satellite tracking ideal for monitoring in remote locations. Those tracking beacons are handed out to runners as part of their marathon safety protocol. If a runner participating in an organization’s event deviates from the planned course or experiences an emergency, the event organizers are immediately alerted through the Otrac security beacon and help can be dispatched promptly.<h2>Other Industries Benefiting from Using Cellular/Satellite Connectivity Combination&nbsp;</h2>The NEYOS beacon use case applies not only to ultra-marathoning, but also to many other remote sporting events, like sailing competitions, remote hiking and cycling, and rally raids. And it also benefits many more emerging industries thanks to its flexible use of both cellular and satellite connectivity. Another instance in which people need to be monitored is when companies dispatch lone workers to remote areas. Similar to sporting event participant tracking, using a monitoring device in conjunction with satellite connectivity gives businesses peace of mind that their employees can make emergency contact using their tracking device. Other sporting activities, like sailing competitions, or agricultural goods tracking—where food is monitored from farm, to port, to ship, then to store—also require both remote satellite and cellular services.<h2>Cellular/Satellite Tracking for Asset Management</h2>Businesses have benefited from asset tracking and management thanks to cellular IoT connectivity, but they need to look to the future in which assets are moving across areas without cell towers. Devices like the NEYOS Otrac, combined with cellular and satellite services provided by Monogoto and Skylo, ensure a smooth transition into the future of asset management.<h2>Scale and Innovate with Monogoto</h2>With Monogoto’s cloud best practices, developers and innovators can start small, with access to all APIs immediately, and scale with a truly global cloud offering. Secure, seamless connectivity across cellular, satellite, and private LTE/5G networks forms the foundation of the future of asset tracking. As the industry evolves, embracing connectivity advancements is key to unlocking new opportunities for growth. Monogoto stands at the forefront of this journey, offering cutting-edge connectivity solutions and developer tools that empower enterprises to innovate like never before.&nbsp;<a href="https://lp.monogoto.io/book-a-demo" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Book a demo</a> with Monogoto today and take the first step towards a revolutionary experience.

The advent of cellular IoT connectivity revolutionized the way businesses were able to track assets and fleets around the world, and the exponential growth of connected devices continues at a rapid pace. The GSMA reports that between 2020 and 2022, the number of LTE-M networks increased nearly 30%. 

How Combining Cellular and Satellite Connectivity Improves Asset Tracking

IoT devices&nbsp;capable of&nbsp;providing fast and power-efficient location details are in high demand, and nowhere more so than in the $9 trillion global logistics and transportation sector[1].&nbsp;Driven by&nbsp;an e-commerce boom and a shift in consumer preference&nbsp;towards online purchases,&nbsp;logistics&nbsp;companies are&nbsp;shipping&nbsp;a staggering volume of parcels. The biggest e-commerce company of the lot, Amazon, processed 4.79 billion U.S.&nbsp;delivery&nbsp;orders in 2022,&nbsp;equivalent&nbsp;to 13.13 million a&nbsp;day[2].While not every delivery is tracked in ‘real time’ at the parcel level yet, that day will come, particularly for high value or perishable cargoes. As such, logistics companies looking to improve efficiencies and reduce costs are rapidly adopting cellular IoT and Wi-Fi solutions that support real time location.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Cellular IoT and GNSS&nbsp;deliver&nbsp;RTLS</h2>To provide real time location, such an IoT device can employ cellular IoT wireless connectivity in concert with GNSS capability—for example Nordic Semiconductor’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Wireless/Low-power-cellular-IoT/Products?lang=en#infotabs" target="_blank">nRF91 Series</a>&nbsp;SiPs—which is generally accurate enough (within 10 meters) for many asset tracking applications.&nbsp;&nbsp;GNSS alone, however, is far from perfect. It won’t work indoors, and even outdoors the relatively weak signal can easily be disrupted by tall buildings, as well as other radio sources. Another challenge for GNSS-based asset tracking is the time it can take to secure a fix, and the battery drain that causes on an already resource-constrained device.