U-blox introduces SARA-R5 series LTE-M and NB-IoT modules

     U-blox announced that it has launched the SARA-R5 series of LTE-M and NB-IoT modules for low-power wide-area (LPWA)IoT applications, the company's most advanced, highly secure, and highly integrated cellular products. Based on the u-blox UBX-R5 cellular chipset and u-blox M8 GNSS receiver chip, this module provides unique end-to-end security and long-term product availability, making it ideal for long-term deployment devices in IoT applications.

     Andreas Thiel, Head of Product Center at u-blox, said: "SARA-R5 sets a new standard for IoT connectivity. By integrating a hardware-like Root of Trust into a separate security component in the UBX-R5 chipset, it lays the foundation for robust secure communications from the chip all the way to the cloud. This security component is certified to EAL5 + 's high common standards, making SARA-R5 ideal for protecting sensitive assets and communications."

     This module also features a lightweight and low-power pre-shared key (PSK) management system that can be tailored to the needs of IoT applications and provides complete security features. Jean-Michel Puiatti, senior Vice president of IoT Security at the Kudelski Group, said: "u-blox and Kudelski make IoT applications simpler and more secure to meet the design needs of all SARA-R5 users. By establishing a fixed identity in each module, the security foundation can be laid for devices, data, decisions, instructions and actions that require robust protection. This enables companies to achieve their IoT business goals with confidence and achieve a successful long-term return on investment."

     As mobile network operators announce their plans to deploy 5G networks, suitability for 5G has become a key factor in the selection of cellular communication modules. LTE-M and NB-IoT are forward compatible with 5G networks. By introducing important LTE-M and NB-IoT features in 3GPP Release 14, SARA-R5 can help customers make a smooth transition to 5G with only software upgrades to deployed devices.

     The SARA-R5 series is based on the new u-blox UBX-R5 LTE chipset and u-blox M8 GNSS chip, which also means that the production and product life of this module family is not dependent on a third party chip manufacturer. For customers, this represents the long-term availability of products, the stability of the product blueprint, and the ability to provide technical support down to the chip level. Having core technologies enables u-blox to implement new product capabilities related to location, timing, connectivity, and security.

     There are two versions of the SARA-R5 series: The SARA-R511M with built-in u-blox M8 GNSS receiver is suitable for automotive, fleet management, tracking of people or objects, and mobile applications for in-vehicle information communication systems. The chip design of the GNSS receiver includes a dedicated GNSS antenna interface that works in conjunction with cellular connectivity. This ensures maximum design flexibility and maintains overall system power consumption.

     The second version, SARA-R510M, is optimized to provide the lowest possible power consumption, consuming less than 1 microamp in power saving mode, making it ideal for meters, smart cities, connected medical devices, security and monitoring, remote monitoring, and other battery-powered applications.

     Andreas Thiel said: "SARA-R5 is the first module in our portfolio to enable value-added services and functions that can be remotely launched on deployed devices at any time. These modules are also the first u-blox products to integrate eSIM capabilities, giving customers the option of SIM startup and subscription management."