Swiss firm ST Microelectronics has licensed and deployed Ceva’s Waves Dragonfly NB-IoT platform in its recently introduced ST87M01 compact and low-power modules for accurate and resilient GNSS geo-location capability for tracking assets.

NB-IoT is a cellular communication technology for low-power, wide-area (LPWA) connectivity. It enables efficient data transmission for a diverse array of IoT devices and services.

Maryland-based Ceva’s Waves Dragonfly platform integrates a Ceva BX1 processor, an RF transceiver, baseband and a protocol stack for complete Release 15 Cat-NB2 modem IP that can reduce time-to-market and lower entry barriers.

The Ericsson Mobility Report forecasts that the number of cellular IoT connections will grow from three billion in 2023 to more than six billion by 2029, a CAGR of 12%. Addressing this growth opportunity, the ST87M01 module (www.st.com/en/wireless-connectivity/st87m01.html) targets IoT applications that will leverage cellular connectivity for enhanced functionality.

It is suitable for tracking applications such as locating pets, children and elders, safety monitoring for remote workers, asset tracking for equipment such as power tools, and general intelligent logistics. It can also be used in smart meters, grids, buildings, cities and infrastructure applications, as well as industrial condition monitoring and factory automation, smart agriculture and environmental monitoring.

“The Ceva Waves Dragonfly platform was the outstanding choice for our ST87M01 NB-IoT and GNSS full in-house module,” said Domenico Arrigo, general manager at STM (www.st.com). “Conceiving, designing and industrialising the complete module internally required tight collaboration and top-class engineering support, which the Ceva team provided seamlessly.”

Tal Shalev, vice president at Ceva, added: “We are proud to collaborate closely with ST Microelectronics and empower them to push the boundaries of cellular IoT performance and power efficiency with our complete Release 15 Cat-NB2 modem IP. The very impressive ST87M01 NB-IoT and GNSS module is tailored to the demanding requirements of the industrial market and we look forward to seeing the module successfully deployed in the field.”

Waves Dragonfly (www.ceva-ip.com/product/dragonfly) is a complete eNB-IoT IP platform that can serve a wide range of applications. It is software-configurable and can be extended with multi-constellation GNSS and sensor fusion functionality. It includes reference silicon of the complete modem design, including an embedded CMOS RF transceiver, a digital front-end, physical layer firmware, and a protocol stack (Mac, RLC, PDCP, RRC and NAS).

Ceva (www.ceva-ip.com) powers more than 17 billion smart edge products from AI-infused smartwatches, IoT devices and wearables to autonomous vehicles and 5G mobile networks. Its headquarters are in Rockville, Maryland, with a global customer base supported by operations worldwide.