&nbsp;<h2>Location and&nbsp;low-power</h2>One solution to the issue of battery drain is to use Assisted- and Predicted-GPS (A-GPS and P-GPS), that employ satellite assistance data stored in a Cloud database, relayed to the IoT device via an LTE-M or NB-IoT network, saving significant power compared to an extended first fix. Another option is to use the known location of cellular base stations to narrow down the position of the receiver. Single-cell (SCELL) and multi-cell (MCELL) location methods rely on identifying in which cell the tracked device is situated, and then referencing the cell ID against a database of known base station locations.&nbsp;&nbsp;A further locationing technique which complements cellular IoT and GNSS is Wi-Fi Service Set Identifier (SSID) scanning. Every Wi-Fi access point network is identified with an SSID, and with knowledge of the SSID, it’s possible to cross reference against Cloud databases to approximately locate the position of an IoT device.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>The power of Cloud&nbsp;services</h2>To take advantage of these various locationing technologies, IoT asset tracking devices require not only LTE-M and NB-IoT cellular connectivity and GNSS, but also Wi-Fi (if using SSID locationing), and the Cloud services to support them.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is why Nordic Semiconductor has backed its cellular IoT hardware offering—the nRF91 Series SiPs—and it’s Wi-Fi solutions—the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Wireless/WiFi/Products?lang=en#infotabs" target="_blank">nRF70 Series</a>&nbsp;Companion ICs—with&nbsp;<a href="https://nrfcloud.com/?__hstc=8439722.02bd342c1db7d9a6a838dac1f5f506c2.1719564172438.1719564172438.1719564172438.1&__hssc=8439722.3.1719564172438&__hsfp=3048804036#/" target="_blank">nRF Cloud</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Cloud-services" target="_blank">Cloud Services</a>. By providing hardware, software, and Cloud services, Nordic offers a complete solution.&nbsp;&nbsp;For real time asset tracking, Nordic’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Cloud-services/Location-Services?lang=en#infotabs" target="_blank">Cloud Location Services</a>&nbsp;can be used to assist devices and customer applications that need SCELL, MCELL, A-GPS, P-GPS and/or Wi-Fi location features, guaranteeing they will last longer in the field while also sending accurate location data to the Cloud. These features can all be implemented in the same device and used when needed, depending on accuracy requirements at any given time.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, if you want to track an asset moving between two locations, precise location is likely not needed, as long as it can be determined that the asset is moving towards the destination. That means an asset tracker powered by an nR91 Series SiP can use SCELL or MCELL location, while also ensuring minimal power consumption.&nbsp;&nbsp;As the asset gets closer to delivery, more precise location data might be necessary, at which point Nordic’s Cloud Location Services can dynamically enable GNSS-based location or even Wi-Fi location (assuming the asset tracker employs Wi-Fi), to determine a more precise location and track the asset all the way to its destination.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Cloud-based security services</h2>In addition to location support, these devices also need security credentials to connect to the Cloud. Securely provisioning devices can be complex and costly, and typically involves creating proprietary infrastructure and processes. Nordic’s Cloud Security Services solve these problems by providing a secure and unique identity for devices that can be used for authentication with Nordic Root of Trust, as well as secure provisioning to configure devices remotely with the required credentials.&nbsp;For the developer this means they can ensure only authentic Nordic devices are used in their supply chain, and that their application firmware only runs on authentic Nordic silicon. It also protects against counterfeiting and cloning, and verifies the devices are what they claim to be, before they connect to the Cloud.&nbsp;&nbsp;This combination of Cloud location and security services will spur more innovative applications by relieving companies of the burden of managing and integrating their devices, allowing them to focus their efforts on developing new and innovative solutions.&nbsp;<hr><h3>References</h3>1. Logistics Market Size and Growth 2024 to 2033. Precedence Research, June 2024.&nbsp; 2. Amazon Logistics Statistics. CapitalOne Shopping Research, October 2023.&nbsp;

