Nordic nRF9160 cellular IoT module voted Best in Show at Embedded World Conference 2019 by top U.S. trade title, Embedded Computing Design

Embedded Computing Design is a leading U.S.-based electronic design publication that has a major focus on the IoT and an audience comprising over 70,000 print subscribers, 160,000 website page views per month, and an average daily e-newsletter circulation of over over 25,000 readers. Embedded World Conference, now in its 17th year, is a leading international world trade fair that focuses exclusively on embedded technologies. More than 1,000 exhibitors, 32,000 visitors, 2,000 conference attendees, and 250 technical presentations showcase state-of-the-art technology and products covering all aspects of embedded systems.

Nordic's nRF9160 SiP – which is available for volume order now from Nordic Semiconductor’s global distribution network that includes Digi-Key Electronics, Mouser Electronics, and Premier Farnell (amongst others) – is an ultra-compact, low power, global, multimode LTE-M/NB-IoT module. It comes integrated with an Arm® Cortex-M33 host processor, Arm TrustZone security, and Assisted GPS. The SiP integrates a complete low power cellular IoT system into a tiny 10x16x1.2mm package that includes modem, transceiver, RF front end, dedicated application processor, Flash memory, power management, and crystal and passive components. The module supports global operation through Nordic’s multimode LTE-M/NB-IoT modem, SAW-less transceiver, and a custom RF front-end from Qorvo. The integration of Arm TrustZone and Arm CryptoCell-310 security IP ensures the highest level of protection.

“The nRF9160 SiP takes the unique value proposal of cellular IoT and adds simplicity to appeal to a broader market,” says Geir Langeland, Nordic Semiconductor's Director of Sales & Marketing. “It takes cellular beyond mobile devices and fosters innovation to bring cellular connectivity to anything. By setting new integration, size, and power consumption benchmarks, coupled with its ease-of-use, the nRF9160 SiP unleashes the huge potential of cellular in IoT.”

Langeland adds: “The Nordic Semiconductor nRF9160 SiP is also supported by a complete suite of software and development tools to accelerate innovation and product development. As such it enables developers to concentrate on what they do best: design exceptional products and services using cellular technology.

Nordic hired some of the smartest cellular R&D engineers in the world from a bout of rationalization layoffs in Finland between 2011 and 2014 from companies such as Nokia, Microsoft, Broadcom, and ST-Ericsson. This is what enabled Nordic Semiconductor to become a brand-new entrant in the cellular IoT market and to take a completely different approach with its nRF9160 SiP LTE-M/NB-IoT solution.

“Nordic Semiconductor expanded the application-range of Bluetooth wireless technology by abstracting away from the designer all unnecessary technical complexity,” comments Nordic CEO, Svenn-Tore Larsen. “The pre-certified, ready-to-drop-in LTE-M/NB-IoT nRF9160 SiP module promises to do the same for cellular IoT.”

Larsen continues: “It is hard to put into words the amount of hard work Nordic Semiconductor’s R&D engineers has invested into developing the nRF9160 SiP over the past four years. But to see the nRF9160 SiP formally recognized by one of the most prestigious electronics design awards programs in the world is extremely encouraging and only further validates the commercial strategy behind this product.”

• About nRF9160 SiP
• About nRF9160 Development Kit
• About Nordic Semiconductor