PARIS & EINDHOVEN, Netherlands–(BUSINESS WIRE)–LTE for IoT chipmaker Sequans Communications S.A. (NYSE:SQNS) and Dutch startup, Pycom, maker of multi-network IoT development boards, announced that the newest Pycom IoT platform, FiPy, will include LTE powered by Sequans’ Monarch LTE Cat M1/NB1 chip. FiPy, Pycom’s most comprehensive solution announced to date, unifies LTE with other proprietary or unlicensed LPWA technologies into a single, five-network IoT connectivity solution. Pycom’s Kickstarter campaign for FiPy launched today and FiPy is expected to become available in Q2 2017.
“FiPy was driven by demand for both LTE CAT M1 and LTE Cat NB1 and Sequans has brought the world’s first and most highly-optimized LTE Cat M1/NB1 chip to market,” said Fred de Haro, Pycom CEO. “We are excited to incorporate the amazing Monarch chip into FiPy. We believe FiPy will be revolutionary—it is the most comprehensive and cost-effective IoT development board available anywhere, and a boon to IoT developers around the world.”
FiPy is the world’s first 5-network development platform locked into one simple, small and perfectly-formed, same-footprint-as-WiPy-and-LoPy, hardware module that is programmable with MicroPython. Featuring the ESP32 (WiFi and Bluetooth) and three additional networks, LoRa, Sigfox and LTE-M, FiPy presents an open source firmware playground with lots of supporting technology such as the Pymakr IDE, the Pymate mobile app, Pysense and Pytrack application boards and a free middleware platform available in April 2017. Also, FiPy will have a smaller brother, GPy, which will be more operator-focused and will include LTE-M, WiFi and Bluetooth.
“FiPy opens a wide new world to IoT developers by including standard, licensed LTE in a comprehensive IoT connectivity solution,” said Craig Miller, Sequans’ VP of worldwide marketing. “LTE enables developers to address the many wide area applications, for example in industrial, municipal, and wearable markets, that need the reliability, security, and longevity of LTE.”
Monarch is the world’s first Cat M1/NB1 chip. It is purpose built for narrowband IoT applications, including sensors, wearables, and other low data, low power M2M and IoT devices. Monarch complies with the ultra-low-power and reduced complexity feature requirements of the 3GPP release 13 LTE Advanced Pro standard, defining narrowband, low data rate LTE technology for machine type communications. Monarch comprises baseband, RF, power management, and RAM, all integrated into a single, tiny 6.5 x 8.5 mm package. In addition, Monarch supports advanced features such as programmable RF filtering for global band support in a single SKU, and proprietary dynamic power management technology for operating life of 10+ years.
About Pycom
Pycom enables people to invent things that connect to the Internet. Pycom is an IOT REBEL challenging conventional IoT through innovation and a refusal to accept the status quo. IoT projects shouldn’t take months, cost loads, nor go through lots of iterations and then connect unreliably once in use. Pycom delivers a disruptive full IoT platform enabling rapid development and deployment of multi-network MicroPython powered devices shortening the development time by a factor of 10. These are supported by a cool library of industry specific IoT applications that will be downloadable from the IOT App Store on Pycom Exchange. The company is supporting large communities of professional and hobbyist developers, education facilities, and small and big enterprises all of whom are looking to connect their Things with smart and versatile development tools, disrupting the IoT industry and daring to deliver it differently. Go Invent! www.pycom.io
About Sequans Communications
Sequans Communications S.A. (NYSE: SQNS) is a leading provider of single-mode 4G LTE semiconductor solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT) and a wide range of broadband data devices. Founded in 2003, Sequans has developed and delivered seven generations of 4G technology and its chips are certified and shipping in 4G networks around the world. Today, Sequans offers two LTE product lines: StreamrichLTE™, optimized for feature-rich mobile computing and home/portable router devices, and StreamliteLTE™, optimized for M2M devices and other connected devices for the IoT. Sequans is based in Paris, France with additional offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, South Korea, and China. Visit Sequans online at www.sequans.com; www.facebook.com/sequans; www.twitter.com/sequans
