Paolo Dal Pino
CEO
Over 374 million people used passenger trains to travel around Poland in 2023, another record-breaking year. The only thing growing faster is Wi-Fi usage by passengers and railway operators. Commuters, tourists and other passengers expect to do the same things they do at home:
Fast, reliable Wi-Fi is key to convincing people to take the train rather than drive, reducing traffic jams and pollution. Poland railway operators like PKP rely on cellular broadband for backhauling Wi-Fi and other applications. Some are internal, such as enabling remote monitoring and diagnostics for each train’s systems (e.g., electrical and diesel). Those insights help identify emerging problems before they escalate into expensive downtime and delays.
Other applications are customer-facing, such as updating passenger information systems. One example is onboard digital signage that replaces posters of routes, rules, fares and other information.
Koleje Dolnośląskie (KD) began implementing these displays — which use e-ink to maximize energy efficiency — in its trains serving Poland’s Lower Silesian Voivodship. Mobile broadband lets KD update each e-ink display instantly, so passengers always have the latest information.
The Integrated Communication Module (ICM) is a key part of LEDATEL’s portfolio, supporting various other products. For example, the ICM provides the hardware platform for virtual machines that power applications (e.g., video, VoIP, diagnostics and passenger Wi-Fi).
LEDATEL needed a 4G LTE Category (Cat) 11 cellular data card to ensure that the ICM can provide those applications with secure, high-performance broadband. The module also needed to be certified by all of Poland’s mobile operators to ensure seamless connectivity as trains travel in and out of each network’s coverage area. Certification means a bigger market for the ICM, as LEDATEL offers the solution to all the country’s railways.
LEDATEL selected Telit Cinterion’s high-category IoT data card to meet these requirements. This data card uses advanced features like MIMO and carrier aggregation to support 600 Mbps downlink and 75 Mbps uplink. That performance makes it ideal for use in bandwidth-intensive devices, including:
“LEDATEL has chosen to work with Telit Cinterion because the company was one of few to offer a robust and reliable Cat 11 mPCIe data card. Furthermore, Telit Cinterion modules guarantee high quality, adherence to security norms and availability. Moreover, we can rely on Telit Cinterion for outstanding support and post-sales service,” says Krzysztof Kubasik, Board Vice President and COO, LEDATEL.
The Radio Equipment Directive (RED) and Global Certification Forum (GCF) certified the data card. The RED and GCF regulations assure mobile operators in Poland and the rest of Europe that the modem will work as expected on their networks. These two certifications assure LEDATEL customers that the ICM will provide a reliable connection wherever their trains travel. This is crucial as LEDATEL expands its market outside Poland. “For 2024, we aim to promote our solutions and devices at international trade shows in Europe and beyond. We’re also testing Telit Cinterion’s 5G data cards for an updated version of our ICM to ensure an even more reliable and stable connection. Additional information regarding this device will be available in Q3 2024. With the ICM, we have significantly raised our sales potential and position in ambitious future projects. Our solution is also poised to compete in the international market,” adds Andrzej Danielewicz, Board President and CEO, LEDATEL.
Telit Cinterion is a global leader in the Internet of Things (IoT) industry. They provide end-to-end IoT solutions, helping businesses connect devices, manage data, and optimize operations. Telit Cinterion leverages over two decades of experience to offer a comprehensive range of products and services.
Their IoT Offerings include:
Telit Cinterion’s solutions are designed to reduce time to market and costs, making it easier for businesses to implement and manage IoT projects.
Industry-First SIM Profile and Subscription Management System
Telit Cinterion recently announced an industry-first smart grid solution developed in partnership with Netinium BV, a pioneer in vendor-agnostic head-end systems (HES) for smart metering and smart grid applications. The integration of Telit Cinterion’s NExT™ eSIM provisioning system with Netinium’s Smart Energy Platform minimizes the cost, complexity and time for deploying and managing smart meters throughout their lifecycle, including network changes via remote eSIM profile swaps. For more information about Telit Cinterion solutions for the smart energy market.
