Chinese fabless semiconductor company Unisoc has made its 8910DM IoT wide area chip platform available overseas. The platform is said to contain advantages in communication standards, scalability, power consumption and cost.
 
As the entire world is migrating from 2G to 4G networks, the 8910DM can be a tool to support a smooth network migration and upgrade of massive IoT devices and to promote the wide application of LTE IoT. So far this product has completed field test and certification across 45 countries and 157 operators worldwide.
 
Based on a 28nm process, it conforms to R13 LTE Cat 1bis and GSM, with uplink rates of 5Mbit/s and downlink rates of 10Mbit/s. By seamlessly switching between 2G and LTE, it enables smooth transition for 2G IoT devices while extending the service life of 2G users’ equipment after upgrades for LTE.
 
In addition, its industrial applicability allows it to respond to a large number of demands in LTE Cat 4 applications, solving the problem in the extensive deployment of LTE Cat 4 modules due to high cost. Featuring integrated Bluetooth 4.2 connection and wifi scan for indoor positioning, the platform is expected to provide more comprehensive and stable connections for wider applications.
 
Integrated with a dual-core Arm Cortex-A5 processor, it supports Open CPU, granting ODMs the freedom to develop applications and customised service software. Free RTOS is also supported for easier development and modification. Compatible functions and interfaces including VoLTE, QVGA, cameras, audio and USB also indicate possibilities for innovation in IoT products.
 
With R13 LTE coverage enhancement capability, the platform claims coverage improvement typically by 5 to 15dB, making sure that more complex IoT applications – such as the basements of residential buildings or locations shielded by foil-backed insulation, metalised windows or traditional thick-walled building construction – can be equally powered.
 
“As 2G networks are being replaced worldwide, Unisoc 8910DM will bring a new value experience to our global customers and partners,” said Wang Bo, executive vice president of Unisoc. “Unisoc 8910DM is ground breaking for the global LTE market. For a large number of IoT devices that depend heavily on comprehensive cost performance, latency, better coverage and communication speed, Unisoc 8910DM symbolises maximum value. Supporting migration from 2G to 4G networks, Unisoc looks forward to collaborate with more customers, partners and the ecology, to drive the wide application of LTE IoT and build a better smart interconnected world.”
 
So far the 8910DM has been adopted by module manufacturers such as China Mobile IoT, Fibocom, Longsung, MeiG and Neoway.
 
Unisoc is a fabless semiconductor company committed to R&D of core chipsets in mobile communications and AIoT. Its products cover mobile chipset platforms supporting 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G communication standards and various chipsets in the field of IoT, RFFE, wireless connection and TV. With 4500 staff, 15 R&D centres and seven customer support centres around the world, the company has become a top-three mobile chipset supplier in terms of global market share.