Telit Introduces the ML865C1 Dual-Mode Cat M – Cat NB
By Manish Watwani
March 13, 2018
As cellular technology continues to improve, there are more and more exciting potential applications for the Internet of Things (IoT). However, if organizations want to ensure that their IoT deployments are ready for the future, they will need to use technologies that anticipate and respond to developments in LPWA cellular technology. As a leader in IoT, Telit strives to continue to expand its already robust module portfolio in response to the future needs of its customers and the design challenges that accompany these advancements in cellular technology. Telit is proud to introduce the ML865C1, the ultimate choice for organizations that want a very small form factor delivering low data rates and extended coverage of both LTE Cat M1 and Cat NB1. This small, ultra-low-power dual-mode series is specifically designed for IoT applications, allowing businesses to get more life out of their current and future IoT deployments.
The ML865C1 is a Category M1/NB1 dual-mode series representing the next evolution in the widely deployed Telit xL865 product family. This module offers optimized power consumption and enhanced coverage for IoT deployments. The ML865C1’s square 24.4 x 24.4 mm VQFN footprint also makes it ideal for size-sensitive applications. The ML865C1 boasts important features specified in 3GPP Release 12, 13 that help boost applications, such as Power Saving Mode (PSM) and the extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX). These features enable the device to wake up periodically, delivering small amounts of data to the network, and then return to sleep for most of the time, which extends the length of battery operation. The ML865C1 is optimized in size, power consumption, and cost when compared to higher UE categories. The module also offers enhanced coverage, with up to +15dB/+20dB in maximum coupling loss (MCL) when compared to other cellular technologies. These advantages make this module ideal for enabling a quick implementation of LTE technology in IoT and M2M, where low cost and low power are often more relevant than high speed. The module is available with optional embedded GNSS functionality. As most IoT devices require position awareness, the fact that the ML865C1 provides positioning helps reduce overall costs and complexity for devices. In addition, ML865C1-EA for EMEA, APAC, and LATAM markets feature quad-band 2G fallback. This protects deployments that are operating in areas where there is no Cat M or Cat NB coverage by allowing them to connect through 2G. The ML865C1 is the perfect module for regional IoT applications such as smart metering, security and surveillance, point of sales, health monitoring, fleet management, asset tracking, and wearable devices. The module’s small, light, and low-power design provides a long battery life. Additionally, the 2G fallback ensures that fleets and assets are connected and trackable, even as they move out of the LTE Cat M/NB range.
If your organization is already using any other member of the very popular Telit xL865 family, then you can use the ML865C1 as a drop-in replacement in all these devices irrespective if they are mobile or not since Cat M1 delivers full mobility. For instance, if your devices are using the GL865 2G module or the UL865 3G module, then you have the option to easily replace these modules with the ML865C1 to prolong the life of these devices. Since LTE Cat M and Cat NB modules are designed with the 5G future in mind, replacing your modules with the ML865C1 allows you to get new life out of your deployments. Additionally, the ML865C1-EA (European variant) is a dual-mode product with 2G fallback, which means that organizations can create and deploy devices across these regions without worrying about coverage. You can use the module in either Cat M or Cat NB while also ensuring connectivity, via 2G fallback, for devices that are deployed in regions that do not yet have LTE Cat M or Cat NB coverage. The ML865C1-NA, North American variant includes support for embedded SIM chips for streamlined manufacturing and operations. And both variants feature an embedded application environment powered by Telit’s AppZone where developers can create and run fully cloud-connected applications directly on the module. Want to learn more about the ML865C1 and our complete portfolio of Cat M and Cat NB modules?