While not every delivery is tracked in ‘real time’ at the parcel level yet, that day will come, particularly for high value or perishable cargoes. Logistics companies looking to improve efficiencies and reduce costs are rapidly adopting cellular IoT and WiFi solutions that support real time location

The Power of Cloud Services

The way we get from A to B and back is rapidly evolving. At the heart of the urban transport revolution is technology-driven electric mobility (‘e-mobility’). This encompasses not only electric bikes (‘e-bikes’), electric scooters (‘e-scooters’), and other lightweight electric transport, but also electric cars that rely on the availability of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to stay in motion. Driven by smart connectivity solutions, the e-mobility market is taking transportation efficiency to the next level in cities around the world.&nbsp;<h2>Shared micromobility&nbsp;takes commuters the last mile&nbsp;</h2>Micromobility technologies are enabling flexible, cost-effective, and eco-friendly ‘last mile’ alternatives to traditional commuting. For example, rentable e-bikes and e-scooters now make it faster, cheaper, healthier, more convenient, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly for people to travel the final part of a journey. Better yet, these solutions allow people to avoid private and public transport, reducing both traffic congestion and carbon footprints.&nbsp;It’s still early days for the sector, but all signs point to sustained growth and exciting development. One report by Market Research Future forecasts the global micromobility market will expand from $114.15 billion in 2024 to $303.47 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 13 percent during the forecast period[1].&nbsp;<h2>Bluetooth LE&nbsp;the key&nbsp;to unlocking&nbsp;e-mobility potential&nbsp;</h2>Advanced low power wireless connectivity is the key to efficient e-mobility. Shared micromobility solutions require short-range wireless technologies such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Wireless/Bluetooth-Low-Energy" target="_blank">Bluetooth LE</a>&nbsp;to communicate between smartphones and rented transport, enabling equipment unlocking and mobile payment/subscription functionality.&nbsp;By reliably and securely linking shared e-bikes and e-scooters to smartphones, for example, riders can use associated apps to not only locate and unlock the nearest machine, but also take advantage of unique features such as beginner/safe modes and the ability to check estimated travel times to help plan journeys.&nbsp;Bluetooth LE is currently used in most share bikes for communication between the bike and a linked mobile because of its ubiquitous smartphone interoperability. Other systems employ&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Wireless/Low-power-cellular-IoT" target="_blank">cellular IoT</a> with Bluetooth LE as a backup connectivity technology. The low power consumption of both cellular IoT and Bluetooth LE ensures e-vehicles remain connected for long periods.&nbsp;<h2>Wireless&nbsp;tech&nbsp;powers&nbsp;electric vehicle&nbsp;charging&nbsp;stations&nbsp;</h2>And it’s not only micromobility that’s shifting the gears of urban transport. Reliable, secure wireless connectivity also enhances the value proposition of EV charging stations. By encouraging EVs instead of conventional vehicles in city centers, carbon emissions are slashed, and everyone gets to breathe cleaner air.&nbsp;Wireless connectivity enables EV charging stations to become smart. For example, data can be gathered on the availability and condition of charging sockets. This data can be relayed to a central platform for staff to respond to disruptions or problems remotely. Avoiding potential technical issues can improve availability of the charging outlet for the consumer’s benefit.&nbsp;By seamlessly integrating Bluetooth LE, <a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Wireless/WiFi" target="_blank">Wi-Fi</a>, and cellular IoT, developers can create innovative charging solutions that meet the evolving needs of the EV industry. This is important as EV adoption is accelerating and a large fleet of reliable charging points will be needed to meet demand.&nbsp;&nbsp;One innovative solution for increasing the number of charging points is to integrate them into smart streetlamps. Streetlamps are already connected to the main electricity supply offering a ready supply of energy for EVs. The U.K., for example, already boasts over 8,000 streetlight and bollard charging stations. Further lamppost conversions will allow the country to greatly expand its network of over 53,000 public charging points. Given charging point access has proved a significant barrier to EV adoption, converting streetlamps into EV charging stations will aid the rollout of EVs generally by ensuring charging is more accessible and convenient.