Devices

Orca Systems Announces World’s First Fully Integrated SoC Solution for Direct-to-Satellite IoT Connectivity

Orca Systems, a fabless semiconductor company delivering groundbreaking digital RF technology, today announced its first wireless system-on-chip (SoC) solution for the satellite Internet of Things (IoT), the ORC3990. The company, which focuses on cost-effective, low-power wireless solutions for IoT applications, designed and developed the fully integrated ORC3990 SoC to meet the demands of satellite IoT connectivity. Orca Systems’ new SoC solution provides enabling RF technology for Totum, an innovator in IoT connectivity, enabling direct-to-satellite, indoor operation over Totum’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) network.

Founded in 2004 as a digital RF intellectual property (IP) and semiconductor design engineering services provider, Orca Systems transitioned to a fabless semiconductor business model in 2018. This pivotal transition was enabled by Orca Systems’ development, refinement and integration of an extensive set of IP technologies critical to RF and digital communications applications. Orca Systems’ technology assets in the RF, analog, digital transceiver and power management domains served as SoC building blocks and key elements of the ORC3990 design. These core competencies, combined with Orca Systems’ innovative systems architecture and semiconductor design/integration expertise, has enabled the company to support partners like Totum with highly integrated digital RF solutions offering the highest performance, lowest total system cost and lowest power consumption.

“By rapidly delivering successful first silicon to meet our project deadlines, Orca Systems enabled Totum to quickly demonstrate communication from the ground with our SoC-based endpoint to our satellite network in record time. The ORC3990 SoC, with its high level of integration and low power requirements, enables the lowest cost bidirectional endpoints in the industry with a 10-year battery life. This is game-changing technology for satellite IoT connectivity.”

Ted Myers, CEO of Totum

A Totum satellite technology based terrestrial endpoint for a LEO network using the ORC3990 SoC requires a minimal bill of materials (BOM). External components are reduced to a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO), passive filters and switches, a PCB antenna and a battery. For simple, compact “tracker-on-a-chip” applications supporting global connectivity and positioning, a sub-$10 endpoint solution is possible based on the ORC3990 SoC - a cost point expected to drive high-volume demand.

“Orca’s unique architecture lends itself to integrating everything required in an IoT-focused SoC application,” said John McDonough, CEO of Orca Systems. “Manufacturing the ORC3990 SoC with GlobalFoundries’ 22FDX 22nm FD-SOI technology assured a cost-effective, low-power SoC solution that will be highly competitive in today’s market. Our innovative approach to IC design leverages extensive reuse of our SoC architecture, circuitry and methodologies, enabling us to achieve first-time-right silicon in one year of design for our partner Totum.”

ORC3990 Details – World’s First Fully Integrated SoC Solution for Direct-to-Satellite IoT Connectivity
The ORC3990 SoC integrates all required system functions into a single, cost-effective device in a very small 68-QFN package. An essential building block of the SoC design includes Orca Systems’ flexible, third-generation Live Wireless™ RF and digital radio subsystem, which has been customized to support the requirements of Totum’s LEO satellite network. Additional function blocks integrated within the ORC3390 SoC include a low noise amplifier (LNA), a digital power amplifier (PA), the Totum satellite modem, power management unit (PMU) subsystem including all analog blocks, dual Arm Cortex-M0+ CPUs for separate network and application processing, all necessary memory (volatile and non-volatile) for the on-chip CPUs, required security functions, and key analog and digital peripherals.

On-chip sensors provide temperature of an ORC3990-based IoT endpoint. The device supports a suite of digital and analog interfaces allowing it to seamlessly connect to sensors that detect temperature, humidity, shock, vibration and flow.

Orca Systems is the exclusive provider and manufacturer of the ORC3990 SoC to Totum and its partners. To help accelerate development and time to market, Orca Systems and Totum provide comprehensive collateral including data sheets, application notes, evaluation/demonstration boards and software SDK. 

About Orca Systems
Orca Systems is a champion of always live wireless connectivity, delivering a groundbreaking low-power digital RF transceiver portfolio for the exploding IoT semiconductor market. Patented Orca Live Wireless RF™ digital radio and digital power amplifier (DPA) technology provides ultra-low power consumption to extend the battery life of IoT devices. Silicon-proven Orca Live Wireless RF™ digital transceivers are available to select customers as IP cores, known good die (KGD) and packaged integrated circuits. IP cores are optimized for integration into SoC devices for the lowest cost, smallest silicon area and lowest power IoT SoC products. Orca Systems is headquartered in San Diego, California, with an exceptional research and development center and state-of the art lab facility in Bangalore, India.

