While Quectel continues to lead the global cellular IoT module shipments, the recent problems with chipset manufacturers like Qualcomm may result in lower sales at Quectel in 2021.
Some Quectel customers have been quoted lead times of several months. Supply shortages in chipsets means that Quectel cannot product cellular modules quick enough to supply the current demand.
If you are having problems sourcing Quectel modules, consider one of the following products from Thales (Gemalto).
Category M1 (or CAT M1) modules support uplink and downlink speeds of 375 kb/s in half duplex mode. LTE Cat NB1 refers to IoT devices based on the NB-IoT protocol standardized in the 3GPP Release 13 specification.
Features:
The BG96 does not have 2G fallback which is available on the EXS82 Module from Gemalto.
Thales's Cinterion® EXS62-W Wireless IoT Module is driving LTE evolution to 5G enabling Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) connectivity for billions of new industrial applications.
Features:
Enhanced with Thales security and value-added features, the platform is ideal for small, battery-operated devices in remote locations such as smart meters, asset trackers, healthcare apps, wearables and smart city solutions.
NB2 refers to devices which are based on the enhanced NB-IoT protocol as standardized in the 3GPP Release 14.
Features
Thales's Cinterion® EXS82-W Wireless IoT Module is driving LTE evolution to 5G enabling Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) connectivity for billions of new industrial applications.
Features:
Enhanced with Thales security and value-added features, the platform is ideal for small, battery-operated devices in remote locations such as smart meters, asset trackers, healthcare apps, wearables and smart city solutions.
Category 4 or CAT 4 modules offer a theoretical speed of up to 150Mbps.
Quectel EC25 is a series of LTE Cat 4 module optimized specially for M2M and IoT applications. Adopting the 3GPP Rel. 11 LTE technology, it delivers maximum data rates up to 150 Mbps downlink and 50 Mbps uplink. Designed in the compact and unified form factor, EC25 series is compatible with Quectel multi-mode LTE Standard EC21 series/EC20 R2.1/EG25-G/EG21-G modules and UMTS/HSPA+ UC200T series modules, which allows for flexible migration among them in design and manufacturing.
Read more about the PLS83-W and PLS63-W on the Novotech Product Page.
The PLS63 and PLS83 have a 15-week lead time vs 50+ weeks!
Category 6 or CAT 6 modules offer a theoretical speed of up to 300Mbps.
Quectel EP06 is a series of LTE category 6 module optimized specially for M2M and IoT applications. Adopting the 3GPP Rel-11 LTE technology, it delivers maximum data rates up to 300Mbps downlink and 50Mbps uplink.
Ultra high-performance LTE Advanced connectivity for demanding IoT applications
Read more about the PLPS9-W and PLPS9-X on the Novotech.com website here.