&nbsp;<h2>Nordic nRF54 Series&nbsp;future ready for&nbsp;e-mobility&nbsp;advancement&nbsp;</h2>Nordic Semiconductor’s latest generation SoCs provide a powerful solution for developers of innovative e-mobility applications. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF54H20" target="_blank">nRF54H20</a>, for example, boasts multiple Arm Cortex-M33 processors and multiple RISC-V coprocessors. Combined with 2 MB non-volatile memory and 1 MB of RAM, the nRF54H Series endows the developer with the dedicated computing power needed to run complex e-mobility applications while also keeping power consumption low to extend battery life. &nbsp;As one of the most secure low power, multiprotocol SoCs on the market, the nRF54H20 is an ideal connectivity solution for e-mobility applications that demand protection of sensitive personal data used for payment, as well as safeguarding valuable e-transport assets.&nbsp;Furthermore, the nRF54H20 features an integrated high speed CAN FD controller. CAN (controller area network) is a standard bus used in vehicles for communications within their electronic systems, and integrating it into the nRF54H20 provides a powerful option for lower cost e-mobility implementations.&nbsp;Tomorrow’s e-mobility solutions powered by the nRF54H20 will be even more flexible, convenient, efficient, and secure. What those solutions will look like are down to the imagination of the developer, but we can be sure that they will extend micromobility to an even wider population resulting in cleaner, quieter, and safer cities.&nbsp;<hr><h3 id="isPasted">References</h3>1. https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/micro-mobility-market-8315 &nbsp;

The way we get from A to B and back is rapidly evolving. At the heart of the urban transport revolution is technology-driven electric mobility (‘e-mobility’). 

New, powerful SoCs aid drive to e-mobility

In the early days&nbsp;of&nbsp;the technology, wearables were mundane&nbsp;- a triumph of function over flair.&nbsp;We wore them to count our steps, not to make us look chic.&nbsp;Things have changed. Modern&nbsp;wearable&nbsp;consumer electronics&nbsp;devices&nbsp;increasingly&nbsp;combine&nbsp;convenience and&nbsp;purpose&nbsp;with&nbsp;more than a&nbsp;touch of&nbsp;classic&nbsp;style&nbsp;in order to&nbsp;grab a slice of a lucrative and growing market.&nbsp;<h2>The global&nbsp;appeal&nbsp;of wearable&nbsp;devices&nbsp;</h2>The wearable technology sector continues to boom. According to analyst Statista, shipments of hearables, smartwatches, smart rings, wristbands, and other wearables are forecast to reach around 560 million units in 2024[1]. That's up from the 336 million units that shipped five years earlier[2], an increase of more than 65 percent.&nbsp;&nbsp;For now, this market is largely dominated by the established smartwatch ranges of major brands like Apple, Garmin, Google Fitbit, and Samsung. These manufacturers attempt to differentiate their products by offering increasing battery life, improving usability, and added features geared towards health and fitness.&nbsp;<h2>Adding form to function&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>But the next wave of wearable tech is set to impact the lucrative world of fashion. Clever designers and developers are meeting new consumer demand by prioritizing form alongside function. By merging advanced technology with a traditional timepiece, a wearable no longer needs to look like a wearable.&nbsp;One company pioneering this approach is French consumer electronics company, Withings. The firm recently launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2024/03/Withings-ScanWatch-Nova-employs-Nordics-nRF52840-SoC" target="_blank">ScanWatch Nova</a>, an advanced, hybrid smartwatch designed to provide wearers with accurate, around-the-clock health metrics while offering an elegant ‘diver style’ stainless steel design.&nbsp;&nbsp;The compact smartwatch integrates temperature, accelerometer, altimeter, and multi-wavelength photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors—all supervised by Nordic Semiconductor’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF52840" target="_blank">nRF52840</a> multiprotocol&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Wireless/Bluetooth-Low-Energy" target="_blank">Bluetooth LE</a>&nbsp;SoC—to generate a wide range of health data including temperature tracking, on-demand electrocardiogram&nbsp;(ECG), and menstrual cycle tracking.