Internet of things (IoT) devices that are Verizon-certified can now access the telecom’s 5G network, a major step forward for massive IoT platforms.
Additionally, a new low-cost narrowband IoT module has achieved certification on Verizon’s network and the company has started trials for network and device analytics on a single dashboard called ThingSpace.
New dashboard
The suite includes a bundle of existing IoT services such as the Intelligence Analytics Dashboard, SIM Secure, device diagnostics and location services. The features in the trial, expected to be available later this year, include:
- Wireless network performance — Analytics-as-a-service offering for coverage, outage, event, service notifications and performance metrics.
- Anomaly detection — Leveraging machine learning to alert users to atypical device behavior.
- Network-coordinated firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) management — A software management feature for 5G massive IoT devices that perform reachability checks when managing firmware upgrades.
- ThingSpace Analytics engine — A tool to put network and device analytics side by side for insight into predictive maintenance and performance notification and alerting.
IoT module
The low cost narrowband IoT module from Quectel is powered by a Qualcomm 221 LTE IoT modem and has been certified on Verizon’s network. It allows narrowband massive IoT applications to be cheaper and be ported with a vast array of industrial sensors.
The Quectel’s BC660K-GL module is the first in the U.S. to enable the module on its narrowband IoT network. The module supports multiple frequency bands in a compact profile and low cost at $4.
The low power consumption of the module allows devices to operate for 15 to 20 years without being touched, which makes it applicable for smart meters, HVAC units, air and water quality monitoring, manufacturing controls, smart lighting nodes, municipal smart infrastructure and more.
IoT devices and plans compatible with Verizon’s 5G network are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2022.
