AT&T certifies Sequans Cat M1 chipset

AT&T has certified Sequans’ Monarch IoT chipset, which supports both LTE Category M1 (Cat M) and narrowband IoT in a single device. AT&T customers who deploy modules that use one IoT protocol will be able to convert the devices to the other protocol in the future through a software update if they choose to. The chip uses programmable RF filtering technology to enable operation on any LTE band worldwide. For more on this story, scroll down or visit Network Builder Reports. “Our goal is to offer our customers a wide array of cost-effective, low power consuming LTE IoT modules, and we are pleased to have Monarch-based modules now available through AT&T channels,” said Cameron Coursey, VP for IoT solutions at AT&T. AT&T’s first Cat M1 modules using Monarch will come from Wistron Neweb. The company’s IMS2 module is available through the AT&T’s IoT Accelerator Program. AT&T launched its Cat M1 network last spring, as did Verizon. Neither of the Tier 1 operators has launched a narrowband IoT network, but T-Mobile US has said it will roll out NB-IoT in 2018.