Grid operators, energy retailers and third-party service providers use an HES to remotely manage their smart meters, gateways, data-concentrators and other smart devices. The HES facilitates tasks such as meter reading and pushing firmware updates to meter modules. HES vendors have yet to offer comprehensive SIM profile and subscription management solutions, which traditionally required the utility to use a separate platform provided by a SIM vendor or an MVNO.
By integrating Telit Cinterion’s NExT eSIM provisioning system, Netinium’s Smart Energy Platform is now the world’s first HES to provide SIM profile and subscription management capabilities. By making eSIM management an integral part of device lifecycle management and edge device configuration, this GSMA SGP.32-compliant solution eliminates several longstanding challenges for utilities:
The integrated solution simplifies management for utility employees and their IT staff by consolidating smart meter and eSIM control into a single platform. This streamlines eSIM changes, making them comparable to routine meter configuration adjustments. For example, eSIM changes can now be scheduled and fully automated, or part of the automated meter installation and/ or meter replacement processes.
“eSIM technology and the GSMA SGP.32 spec fundamentally change how smart meters are provisioned, managed and secured,” said Jose Sanchez, Senior Director Product Management, IoT Connectivity & Services at Telit Cinterion. “Our partnership with Netinium takes those foundational elements to the next level by layering on a comprehensive suite of capabilities that directly address the top challenges to smart grid deployment and operation.”
“Innovators seek out other innovators, which makes Telit Cinterion an ideal partner,” said Ferry Cserep, CEO at Netinium. “Telit Cinterion’s NExT eSIM provisioning service offers the ultimate in flexibility throughout the smart meter lifecycle. Integrating it into our HES provides our customers with industry-leading simplicity and security.”
Next-Generation Cellular LPWA Deployments on AT&T
Telit Cinterion also revealed that the ME310M1-W1 module received approval for use on the AT&T network. The certification enables IoT specialists and their customers to begin using the ME310M1-W1 immediately on AT&T’s LTE-M network, with the confidence that those devices will continue to perform as expected as AT&T continually upgrades its cellular network to 5G Massive IoT. For more information about the ME310M1.
Measuring just 15×18 mm, the ME310M1-W1 is the first cellular Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) module based on the Sony’s Altair ALT1350 chipset to be approved by AT&T. The ALT1350 is the world’s first chipset that supports both unlicensed spectrum and satellite connectivity in a single package, enabling faster development, lower power, smaller size and new use cases. A variety of capabilities make the ME310M1 ideal for smart utility meters, asset tracking, industrial sensors, precision agriculture and other IoT applications whose decade-plus service life exceeds what traditional designs can provide:
The ME310M1 also supports all major LTE-M bands, making it the ideal for systems integrators, device OEMs and enterprises that want to rely on the same module for a wide variety of geographic deployments, including worldwide. As a member of the award-winning xE310 family, the ME310M1 has pin-to-pin compatibility with other Telit Cinterion modules, enabling integrators to design a single PCB layout and deploy multiple product variants.
“The Telit Cinterion ME310M1 is an ideal choice for utilizing AT&T’s industry-leading LTE-M network,” said Cameron Coursey, Vice President, AT&T Connected Solutions. “Whether it is precision agriculture, asset trackers or smart meters, many IoT applications have business models that require zero touch after installation. The ME310M1 meets that requirement and does so while minimizing power usage.”
“AT&T’s certification of the ME310M1 is a milestone for our new portfolio of ultra-compact cellular LPWA modules powered by Sony’s Altair ALT1350 chipset,” said Jitender Vohra, Sr. Director Carrier Relations, Telit Cinterion. “The Telit Cinterion ME310M1 gives systems integrators, device OEMs and their enterprise customers the confidence that their LPWA IoT applications can always accommodate additional connectivity options, whether it’s the latest 3GPP Release 17 NTN protocol or sub-1 GHz unlicensed spectrum.”