<h2>Smartwatches aim for share of prestige market&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>Global prestige watch brand, Festina, has also launched the latest in its connected watch range in a stylish, modern design. The nRF52840 SoC-powered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2024/03/Festinas-Connected-D-employs-nRF52840-SoC" target="_blank">Festina Connected D</a>&nbsp;is simultaneously both a traditional watch and an activity tracker. The stainless steel timepiece features an authentic physical dial plate and watch hands with a cut-out for the OLED display.&nbsp;Meanwhile Dayton Industrial’s Nordic&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF52832" target="_blank">nRF52832</a> SoC-powered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2022/10/Dayton-Industrials-Link2Care-Smartwatch-DA13700-uses-nRF52832-SoC-and-nRF9160-SiP" target="_blank">Link2Care Smartwatch DA13700</a>, promotes elegant design alongside a 3D motion sensor for activity records, inactivity alerts, sleep monitoring, and fall detection. The smartwatch also integrates Nordic's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF9160" target="_blank">nRF9160</a>&nbsp;SiP providing LTE-M/NB-IoT&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Wireless/Low-power-cellular-IoT" target="_blank">cellular IoT</a>&nbsp;connectivity and GNSS, meaning the wearer’s location can be reported to nominated caregivers along with any SOS alert, while further information can be uploaded directly to the Cloud and customer service center via a cellular network.&nbsp;This movement towards prioritizing form alongside function is no accident. Luxury watch sales haven't been as affected by smartwatch sales as some might think. For example last year Swiss watch exports grew by 7.2 percent compared with the previous year with mechanical watches generating almost 80 percent of the growth&nbsp;[3]. If connected watches can deliver on both looks and functionality, all signs are that consumers will respond positively. &nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>The growing trend in&nbsp;fashionable&nbsp;smart jewelry&nbsp;</h2>Another burgeoning market is fashion-forward smart jewelry that simultaneously provides health data to wearers, sometimes in addition to built-in safety and security features such as location updates and SOS alert capabilities.&nbsp;Aesthetically pleasing smart rings, in particular, are challenging the dominance of smartwatches across the sector.&nbsp;Smart rings target two different markets - people who may not want to wear a watch, and those wanting or needing to collect health metrics.&nbsp;One Nordic-powered smart ring, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2023/09/The-Ultrahuman-Ring-Air-employs-nRF52840-SoC" target="_blank">Ultrahuman Ring Air</a>, can track and record a range of health parameters, and simultaneously offer the wearer activity or recovery recommendations. As well as looking the part, the device is designed to provide a range of metrics—including a movement index and a sleep index—that can help the user better understand and improve their fitness level and the factors that affect their metabolism.&nbsp;Although not a smart ring, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2022/07/The-WHOOP-4-uses-Nordics-nRF52840-SoC" target="_blank">WHOOP 4.0</a>, developed by U.S.-based human performance company, WHOOP, is a non-traditional smart wearable as it does not have a display and can be worn on one arm, allowing the user to also wear a classic watch on the opposite wrist.&nbsp;<h2>Watch this space&nbsp;–&nbsp;the future of wearable&nbsp;tech&nbsp;</h2>The integration of wearable tech into high fashion is no passing trend. In the not too distant future, the boundaries could be pushed even further through concepts like AI-powered clothing design and customization, or interactive fashion experiences that go beyond the physical garment.&nbsp;And when powered by the next generation of highly integrated wireless SoCs, such as Nordic Semiconductor’s revolutionary&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF54H20" target="_blank">nRF54H20</a>, tomorrow’s wearables will not only be more fashionable, but even smaller, lighter, and more functional.&nbsp;<hr><h3>References</h3>1. Wearable unit shipments worldwide from 2014 to 2028. Statista, April 2024.&nbsp; 2. 2019 Wearable Market Report. IDC, March 2020&nbsp; 3. Record value and a sharp rise in volumes. Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, January 2024.