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Software and Tools

ATEL® Unveils the WB550 Apex by ATEL™: The Ultimate 5G Indoor Router with Unmatched Connectivity, Security, and Value

PR Newswire | October 25, 2023

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Industrial IoT

Energous and InPlay Launch Low Maintenance Wireless Sensors for IoT industrial Applications

Business Wire | September 27, 2023

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IoT Security

Ordr Partners with ServiceNow Vulnerability Response with Now Platform

Ordr | October 09, 2023

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Industrial IoT

Syniverse Joins Forces with Microsoft to Offer Global SIM Solution for Azure Private MEC

Business Wire | October 06, 2023

According to Juniper Research, the number of global private cellular Internet of Things (IoT) roaming connections will grow by more than 800% in the next four years, climbing from 15 million in 2023 to 142 million by 2027. Given this mass surge, organizations must make sure they have uninterrupted connectivity across devices, along with complete visibility into their whole program. To meet the need for more reliable connectivity, Syniverse, "the world's most connected company,"® is partnering with Microsoft to make its Global SIM solution available for use with Microsoft Azure private multi-access edge compute (MEC). This strategic collaboration allows enterprises deploying a private network at their operational facilities, using Azure Private 5G Core on Azure edge platform, to leverage Syniverse solutions to support OT applications that require private-to-public 5G and LTE network interoperability. With this add-on service, IoT devices for asset tracking, frontline workforce collaboration, and autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) primarily connected on private networks can roam over a public network on demand or leverage public networks for improved resiliency. Enterprises using workforce tablets on public networks can also switchover to dedicated private networks at enterprise facilities. Whether it’s a utility company that desires a localized wireless network solution that’s fast, dependable, and secure, or a large-scale manufacturer that wants to extend connectivity well beyond its facility, private wireless networks are the driving force that will enable these capabilities. But these aren’t the only industries that will benefit from the power of this solution — mining, shipping, transportation, logistics, healthcare, and even smart cities can improve the lives of users by enabling reliable, global, and secure roaming between private and public networks. Given the rapid expansion of private wireless networks and the Internet of Things, seamless roaming between private and public networks is more essential than ever, said Harry Patz, Jr., Chief Revenue Officer at Syniverse. Through this integration, Azure users will benefit from technology that lets devices move to public networks and automatically revert to the private network when it's available. This prevents businesses from racking up costly roaming revenues if their devices remain connected to public networks, eliminates communication issues regardless of where in the world these devices are located, and ensures their continued security. All of which go a long way toward improving the customer experience. Syniverse recently received an IoT Evolution Private Wireless Network Innovation Award from IoT Evolution World, the leading publication covering IoT technologies. The awarded solution is built on patented Automated Network Reselection (ANR) technology, a unique feature that provides secure and seamless connectivity as mobile devices move from private to public networks and back. It includes subscriber identity module (SIM) management and hosted or on-premises core functionality, policy, and cloud integration, and it is ideal for organizations that demand reliable connections, high speeds, and minimal latency, as well as the option to increase security based on specific devices. Microsoft private network customers can now integrate Syniverse Global SIM, a platform as a service (PaaS), that provides global coverage in over 200 countries and gives control over cellular data and precision policy management over every device in an organization. "Syniverse’s Global SIM solution offers our enterprise customers with global, multi-site operations, the capability to support applications that traverse private and public connectivity and offer mission critical resiliency," said Tad Brockway, Corporate Vice President, Azure for Operators, Microsoft. "We are working together to integrate and validate the solutions to make it really simple for enterprises to manage solutions built with Azure private MEC." The Syniverse Global SIM solution is available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace. About Syniverse Syniverse is the world's most connected company. We seamlessly connect the world's networks, devices, and people so the world can unlock the full power of communications. Our secure, global technology powers the world's leading carriers, top Forbes Global 2000 companies, and billions of people, devices, and transactions every day. Our engagement platform delivers better, smarter experiences that strengthen relationships between businesses, customers, and employees. For over 30 years, we have accelerated important advances in communications technology. Today we are an essential driver of the world's adoption of intelligent connectivity, from 5G and CPaaS to IoT and beyond. Find out more at https://www.syniverse.com.

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