Qualcomm 315 5G IoT modem announced for 5G IIoT applications

Qualcomm has announced the Qualcomm 315 5G IoT modem just a couple of days after the company’s introduction of Snapdragon 778G 5G SoC and M.2 5G card reference designs based on Snapdragon X65/62 modem.

Qualcomm Technologies say it is their first purpose-built Internet of Things modem solution equipped with 5G connectivity and optimized for Industrial IoT (IIoT) applications.

Qualcomm 315 5G IoT modem

Qualcomm 315 5G IoT modem specifications:

CPU – Cortex-A7 core running Linux
Cellular connectivity
- 5G
  - Technology – 3GPP Rel.15 5G NR
  - Peak speeds – Download: 1.54 Gbps; upload: 330 Mbps
  - Modes – SA (standalone), TDD & FDD
  - RF – Adaptive antenna tuning, power tracking
  - Sub-6 GHz Specs – 100 MHz bandwidth, 4×4 MIMO DL, 64 QAM DL/UL
- 4G LTE
  - Technology – Rel.15 Cat.13 DL, Cat.5 UL
  - Peak speeds – Download: 400 Mbps; upload: 75 Mbps
  - LTE Modes – TDD & FDD
  - LTE RF – 700 MHz to 3.6 GHz
- Spectrum – 5G/4G spectrum sharing, sub-6 GHz
- 5G and LTE RFFE – Antenna tuners, average power trackers, Tx and Rx modules
GNSS – Dual-frequency, multi-constellation
Process – 7nm

While Qualcomm 315 is a “5G IoT modem”, it’s clear it’s not about the 5G LPWA standard designed for “massive IoT” and designed to be backwards compatible with NB-IoT or Cat M1 LTE IoT standards based on the max download and upload speeds advertised in the specs.

What Qualcomm did here, instead, is make the chip small enough for 5G modules up to 50% more compact than existing 5G modules so that Qualcomm 315 modules can reuse the same form factor and pin-to-pin compatibility with current LTE legacy modules. The company also commits to long-term supply until 2029.

Quectel RG500S and RM500S modules

Eventually, the company expects Qualcomm 315 5G IoT modules fromFibocom, MeiG, Sunsea, Telit, and other manufacturers, but one of the first companies to announce such modules was Quectel with their RM500S M.2 card and RG500S module pin to pin compatible with Quectel’s LTE Cat 4 module EM05, Cat 6 module EM06, Cat 12 modules EM12-G/EM12xR-GL, Cat 16 module EM160R-GL as well as 5G module RM500Q.

Both modules are equipped with a multi-constellation GNSS receiver and embedded with USB 3.0/3.1, PCIe 3.0, U(SIM), RGMII, and other interfaces suitable for various industrial and consumer 5G applications. These include industrial routers, robots, automation, intelligent manufacturing, smart cities, energy distribution, precision agriculture, construction, and mining.

The Qualcomm 315 5G IoT modem and related modules are expected to become available in H2 2021. Additional details may be found in the press release and product page.

Via LinuxGizmos

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.