Modern wearable consumer electronics devices increasingly combine convenience and purpose with more than a touch of classic style in order to grab a slice of a lucrative and growing market. 

Wearables become high fashion

<h2 id="isPasted">1. What is LoRaWAN?</h2>LoRaWAN is a standard within LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) wireless communication that uses the unlicensed band (sub-GHz band) that does not require a radio station license and features wide-area and long-distance communication as well as low speeds and low power consumption. LoRaWAN is a form of non-cellular LPWA that was established by the non-profit LoRa Alliance and recognized as an international standard by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in December 2021.LoRaWAN is a wireless network system that is used by connecting one or a small number of gateways with many end devices*1 equipped with a LoRaWAN module. LoRaWAN does not require a carrier communications network and it enables companies to build and operate their own networks, which makes it easy to introduce regardless of the application and business scale, and the number of users is increasing every year.*1 For example, communications devices that control device applications such as general lighting, cameras, and other sensors.<h3>1.1 Comparison of LoRaWAN (Non-cellular LPWA) and Cellular LPWA</h3>The LoRaWAN non-cellular LPWA standard is able to keep operating costs low compared to signing an agreement with a carrier and using their line. Furthermore, you do not need to consider the location where it will be used or whether stable communication with the carrier's base station is possible. In addition, because it enables you to build a complete network environment on your own, LoRaWAN can implement a private and secure wireless communications environment that is not mediated by the lines of an external operator.Reference: <a href="https://article.murata.com/en-global/article/what-is-lpwa-wireless-communication-1#section-55863" target="_blank">3.3 Cellular LPWA and Non-cellular LPWA Specifications Comparison｜What Is Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) Wireless Communication? - Basics</a><h3>1.2 Primary LoRaWAN Applications</h3>The primary applications of LoRaWAN include smart meters, smart cities, smart buildings, and enhancing the intelligence of public transportation in community infrastructure as well as support for IoT in the manufacturing industry, tracking of logistics cargo and people through location information, environmental sensing, smart agriculture, etc. Because it enables operation with a comparatively low cost that is not affected by the service area restrictions of carriers in contrast to cellular LPWA, LoRaWAN is attracting increased attention around the world as a means of wireless communication that is suitable for IoT and M2M in diverse fields.The following page introduces several examples utilizing LoRaWAN. <a href="https://article.murata.com/en-global/article/introduce-to-lorawan-2#section-59239" target="_blank">4. Examples of IoT Solutions Utilizing LoRaWAN｜LoRaWAN (Non-cellular LPWA) Primer – From Fundamentals to IoT Application Examples (2)</a><h2>2. LoRaWAN Communication Protocol Stack – Roles of LoRa and LoRaWAN –</h2>By looking at the communication protocol stack that is implemented, we can understand the features of those communication systems in many cases. (The communication protocol stack is explained in the&nbsp;<a href="https://article.murata.com/en-global/article/introduce-to-lorawan-1#section-59227" target="_blank">"Column – What Is the Communication Protocol Stack?"</a> section at the bottom of this page.) Figure 1 shows the LoRaWAN communication protocol stack. Here, we explain the LoRaWAN protocol stack as well as the respective meanings and roles of LoRa and LoRaWAN in the protocol.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNzY5NjU3MzkxLWxvcmF3YW4xLWltZzAwMDFfZW4ucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 1 LoRaWAN communication protocol stack<h3 id="isPasted">2.1 What is LoRa (Physical Layer)?</h3>The "LoRa" shown in the Physical Layer at the bottom of Figure 1 is an abbreviation of "Long Range" and refers to the wireless modulation method developed by U.S. company SEMTECH based on CSS (Chirp Spread Spectrum), which is a type of spectrum spread technique. Furthermore, the LoRa ISM band*2 is established by country and region as shown in Table 1.<table><caption>Table 1 LoRa frequency band by region (partial)</caption><thead><tr><th>Region(country or territory)</th><th>Name</th><th>Frequency band(MHz)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Europe</td><td>EU868/EU433</td><td>863-870/433-435</td></tr><tr><td>U.S.