Current Status

This page is to track the activities for various players from chipset vendor through network operators about IoT/M2M area. Each section below covers one company, and the dated notes show what that company announced at the time. So read each entry as a snapshot of its date, not as the present state of the company.

==> Now most of the information on this page is not 'current' any more (as of Apr 2021). Most of the information listed here is for 2016/2017. I think IoT had been hot topics several years upto 2017 and started being quiter since 2018 (Check When to come page if you are interested). When I say 'IoT' in this context, I am referring to 'Cellular' or 'LoWPAN' type of IoT which used to be the biggest buzzwords until a few years ago. (NOTE : I think the number of IoT devices based on Wired and Wireless LAN have been steadly increased. Most of large office electronics (like big / high end copy machine) has been connected to internet for many years, now you would see even small electronics like small / low end electronics like home printers is WiFi enabled. In addition, the thermostat system (e.g, Google Nest / Home) based on WiFi would be a big addition to IoT device)

==> With the introduction of 5G and some satellite communication system for IoT service, it seems that the word IoT started being heard more frequently than before (e.g, 2018,2019 etc) but not as often as the period before 2017. Still need to wait to see how it evolves. Is it going to die completely ? or revive ?

Overall Status

What kind of Devices will be connected to the network ? How many of those devices will be connected ? The current status and projected towards 2021 are as in the following table. (Data came from ref [1]). As you see here, PC/laptop/tablet, Mobile phone, Fixed phone are already almost staturated and M2M and Consumer electronics(non cellular) will be expanded drastically in next 5 years (from 2015). M2M (non-cellular) would be the area that will expand the most.

Device Type	2015 (Billions)	2021(Billions)
M2M: non-cellular	2.6	10.7
M2M and consumer electronics; cellular	0.4	1.5
Consumer electronics; non-cellular	1.6	3.1
PC/laptop/tablet	2.4	2.8
Mobile phones	7.1	8.7
Fixed phones	1.3	1.4

In the past several month (as of Mar 2017), I have seen several promosing events and trends that make me think 'I am not sure exactly when we see IoT as many dreamers are talking about, but at least it seems that something tangible (touchable) trends are happening in this area'. Those things that attracted my attention were

Softband aquired ARM at one of the largest investment and Qualcomm aquired QNX
Qualcomm aquired NXP
The demand in Memory chip reached another peak
So many different types of embedded board and modules are available at very low price (You may easily get an embedded board to play with.. at a price of a fastfood meal).

However there are still many things that has a pretty long way to go (just in my personal opinion). Followings are some of these list

IoT module based on Cellular technology is still too expensive (When I say 'expensive', it means the price for single quantity purchase is too high). In case of GSM module, you may get it under 20 USD. However, you would need to spend at least over 50 ~100 USD for 3G. LTE based IoT module is not even readily available.
Even when I have IoT end-device, it is still hard to find IoT platform that are readily available with super low cost or free and also with very easy interface.

AT&T

AT&T was one of the first carriers to build a large cellular IoT business. Most of its early IoT devices ran on 2G, and it then moved them toward LTE Category 1. The notes below run from January to August 2016. Keep in mind that AT&T shut down its 2G network at the start of 2017, so the 2G devices in these notes had to move to newer networks.

< Status as of Jan 2016 >

The information listed here is from ref [2]. (This is very good report providing various important numbers and statistics for current status and future propect.)

Currently 25 million non-communication devices are already connected to AT&T network
In next three years, around 20 billion devices will be connected to internet and less than 50% will use cellular network.
So far, most of AT&T's non-communication devices have connected to its 2G network using the carrier's global SIM cards.
The global SIM is supported by 600 operator networks to more than 200 countries
Major application for these non-communication devices are factory equipment, farm equipment, ships, watches and vehicles.
In 2015, AT&T signed more than 300 agreements to connect the devices in the automotive, industrial, healthcare, shipping, home security and municipal sectors.
Of the 25 million IoT devics now connected to its networks, 5.8 million are connected cars(one million of these were added during the third quarter of 2015).
In early 2016, it would be launching a smart city framework in Atlanta, Dallas and Chicago.
Early 2016, the carrier would be launching lower-power Category 1 LTE-only chipset solution for IoT.
Connecting 280,000 refrigerated containers for Maersk (Shipping company). Each remote container device are using 3G SIM card, a GPS unit, a ZigBee radio and interface for connecting into the refrigerated container's controller.
Created a remote patient monitoring solution that is designed to link caregivers and patients based on mobile devices, Bluetooth peripherals and cloud-based software.

