Fibocom has launched the FG370-KR, a regional version of the FG370 module, for South Korea’s 5G AIoT industries such as fixed wireless access (FWA), live streaming and industrial automation.

South Korea’s 5G subscribers reached around 33 million as of the end of March 2024, according to Statista. SK Telecom accounted for 15.9 million of the total 5G subscribers, followed by KT with 9.9 million and LG U+ with 7.2 million.

The FG370-KR 5G sub-6GHz module is compatible with Korea’s mainstream 5G frequency bands, and supports 5G SA and NSA network architecture, making it suitable for industry users that require high-transmission speed, large capacity and low latency.

Developed from the MediaTek T830 chipset, the FG370-KR is a 3GPP release 16 compliant module that adopts a 4nm process integrated with an Arm Cortex-A55 quad-core CPU, leading to a 10% improvement in speed compared with the previous generation.

In terms of data transmission, it supports NR 4CA (carrier aggregation) with up to 300MHz bandwidth on the downlink, and NR 2CA in FDD and TDD hybrid mode on the uplink, reaching a maximum speed of 7.01Gbit/s downlink and 1.25Gbit/s uplink.

In addition, it also supports PC2 of HPUE (high-power user equipment) technology, and enhances 5G uplink capability and network coverage. It can reduce the time-to-market of users’ devices with the support of peripheral interfaces, including three PCI-Express, USB 3.2 and two USXGMII interfaces, along with software such as Kernel and OpenWRT drivers.

“The launch of the FG370-KR signifies that Fibocom will provide a Korea-dedicated option for local customers, boosting the 5G adoption towards a larger-scale of industries with optimal network connectivity and enhanced operational efficiency,” said Simon Tao, vice president at Fibocom. “We have the confidence in helping enterprises to accomplish the 5G commercialisation with our industry know-how and expertise accumulated. Without doubt, Korea’s 5G deployment will keep experiencing a fast-growing rate and Fibocom will continually invest in cutting-edge 5G modules and delivering superior wireless experience.”

The FG370-KR (www.fibocom.com/kr/products/5G-FG370-KR.html) was launched at last week’s AIoT Korea Exhibition, where Fibocom also introduced the MG661-KR LTE-only Cat 1bis module to accelerate the digital transformation of local IoT industries with high-performance, cost-effectiveness Cat 1bis wireless.

The module is positioned to provide nationwide 4G connection to IoT devices such as asset trackers, mobile payment terminals, shared mobilities and industrial routers, enabling massive IoT deployments across industries.

It was developed from a dedicated Cat 1bis chipset platform that is compliant with 3GPP release 13. By adopting the single antenna design, the module delivers data transmission rates up to 10.3Mbit/s downlink and 5.1Mbit/s uplink under a 4G network while simplifying device design, reducing power consumption and lowering the device cost.

Benefiting from hardware simplification, the 4G-only module is packaged in the compact LGA form factor measuring 17.7 by 15.8 by 2.4mm, allowing flexibility to develop various IoT devices. Apart from the hardware configuration, the module also integrates network protocols and multiple universal interfaces, and supports mainstream operating system drivers such as Windows, Android and Linux, to satisfy IoT application demands.

Cat 1bis technology is growing as a driving force to accelerate digital transformation in low and medium-speed IoT markets. According to ABI Research, the Cat 1bis module is forecasted to replace nearly 70% of the Cat 1 market by 2029, stating a promising future of Cat 1bis technology in the IoT landscape. As many carriers sunset 2G and 3G networks to reallocate spectrum for 4G LTE and 5G, Cat 1bis plays a role as a replacement for IoT applications that previously relied on 2G or 3G networks. Cat 1bis offers an affordable and efficient migration path for these devices, providing LTE-level connectivity without the need for 5G’s advanced features or the high cost of Cat 4.

The MG661-KR (www.fibocom.com/kr/products/LTECat1-MG661-KR.html) can help IoT industry users add Cat 1bis technology to their devices without complex configurations and ease investment concerns. Commercial samples are available now.