</td><td>US915</td><td>902-928</td></tr><tr><td>China</td><td>CN779/CN470</td><td>779-787/470-510</td></tr><tr><td>Japan</td><td>AS923</td><td>920-928</td></tr><tr><td>Australia</td><td>AU915</td><td>915-928</td></tr><tr><td>India</td><td>IN865</td><td>865-867</td></tr><tr><td>Indonesia</td><td>AS2</td><td>923-925</td></tr><tr><td>South Korea</td><td>KR920</td><td>920-923</td></tr><tr><td>Malaysia</td><td>AS1</td><td>920-923</td></tr><tr><td>New Zealand</td><td>AU915</td><td>915-928</td></tr><tr><td>Singapore</td><td>AS1</td><td>920-923</td></tr><tr><td>Taiwan</td><td>AS2</td><td>923-925</td></tr><tr><td>Thailand</td><td>AS2</td><td>923-925</td></tr></tbody></table>*2 The ISM band is a frequency band established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) that can be used without a license in the fields of industry, science, medicine, etc. The ISM band includes frequency bands that are universal and those that are region (country and territory) specific. The latter type of band is established for LoRa.<h3 id="isPasted">2.2 What is LoRaWAN (MAC Layer)?</h3>The MAC*3 Layer LoRaWAN is the name of the non-cellular LPWA standard while also referring to the LoRaWAN network communication protocol (rules of communication). Under LoRaWAN, each end device connects to the gateway via the MAC (Device ID) without an IP to communicate wirelessly.Moreover, the MAC options include Class A, Class B, and Class C, which differ in terms of the upstream and downstream communication schemes and intervals in the two‐way communication between each end device and the gateway as well as the switching behavior of the receiving slot on the device side related to power consumption, etc. The low power consumption Class A is often used when running a device with a battery for a long period of time with little reception standby time on the device side. At the same time, other classes can be separately used according to the objective and environment such as when communicating with low latency while continuously supplying power to the device, etc.*3 MAC is an abbreviation of "Media Access Control," and within the hierarchical communication protocols, it establishes methods for signal transmission timing control, the division of data to be transmitted, the assembly (transmission) and disassembly (reception) of frames with a destination address and other added control data, error detection, etc. in addition to the definition and allocation of the MAC address, which identifies devices.<h2>3. LoRaWAN Network Construction – Configuration of the LPWA Devices, Gateway, Servers, etc. –</h2>Because LoRaWAN is a non-cellular LPWA standard, it does not use carrier base stations and communications networks, as is the case in the wireless communications of cellular LPWA devices. Under LoRaWAN, data communication is carried out wirelessly between the LoRaWAN-compliant gateway and the end devices including sensors equipped with LoRaWAN modules, etc. Data is transmitted through this gateway to the network and application servers, etc., which run on communication protocols that differ from the LoRaWAN network. The example below introduces a primary network built using LoRaWAN.<h3>3.1 Example of Building Your Own LoRaWAN Network</h3>Because non-cellular LPWA does not require a radio station license, it enables companies to build a system on their own by preparing the LoRaWAN-compliant gateway, network servers, and application servers, etc. in addition to the end devices equipped with LoRaWAN modules.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNzY5NzA1NjA2LWxvcmF3YW4xLWltZzAwMDJfZW4ucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 2 Example of building and operating your own LoRaWAN networkAs shown in Figure 2, the advantage of a LoRaWAN network is that it enables use of a private and secure wireless solution by building and operating the entire network oneself. Furthermore, while in some cases each server may be hosted on premises (internal environment), in other cases a cloud server contracted by the company may be used.<h3>3.2 Example of Building a LoRaWAN Network Using a Vendor</h3>In cases where it is not suitable to build a LoRaWAN environment on your own, such as usage for a specific period of time or if you lack the internal system integration or networking personnel, an alternative method is to use a vendor who sells or rents gateways that support the LoRaWAN communication protocol and offers cloud services, etc.