High-Precision Global Navigation Satellite System IoT Module
Telit Cinterion, an end-to-end IoT solutions enabler, announces the launch of its SE868K5-RTK module, a high-precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver capable of centimeter-level accuracy. Designed for seamless operation near cellular or other radios, the SE868K5-RTK ensures optimal immunity, making it an unparalleled choice for precision applications. At 11×11 mm, the module’s compact form factor offers adaptability in size-constrained scenarios and easy migration within the scalable xE868 family.
As the first GNSS module to provide centimeter-level accuracy in Telit Cinterion’s extensive portfolio, the SE868K5-RTK is a multifrequency and multiconstellation positioning receiver module fortified by Real-Time Kinematics (RTK) capabilities that enhances positioning accuracy. By harnessing dual frequencies (L1/E1 and L5/E5) the module improves location precision and reduces multipath effects, resulting in unmatched accuracy across various industries. The SE868K5-RTK supports RTK corrections via the RTCM protocol (by which its final performance is contingent upon signal level and antenna quality). Furthermore, raw data output support (via RTCM) empowers developers to manage high-precision applications with ease.
The SE868K5-RTK module can ingest corrections generated by customers’ local base stations or streamed by corrections service providers such as Swift Navigation. Swift’s cloud-based Skylark Precise Positioning Service is the perfect match for the SE868K5-RTK module, enabling reliable centimeter-level accuracy across the widest coverage footprint in the industry and at an unbeatable price-to-performance ratio.
Additionally, the combination of the SE868K5-RTK with Telit Cinterion’s cellular modules and NExT™ connectivity services ensures a flawless correction stream to the GNSS module, thereby offering customers all the ingredients for a complete end-to-end high-precision solution.
Engineered for seamless operation near cellular devices or other radios, the SE868K5-RTK ensures optimal immunity, making it an overwhelmingly ideal choice for precision applications, especially in locations where the presence of other wireless technology might pose challenges.
The module’s robust design and optimized positioning engine ensure reliable performance and high-quality navigation, even in complex radio frequency environments. Maintaining compatibility and scalability is crucial in the rapidly evolving IoT landscape, and at the heart of the SE868K5-RTK’s design is its compact 11×11 mm form factor, which enables versatile integration across wearables, drones, robots, fleet tracking and precision agriculture. In addition, the planned support for an external inertial measurement unit (IMU) will complete xE868 family with the continuous positioning capability offered by untethered dead reckoning. Furthermore, the SE868K5-RTK’s compact size ensures adaptability in size-restricted settings and facilitates seamless migration within the scalable xE868 family. This allows developers and engineers to effortlessly integrate the module into existing designs or deploy it in new projects without significant adjustments, leveraging the full benefits of high-precision GNSS technology.
The result of a 10 year-long collaboration between Telit Cinterion and Airoha Technology, the SE868K5-RTK module is a global product poised to make a significant impact across industries that demand precision, reliability and versatility. Whether in precision agriculture, lawn mowers, drones, e-mobility, or other high-precision applications, the SE868K5-RTK’s game-changing capabilities facilitate a wide range of possibilities for innovators and solution providers worldwide, with customer samples expected in Q2 and mass production planned for Q3 of this year.
With over 20 years of experience in GNSS applications, Telit Cinterion continues to innovate and provide solutions that address the evolving needs of the IoT landscape. The introduction of the SE868K5-RTK reaffirms the company’s position as a leader in IoT solutions.
“The SE868K5-RTK demonstrates Telit Cinterion’s unwavering commitment to delivering cutting-edge GNSS technology,” said Marco Argenton, VP Product Management, IoT Modules at Telit Cinterion. “This trailblazing module, boasting centimeter-level accuracy, exemplifies our dedication to delivering unparalleled solutions to meet the dynamic demands of IoT applications, thereby establishing a new benchmark for precision, reliability, and flexibility.”
" Telit Cinterion leverages over two decades of experience to offer a comprehensive range of products and services. "