Microchip Technology, a provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, and Sigfox, an LPWA network provider, today launched the industry’s first Federal Communications Commission-certified, fully integrated radio frequency transceiver and kits for “internet of things” developer solutions for use on the Sigfox network.
Powered by Microchip’s ATA8520E, a low-power RF transceiver with an integrated AVR microcontroller, the new kits contain the first FCC-certified board that allows IoT developers to connect to Sigfox’s long-range, two-way global IoT network – resulting in a low-cost, low-power device-to-cloud connectivity solution.
According to Microchip, the product is designed for IoT applications in the U.S., ranging from logistics to agriculture, smart cities and other machine-to-machine sectors. The ATA8520E is also the first fully Sigfox-compatible chip suitable for both North America and Europe.
The solution is available in two versions: Customers can either purchase Microchip’s Sigfox-certified ATA8520E as a standalone kit, designed primarily to test the technology, or as a kit combined with an Xplained Pro board, a solution for system-design purposes. Both are dedicated for Sigfox’s IoT network in the license-free industrial, scientific, and medical radio bands. The products come with the Sigfox library, modulation, ID and PAC code, and a security key enabling an IoT developer to get designs to market.
“The applications for the rapidly growing IoT market are endless,” said Matthias Kaestner, VP of Microchip’s radio frequency and automotive business unit. “With this new FCC-certified solution combining the best of Microchip and Sigfox offerings, the possibilities are unlimited for the billions of IoT connections. Our Sigfox solution gives any IoT application the secure, long-range wireless connectivity required to get these ‘smart’ things ‘connected’ – at a fraction of the cost and power consumption of a cellular connection.”
Sigfox currently operates in 24 countries with a goal of establishing one global network that provides simple, ubiquitous, energy-efficient connectivity for the billions of devices that will periodically send small quantities of data over long distances. Sigfox and Microchip are teaming up to drive down IoT device costs, operational costs and power consumption, with the goal of achieving substantially longer battery life compared to traditional cellular, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity.
“We are excited with Microchip’s long-range wireless solution as it is compelling, reliable and out-of-the-box ready,” said Tony Francesca, Sigfox VP of global ecosystem partners. “With its FCC certification, we look forward in partnering with Microchip to enable many IoT use cases and billions of devices to be connected to Sigfox’s network in the U.S. and other countries that are based on FCC-type approvals.”
