Qualcomm Unveils Purpose-Built 5G Modem Optimized for IIoT

By Tiera Oliver

Associate Editor

Embedded Computing Design

May 27, 2021

News

Qualcomm Unveils Purpose-Built 5G Modem Optimized for IIoT
(Image courtesy of Qualcomm)

Qualcomm Technologies introduced the company’s first, purpose-built Internet of Things (IoT) modem solution with 5G connectivity for Industrial IoT (IIoT) applications.

The Qualcomm 315 5G IoT Modem-RF System is a comprehensive modem-to-antenna solution designed to support the IoT ecosystem in building upgradeable LTE and 5G devices for IoT verticals, accelerate the adoption of 5G connectivity for IoT, and expand opportunity for 5G in the IoT industry. 

According to the company, needs of modern IoT include seamlessly transitioning wired factories to wireless with solutions capable of supporting both LTE and 5G connectivity. The Qualcomm 315 5G IoT modem was designed with industrial and enterprise applications in mind, built with gigabit class performance, low-power, and thermal-efficient capabilities to enable a new generation of IoT solutions. The Qualcomm 315 5G IoT modem is intended to meet the needs of industry segments including: retail, energy, automation and manufacturing, precision agricultural, construction, mining, public venues, and more.  

With the global expansion of 5G, the Qualcomm 315 5G IoT modem is a new solution serving the high end of IoT broadband modems, complementing Qualcomm Technologies’ existing portfolio of LTE IoT modems with a path towards 5G proliferation. Additionally, due to its reduced footprint and integrated RF front-end, this solution expands the portfolio, purposely designed to provide a pin to pin compatible solution for current LTE legacy modules. Per the company, this provides legacy modules with the ability to upgrade their solutions with no changes needed to existing hardware, minimizing development efforts and costs, and providing a seamless transition from LTE to 5G.  

The Qualcomm 315 5G IoT Modem supports global 5G NR sub-6GHz bands and operates in stand-alone (SA) only mode, with the capability to switch to LTE as needed, and can be deployed over private or public 5G networks, leveraging network slicing or in isolation. This solution is optimal for IoT applications that can be seamlessly integrated with existing ethernet and wired technologies. The new modem comes with extended life software and hardware maintenance and support, prolonging IoT devices for the duration of their life span. This new solution will help accelerate the digital transformation of the 5G IIoT industry, proliferating 5G for IoT.

The Qualcomm 315 5G IoT modem is expected to be commercially available in the second half of 2021.  

For more information, visit: https://www.qualcomm.com/products/qualcomm-315-5g-iot-modem

Tiera Oliver, Associate Editor for Embedded Computing Design, is responsible for web content edits, product news, and constructing stories. She also assists with newsletter updates as well as contributing and editing content for ECD podcasts and the ECD YouTube channel. Before working at ECD, Tiera graduated from Northern Arizona University where she received her B.S. in journalism and political science and worked as a news reporter for the university’s student led newspaper, The Lumberjack.

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