< Status as of Jun 2016 >

Out of their 28+ million connected devices, in service, transportation-related IoT applications account for around 2 million units in North America. (Ref [29])
Around 8 million cars are connected to the network (Ref [34])

< Status as of Aug 2016 >

Announced a AT&T IoT Starter Kit (Ref [34])

Verizon

Verizon took a different path from AT&T. It focused on aftermarket products and on its ThingSpace platform, and it built its IoT offer on LTE, first with Category 1 and then with LTE-M. The notes run from January 2016 to April 2017, when it launched a national IoT network.

< Status as of Jan 2016 >

The information listed here is from ref [2]. (This is very good report providing various important numbers and statistics for current status and future propect.)

The carrier said its IoT-related business generated $495 million in revenue during the first three quarters of 2015.
Verizon has focused on aftermarket solutions like Hum and Delphi Connect (whereas AT&T has partnered with automakers)
It forsees 80% of the revene in IoT coming from application, 15% coming from platforms and just 5% coming from connectivity.
The carrier will add a dedicated core network that is optimized for Category 1 devices.
The carrier is working with LTE modem maker Sequans for Category 1 solutions.
This year, Verizon launched an IoT patform called ThingSpace to give developers a common language for IoT apps.

< Status as of Sep 2016 >

Verizon announced that it will deploy LTE-M1 around the end of 2016

< Status as of Apr 2017 >

Verizon launches national IoT network

Qualcomm

Qualcomm is the main modem chipset vendor on this page. The two entries show its first modems for cellular IoT. The MDM9207-1 covers LTE Category 1, and the MDM9206 covers LTE Category-M1 and the 180 kHz narrowband mode that became NB-IoT.

MDM9207-1 that support 2G / 3G / LTE Category 1 and PSM (Ref [27] )
MDM9206 chipset supports LTE Category-M1 (the lower powered 1 Mbps connection at 1.4 MHz) and LTE Category-M2 (500 Kbps download, 40 Kbps upload at the 180 kHz mode and designed for the Internet of Things) (Ref [28], [31])

SK Telecom

SK Telecom is the Korean operator on this page. It tried several LPWAN options at the same time. It invested in Sigfox, built a nationwide LoRa network and also deployed LTE-M, as the notes from January and July 2016 show.

< Status as of Jan 2016 >

The information listed here is from ref [2]. (This is very good report providing various important numbers and statistics for current status and future propect.)

Invest in Sigfox
created an IoT Platform called ThingPlug based on OneM2M standards.
Working to interconnect its smart home platform with those of SamSung and LG.
In partnership with Nokia, the carrier has completed over-the-air trails of low-power LTE, using Nokia's Flexi Multiradio 10 base station and IoT devices provided by GCT Semiconductor.
Created a building energy management system and factory energy management system to mointor and control lighting, air conditioning and heating

< Status as of Jul 2016 >

Completed Nation Wide IoT network based on LoRa and LTE-M (Ref [30])

Telefonica

Telefonica is a Spanish operator group with networks in Europe and Latin America. Like SK Telecom, it invested in Sigfox. It also built its own IoT platform, Thinking Things, with SIM cards, APIs and user interfaces. The notes are from January 2016 only.

< Status as of Jan 2016 >

The information listed here is from ref [2]. (This is very good report providing various important numbers and statistics for current status and future propect.)

Invest in Sigfox
Developed a platform called 'Thinking Things' that includes hardware with embedded Telifonica SIM cards, APIs for developers, and web and mobile interfaces
The company provided seafood dirstributer Ansomar with a "black box" IoT solution to monitor temperature, location, driving behavior.

Orange

Orange is the French operator group. In early 2016 it chose LoRa for its nationwide low power network in France, and at the same time it trialled cellular IoT with Ericsson. So it followed the same two track approach as SK Telecom.

< Status as of Jan 2016 >

The information listed here is from ref [2]. (This is very good report providing various important numbers and statistics for current status and future propect.)

will deploy a nationwide IoT network based on long range radio technology
investing in an IoT service platform provider Actility
sponsoring LoRa (Long Range radio) Alliance
working on a cellular IoT trails with Ericsson using 900 Mhz spectrum
announced a '4G Kit for IoT' powered by Sequans LTE chipset and radio technolgy from Alcatel Lucent (Nokia)

Silver Spring Networks

Silver Spring Networks is a smart grid company rather than a carrier or a chipset vendor. It connects utility meters over a mesh network based on IEEE 802.15.4g, known as Wi-SUN. It shows that large IoT networks existed outside the cellular world. Itron acquired the company in 2018.

