Everynet offers public LoRaWAN in U.S. and UK; Quectel expands Its IoT antenna portfolio with six new 4G and 5G antennas; Arrow Electronics adds Truesense ultra-wideband portfolio for precise location; the Texas Rangers adopt Amazon Walk Out with RFID; Wiliot Ambient IoT Pixels recognized by Time; Identiv boosts capacity with increased demand in Thailand.
Everynet Offers Public LoRaWAN in US and UK
Netherlands-based LoRaWAN provider Everynet has begun providing network access in the U.S. and the U.K. using Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) managed LoRaWAN Network Server (LNS) on its AWS IoT Core service. With the new offering, IoT devices can use public LoRaWAN in the US and the UK. Companies such as mobile network operators (MNOs) can use the open network to connect IoT devices without requiring their LoRaWAN network infrastructure.
For MNOs and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), IoT solutions will be possible on public, non-cellular LoRaWAN in the same way that operators in Indonesia and Brazil already offer LoRaWAN along with their cellular IoT services. For example, in 2020, Indonesian operator Telkom appointed Everynet to build and operate a national LoRaWAN network to enable national Industry 4.0 activity. All of Indonesia’s operators and service providers are using the network, the company says. In addition, last year Algar Telecom in Brazil deployed Everynet’s public LoRaWAN network via American Tower Company.
In the case of the US and UK service with AWS, “public preview” has begun for early trials of IoT systems.
Quectel Expands Its IoT Antenna Portfolio with Six New 4G and 5G Antennas
IoT solutions provider Quectel sells six new antennas designed for robust connectivity performance for IoT devices. The new antennas cover diverse use cases from 5G to non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), which will bring new capabilities to users, says Quectel.
Some IoT solutions require high-performance antennas to provide competitive cost, access to specific network technologies, use particular frequency bands, or need robust, safe characteristics, the company reports. That includes IP ratings and RoHS and REACH compliance. Quectel offers 4G connectivity optimized for LTE, LTE-M, and Narrow Band-IoT (NB-IoT) networks.
One of the six new products is the Quectel YC0018C, which offers 5G connectivity via New Radio (NR) Sub-6GHz frequency bands. The antenna is designed to be mounted directly to the printed circuit board (PCB) using a conventional PCB reflow process. It measures 40 by 7 by 3.0 millimeters. Another new antenna is the 5G- or NTN-compatible external antenna Quectel YECN028AA, which supports the 410-470 MHz, 617-960 MHz, and 1425-6000 MHz frequency bands.
The Quectel YEMX223J1A is a 5G x 2 combo antenna that is IP67 compliant, measuring 186.0 by 176.0 by 100.5 millimeters. Another version, the Quectel YEMX425J1A is a 5G x 4 combo antenna that is 150 millimeters thick. The combo antennas support the 410-470 MHz, 617-2690 MHZ, and 3300-6000 MHz frequency bands. They also offer backward compatibility with 2G, 3G, Cat-M, and NB-IoT.
Lastly, the Quectel YSIS001AA, metal spring antenna operates in the 412-427 MHz band, the 433-435 MHz band, and the 450-470 MHz band and is compatible with LTE B31 plus EU433 applications.
Arrow Electronics Adds Truesense Ultra-Wideband Portfolio for Precise Location Technology
German technology company Arrow Electronics has completed a partnership with Truesense, a company offering edge AI, software algorithms, and UltraWideBand (UWB) radar and ranging technology, to distribute Truesense modules, development kits, and software.
With the agreement, Arrow’s customers can accomplish accelerated IoT device designs by leveraging Truesense UWB modules. The technology can be used for communication, ranging and localization, real-time location, asset tracking, gesture detection, access control, and environmental sensing, among other applications. The goal for Arrow Electronics is to expand its offerings to provide easy access to UWB technology that permits high-value functionality with power efficiency.
Arrow Electronics customers can also take advantage of Truesense’s UWB software libraries, AI algorithms, smart-app, and code examples to enable innovation and minimize time to market for new product designs, the companies report.
Texas Rangers are Latest to Adopt Amazon walkout with RFID
The Texas Rangers baseball organization is the latest to deploy a “Just Walk Out” based store from Amazon that enables fans to buy goods without waiting in lines. The technology consists of RFID readers in the store and tags on merchandise to identify what items are being purchased automatically.
The Texas Rangers’ store is located at Globe Life Field, where fans can buy their favorite team merchandise and be charged automatically. Six Flags is also using the Amazon cashier-less checkout solution in Jackson, NJ. It piloted the solution with Coca-Cola and Amazon to enable customers to scan a credit card, take items such as snacks, sunscreen, and mementos, and be charged automatically, via RFID tag reads. The stores are also in place at Hudson Nonstop sites, TD Garden, and Lumen Field.
Wiliot Ambient IoT Pixels Recognized by Time
Ambient IoT company Wiliot has been named to Time’s list of the Best Inventions of 2023 for its ambient IoT Pixels and Visibility Platform for battery free IoT solutions.
Wiliot’s ambient IoT Visibility Platform connects the digital and physical worlds using stamp-sized, self-powered devices that cost only pennies. They are attached to objects to enable tracking and management, including capturing sensor data related to cars, appliances, and shipping containers, as well as the things inside them: fruits, veggies, vaccine vials, clothes, and crates.
Examples of recent applications of the Wiliot platform are the capture and management of data for food producers and retailers to comply with new FDA traceability rules. As part of the Food Safety and Modernization Act’s Rule 204 (FSMA 204), companies must track the safety of food products and share traceability data with the FDA and consumers.
To compile the list of 2023 best inventions, TIME solicited nominations from editors and correspondents worldwide through an online application process.
Identiv Boosts Capacity with Increased Demand in Thailand
Identiv, a global digital security and identification IoT company, is expanding its production capacity at its RFID production facility near Bangkok, Thailand. The expansion includes installation of new primary-process equipment. By adding Direct Die Attach (DDA) equipment, the company says the facility is optimized for high-volume production.
In fact, with this additional equipment, Identiv’s production capacity has increased by up to 30,000 units per hour. Identiv anticipates its annual production capacity in Thailand to expand from about 70 million units to more than 200 million units at the end of 2023.