Taiwanese advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and private network provider Ubiik has introduced a ‘5G’ IoT router for use with public, private, and satellite-based NB-IoT and LTE-M networks. The product, called Pyxis, received certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada in North America in January. A traditional LTE iSIM unit, for operation in the licence-free 915 MHz ISM band, it has since been upgraded to support release 17-level IoT features, as set down by 3GPP in the 5G NR standard LPWA; these include non-terrestrial network (NTN; satellite) IoT connectivity.
Ubiik, looking to make cellular-based LTE work as an alternative to non-cellular IoT standards like LoRaWAN, Sidewalk, and Wi-SUN for industrial IoT applications, including in unlicensed spectrum, has combined with iSIM champion Kigen and IoT virtual core network operator (MCNO) Monogoto to enable 5G-compatible satellite-based NB-IoT and LTE-M (LTE Cat-NB1/2 and LTE Cat-M1) in the Pyxis gateway. It called the product a “first” and a “milestone”; it called itself a “trailblazer”. The company is targeting the utilities space, mostly – plus the broader industrial IoT sector. It said: “This provides… failover from a private or public network to satellite NTN.”
It works in private Cat-M1/LTE-M networks, including on the licence-free 902-928MHz band (with 3MHz for downlink and 12MHz for uplink), with the company’s own freeRAN base station product. It also works in the upcoming (release-19 supported – thanks, in part, to Ubiik’s advocation in 3GPP) Band 111, at 1800-1830 MHz, as specified for utility companies in Canada. With a single-profile iSIM from Monogoto, enabled by Kigen, it can also switch to public networks across North America, as well as the B255/256 satellite bands at 1600 and 2100 MHz, respectively.
Use of an iSIM reduces size, power consumption, and cost, said Ubiik. Cat-M1/LTE-M provides enough bandwidth for sensors and meters, and even surveillance cameras. Ubiik stated: “Cat-M1 throughput of over 200kbps per Pyxis and over 3Mbps per freeRAN enables at least eight concurrent HD 10 frame-per-second H265 video streams.”
It went on: “Pyxis 5G LPWA supports both Cat-M1 and Cat-NB1/2 (aka LTE-M and NB-IOT), the only 3GPP technologies to fulfill 5G massive machine-type comms (mMTC) requirements, and which provide a path forward to be connected directly to a 5G SA core. They are also the only technologies which have satellite NTN support from release 17 onward. Contrary to Cat-1bis and other legacy LTE categories, these provide the most future-proof and versatile connectivity options for a wide range of moderate throughput, long-range, reliable communication.”
Fabien Petitgrand, chief technology officer at Ubiik, said: “Pyxis 5G LPWA demonstrates our continued focus on integrating the latest relevant technologies to deliver the best value, security and ease-of-use to our customers. It leverages the secure 3GPP-compliant iSIM, directly built into the secure element of the chipset for the highest level of security, together with Release 17 5G LPWA (Cat-M1, Cat-NB2) for the most ubiquitous coverage ever.”
Vincent Korstanje, chief executive at Kigen, said: “Ubiik’s Pyxis 5G LPWA edge router demonstrates how Kigen’s iSIM delivers robust security and reliable connectivity at the edge of mission-critical utility networks – where resilience is critical. As the first commercially available iSIM-enabled solution for satellite NTN with seamless terrestrial failover, it sets a new standard for secure, always-on smart utility infrastructure.”
Maor Efrati, chief technology officer at Monogoto, said: “We are very excited to see software-defined connectivity becoming a reality. The virtualization of SIM into the hardware of Ubiik’s Pyxis 5G LPWA router is a perfect example of how friction is being removed, enabling enterprises to integrate connectivity in a much more seamless and efficient way. By embedding our MVNO service inside the iSIM, businesses gain unparalleled ability to scale their IoT deployments with the reliability of public networks, the flexibility of private networks and the extended reach of Satellite NTN.”
