The complexity of wireless connectivity is one of the barriers that has held back adoption of IoT but IoT innovators don’t have to become experts in all aspects of wireless in order to access the technology they need to enable optimised connections for their deployments. Here, Dan Schieler, the senior vice president of the IoT Overseas Sales Department at Fibocom, tells IoT Now about the company’s mission to make wireless easy.
IoT Now: Fibocom has a mission to make wireless easy. What does that mean to you and how are you executing on that goal?
Dan Schieler: Established in 1999, Fibocom has a history of more than 23 years in the wireless communication industry. We are thriving along with the evolution of cellular technologies from 2G to 5G. In the 5G era, we’ve launched a series of impactful and powerful 5G module products since 2019, with more than 20 global stock-keeping units (SKUs) to fit into the global markets.
Fibocom’s latest products are designed to advance wireless solutions for the fixed wireless access (FWA) and artificial intelligence IoT (AIoT) industries, among those are the 5G Sub-6GHz and mmWave module FG170(W) series, which features the Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System. Another example is the 5G smart module SC161, which supports 5G standalone/non-standalone (SA/NSA) networks and enables AIoT applications such as virtual reality and augmented reality (VR and AR), door entry systems and telemedicine. Other demos include a 5G Ethernet gateway and a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, both embedded with our 5G module FG160 that supports OpenCPU, enabling 160MHz bandwidth, 4096 QAM as well as Wi-Fi 6E.
As a key component in making devices connected, there are a variety of communication protocols, frequency bands and certifications that a module vendor has to take into consideration at the beginning of the product design. Fibocom provides high-performance 5G, LTE-A Pro, LTE-A, LTE Cat 1, Android Smart and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) module products and solutions to IoT customers from a variety of business sectors. Our module products have different regional versions that adapt to different frequency bands, along with our localised and customised support. It’s worth mentioning that with modules certified by the mainstream global carriers, we help customers to reduce the time-to-market and achieve the best return on investment (ROI).
Beyond new product launches, Fibocom is firmly focused on expanding into new regions. The focus is on how to expand globally, which includes making products that fit all those geographies. Doing so means deciphering the right carrier band combinations that are skewed locally and globally. That is the challenge that we have and is the big picture view of what we’re trying to do.
IoT Now: How do you see the trends towards RedCap devices and private networks accelerating into 2023? What are the benefits and how can Fibocom help here?
DS: The release of the 3GPP R17 standard has addressed the RedCap in 5G to help devices reduce complexity and capability associated with full-5G devices, allowing for a more appropriate and optimised design intended for mid-tier use cases. As far as we can see at the moment, the first RedCap chipset will be released in 2023, and we will keep paying attention to the trends from the upstream. We believe that the benefit of RedCap is to replace LTE Cat 4 and make 5G affordable to all, and Fibocom will support it.
I think that is going to open a lot more doors for 5G because it will hit a more accessible price point. It also opens up the capability of using more spectrum, which the carriers like because that will make them more efficient.
There is a good demand for private networks, and a lot of great utility that comes out of being able to be connect quickly in a small private network as opposed to sharing a public network with 40-60,000 people.
IoT Now: 5G offers greater bandwidth, higher device density per cell and lower latency but it comes with greater complexity – and cost. What is Fibocom’s role in making 5G easier and more attractive for IoT organisations to deploy?
DS: The high-cost and high-complexity does have some impacts on the 5G commercialisation. By utilising hardware design, and optimised replaceable components, Fibocom is offering a cost-down 5G module solution to customers worldwide.
IoT Now: What’s next for Fibocom?
DS: Fibocom will keep offering leading-edge wireless module and module solutions to address various IoT scenarios. We help IoT implementers to connect any number of IoT devices easily and seamlessly worldwide, further accelerating the digital transformation in industries.
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