When Volansys needed to develop a remote attendance management solution for a customer, it deployed its Centauri 200 IoT Gateway alongside the IoTify cloud platform and the customer’s Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) sensors to detect presence and attendance. The final piece was to enable LTE connectivity back from the IoT gateways to the IoTify cloud for analysis. For this capability, it selected Quectel Wireless Solutions’ EG91, BG95 and BG96 LTE modules for integration into the Centauri 200 IoT Gateways.

LTE connectivity was a key requirement for Volansys because it has developed a platform for OEMs and IoT service providers worldwide and its customer needed an LTE module which supports all the major regions including North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, the customer required the ability to deploy their final product based on their solution in different geographies where LTE is supported by reputed carriers and is ready to deploy with no extra effort.

For this reason it turned to Quectel to provide smart modules that support LTE connectivity and therefore meet the customer’s requirements. Three variants were selected to address the needs of different deployment situations. The Quectel EG91 is a series of LTE category 1 modules optimized specially for M2M and IoT applications. The series delivers maximum data rates of up to 10Mbps downlink and 5Mbps uplink. These make EG91 an ideal solution for numerous IoT applications that are not reliant on high speed connectivity but require the longevity and reliability of the LTE network.

The Quectel BG95 is a series of multi-mode LPWA modules supporting LTE Cat M1/Cat NB2/EGPRS and integrated GNSS. Offering maximum data rates of 588 kbps downlink and 1119 kbps uplink, the series features ultra-low power consumption.

The Quectel BG96 is an LTE Cat M1/Cat NB1/EGPRS module offering maximum data rates of 375 kbps downlink and uplink. It features global frequency bands, ultra-low power consumption, and has a cost-effective SMT form factor of 26.5 mm × 22.5 mm × 2.3 mm. The BG96 enables integrators and developers to easily design their applications and take advantage of the module’s low power consumption and mechanical intensity. Its advanced LGA package allows fully automated manufacturing for high-volume applications. 

With the three smart modules available, the Volansys Centauri 200 gateway delivers a completely ready-to-use platform for different enterprise or industrial applications. It reduces time to market by 70% compared to developing a solution based on a custom gateway development, reports Volansys. This platform is production ready so any prospect can go to field trial to mass production within three months, with rebranding and certification to reflect their own brand, in addition to customized packaging.

“Quectel’s quick technical support and strong supply chain have been vital ingredients for getting the product available on time and addressing an urgent need from the customer end,” said Darshan Sidhu, Director of Products and Manufacturing at Volansys. “It has been great to work with Quectel to utilize the smart module variants according to the deployment requirements.”

“We’re delighted that Volansys has selected three of our smart module series, the EG91, BG95 and BG96, to power the LTE connectivity for its Centauri 200 gateways,” said Michael Wallon, Vice President of APAC and ANZ at Quectel. “The large global footprint and future growth plans of its customer for its remote attendance solution are exciting to be involved with and we are proud to have played our part in enabling Volansys to meet its customers’ needs.”