< Status as of Jan 2016 >

The information listed here is from ref [2]. (This is very good report providing various important numbers and statistics for current status and future propect.)

Connects smartmeters using the IEEE 802.15.4g, called Wi-SUN
Claims to have 22 million connected divices
Now opening its application programming interface to developers

GE

GE is on this page as an industrial user of IoT, not as a network or chipset company. In 2016 it described itself as a digital industrial company. The note below records that claim, but it records no technical detail behind it.

< Status as of Jan 2016 >

The information listed here is from ref [2]. (This is very good report providing various important numbers and statistics for current status and future propect.)

describes itself as "the world's digital industrial company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected". <== hinting something.. but no details are known.

Bosch

Bosch is also an industrial company, and it makes sensors, appliances and car parts. The note below records its move into software for connected devices. With that move, Bosch could offer both the device and the software that manages it.

< Status as of Jan 2016 >

The information listed here is from ref [2]. (This is very good report providing various important numbers and statistics for current status and future propect.)

Purchased a maker of software for smart devices to be part of manufacturer, part information-technology company

Sequans

Sequans is a French LTE modem chipset vendor. It was one of the first vendors with an LTE Category 1 chipset, and its Monarch chip was an early LTE Category M chip. The notes below follow both products, from operator certification to a live demonstration in September 2016.

Released Cat 1 chipset (Ref [3],[4],[5])
The chipset is certified by Verizon (Ref [3])
Release Cat M in Q3 of 2016 (Ref [23] , [24] )
Demonstration of LTE M1 chip ready for Q4 deployments (Sep 2016)

Altair

Altair is an Israeli LTE chipset vendor. Its entries cover LTE Category 0 and Category 1 chipsets, and AT&T validated its Category 1 chipset. Sony acquired Altair in 2016, so its later products appear under the Sony name.

Released Cat 1 chipset (Ref [8] )
Released Cat 0 chipset (Ref [7] )
Cat 1 chipset was validated by AT&T (Ref [9] )

Semtech

Semtech makes the LoRa radio chips. Other companies build LoRa modules and gateways, but the LoRa modulation itself comes from Semtech. That is why the note below calls it the primary chipset vendor for LoRa.

Primary chipset vendor for LoRa(Ref [14])

TI - Texas Instrument

TI, Texas Instruments, makes low power radio chips for many short range and long range technologies. For this page, the relevant item is its work with SigFox on long range and low power connectivity, announced in April 2015.

Produce SigFox chipset
It collaborate with SigFox (Ref [15])

Telit

Telit is a module vendor. A module puts the chipset, the RF front end and the software on one small board, so a device maker can add connectivity without its own RF design. The entries cover both a cellular Category 1 module and a SigFox module.

Produce Cat-1 Module (Ref [17] )
Produce SigFox Module (Ref [18] )

Sierra Wireless

Sierra Wireless is another module vendor, known for cellular modules in routers, cars and industrial devices. The entry below covers its first LPWA modules for LTE-M1 and LTE-NB, announced in October 2016.

Produce Cellular LPWA (LTE-M1/LTE-NB) module : AirPrime® HL and WP Series cellular modules (Ref [32])

u-Blox

u-Blox is a Swiss module and chipset vendor, known first for GNSS receivers. Its SARA-N2 series was one of the first NB-IoT modules, which is why it appears here under LTE-NB.

produce LTE-NB module : SARA-N2 series (Ref [33])

Adeunis

Adeunis is a French maker of radio modules and devices. Its entry is a SigFox module. It shows that the SigFox ecosystem in 2016 relied on small module makers as well as on large chipset vendors.

Produce SigFox Module (Ref [19] )

Microchips/Atmel

Microchip is a microcontroller vendor, and it bought Atmel in 2016. The two entries come from the two sides of that deal. The LoRa solutions come from Microchip, and the SigFox SoC comes from Atmel.

LoRa Solutions (Ref [20])
SigFox SOC (Ref [21])

AXSEM

AXSEM is a Swiss maker of low power sub-GHz radio chips. Its entry is a SigFox chipset and module, the AX-Sigfox SoC. ON Semiconductor acquired AXSEM in 2015, so the product later appeared under that name.