French firm Sequans Communications and Massachusetts-based iBasis have joined forces to provide global cellular connectivity for worldwide deployments of massive IoT applications,

IBasis provides communications for operators and digital players worldwide. Sequans is a developer and provider of 5G and 4G chips and modules. They have announced that the iBasis Global Access for Things is now available in Sequan’s Monarch 2 GM02S Nektar EVK development kit.

Through the collaboration, Sequans’ customers will be able to connect their devices immediately and select mobile networks offering LPWAN technologies leveraging iBasis’ global reach.

The EVK can be offered with the Global Access for Things to enable cellular IoT access (LTE-M, and NB-IoT) worldwide, leveraging the iBasis single global, remotely programmable GSMA-standard eSIM and eUICC technology and instant connectivity.

The iBasis eSIM allows developers to get their development kit quickly connected to a cellular network almost anywhere in the world. The open eSIM technology includes mobile network selection logic, multi-operator profiles, and localised packet gateways that are used to create tailored connectivity plans for each IoT application.

The Monarch 2 GM02S module is based on Sequans’ second-generation Monarch 2 LTE-M and NB-IoT chip, which is designed and optimised for massive IoT. It features low power consumption, a GSMA-compliant EAL5+ secure enclave for iSIM, and global deployment capability. The module is delivered with a full-featured EVK.

“We are pleased to collaborate with iBasis and have their powerful eSIM connectivity enabled on our Monarch family modules,” said Didier Dutronc, EVP of Sequans’ massive IoT business unit. “IBasis enables universal connectivity and innovative IoT to deploy worldwide.”

Nicolas Barret, managing director of iBasis, added: “We are delighted to partner with Sequans on the latest and advanced low power consumption module with forward-looking security features for LTE-M and NB-IoT with our eSIM technology. We are thrilled to work together to respond to the exploding demand for global connectivity from massive and critical IoT applications such as transportation, trackers and smart buildings.”

Samea-Innovation, a French start-up, is leveraging the collaboration with Sequans and iBasis: its wireless sensors are designed to optimise energy consumption and monitor air quality. Samea-Innovation is now integrating a Monarch module and iBasis cellular connectivity. A live demo of the connected sensor Sensoriis was on show at the Salon IoT-MtoM in Paris this week.

Founded in 2003, Sequans is based in Paris, France, with offices in the USA, UK, Israel, Hong Kong, Singapore, Finland, Taiwan, South Korea and China.