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNzY5NzI2NzkyLWxvcmF3YW4xLWltZzAwMDNfZW4ucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 3 Example of building a LoRaWAN network using vendor servicesAs shown in Figure 3, there are cases in which a company may sign a fee-based contract with a vendor for a LoRaWAN-compliant gateway and network servers or application servers according to the circumstances. The service details differ by vendor, but the ability to entrust the gateway implementation, server maintenance, etc. to the vendor is an advantage of such contracts. Furthermore, when it comes to LoRaWAN-compliant gateways that can connect and communicate with many devices, there are gateways that can only be used by the subscriber as well as plans that reduce usage fees by sharing a gateway between multiple subscribers.Moreover, cloud services are typically provided with the exception of the gateway. A monthly fee is required when subscribing to a gateway and servers. However, compared to cellular LPWA, which requires a mandatory contract with a carrier to use the cellular phone communication network, the service usage fees for network server vendors, etc. required to operate the LoRaWAN non-cellular LPWA standard are said to be low.<h2>Column – What Is the Communication Protocol Stack?</h2>Regardless of whether they are wireless or wired, telecommunications function by conforming to communication protocols (Reference:&nbsp;<a href="https://article.murata.com/en-global/article/basics-of-wireless-communication-2#section-58505" target="_blank">6. What Is a Communication Protocol?｜Basic Knowledge of Wireless Communication: Wireless Mechanism (2)</a>). Table 2 shows the role and correspondence of each layer of the communication protocol stack in the LoRaWAN model and the OSI Reference Model*4.<table><caption>Table 2 OSI Reference Model and the role of each layer, LoRaWAN model</caption><thead><tr><th colspan="2">OSI Reference Model</th><th>Roles and Examples</th><th>LoRaWAN model</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="2">Application Layer</td><td>Defines the functions that are required as an &nbsp; application such as sending and receiving files, &nbsp; etc. (HTTP, FTP, DNS, SMTP, POP, etc.)</td><td>Application</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Presentation Layer</td><td>Defines (SMTP, FTP, Telnet, etc.) &nbsp; the data expression format &nbsp; (encryption method, character code, etc.)</td><td rowspan="4">-</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Session Layer</td><td>Defines the steps related to the start and &nbsp; end (login and logout, etc.) of &nbsp; communication (TLS, NetBIOS, etc.)</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Transport Layer</td><td>Rules that ensure communication quality such &nbsp; as error detection and recovery in transmitted &nbsp; and received data (TCP, UDP, NetWare/IP etc.)</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Network Layer</td><td>Defines functions for relaying to different &nbsp; networks (IP, ARP, etc.)</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Data Link Layer</td><td>MAC Layer</td><td rowspan="2">Defines the control procedures for &nbsp; transferring data (Ethernet, etc.)</td><td>LoRaWAN MAC&nbsp; (Class A / Class B / Class C)</td></tr><tr><td>LLC Layer</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Physical Layer</td><td>Defines connector shapes and other physical &nbsp; specifications (RS232C, etc.) for transferring &nbsp; data to communication channels as well as &nbsp; modulation systems in the case of wireless</td><td>LoRa modulation</td></tr></tbody></table>*4 The OSI Reference Model is an international standard model for a protocol stack. Currently, the protocol stack of this model is not directly used. However, because it is the fundamental reference model for the protocol stack, it is often compared to the various protocols that are implemented in devices.Table 2 shows that the LoRaWAN model stack has three layers while the TCP/IP model, which is the communication protocol of the Internet, has four layers, so we can see that the LoRaWAN model has a simpler protocol configuration. This means that it is easier to update the protocol and leads to improved response times.<hr id="isPasted"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713769894367-1713769894367.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii">If you have any questions based on this article that you would like to discuss with an expert at Murata, don't hesitate to reach out. 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LoRaWAN is a standard within LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) wireless communication that uses the unlicensed band (sub-GHz band) that does not require a radio station license and features wide-area and long-distance communication as well as low speeds and low power consumption.

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