Modules

This section is a technical reference for UMTS, LTE, and NR modules that are integrated into the modems listed in our system. Listing every module is a near-impossible feat so this resource is not comprehensive. However as more modems are added the list of modules will be expanded.

Modem Modules Explained

Today's mobile broadband modems are developed by integrating existing components. Engineering a device entirely from the ground up is an inefficient and highly costly approach. Developers instead use commercial off-the-shelf chips and modules to integrate into their mainboard or SBC.

A small number of expert module vendors manufacture high performance System-on-a-Chip (SoC) modem modules that are made available to companies wishing to build commercial modems. These modules are generally either in the form of a surface mount chip that is designed to be integrated into the PCB during production, or pinout through an M.2 or mini PCIe interface for integration later in the manufacturing process.

Notable module vendors include Sierra Wireless, Telit, and Quectel.

Module vendors themselves don't reinvent the wheel each time, most use an existing chipset that forms the RF transceiver and front-end of the system. Common chipsets you may encounter include Qualcomm Snapdragon and HiSilicon Balong.

The AirPrime EM7565 M.2 module is a compact, lightweight, wireless LTE-Advanced and UMTS based modem. It provides LTE-FDD, LTE-TDD, DC-HSPA+, HSPA+, HSDPA, HSUPA, WCDMA, and GNSS connectivity for networking, and M2M applications over several radio frequency bands and supports 3G roaming.

Form Factor: M.2
LTE Category: Cat 12

This LTE-Advanced Cat-6 embedded module delivers up to 300 Mbps download speed and supports most 4G LTE bands in the market providing coverage for the Americas and EMEA on a single SKU. With automatic fallback to 3G networks and integrated GNSS receiver (GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, and Galileo satellite systems supported), the MC7430 is ideal for networking and telematics applications.

Form Factor: Mini PCIe
LTE Category: Cat 6

This LTE-Advanced Cat-6 embedded module delivers up to 300 Mbps download speed and supports most 4G LTE bands in the market providing coverage for Asia Pacific on a single SKU. With automatic fallback to 3G networks and integrated GNSS receiver (GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, and Galileo satellite systems supported), the EM7430 is ideal for networking and telematics applications.

Form Factor: M.2
LTE Category: Cat 6

Quectel EC25 is a series of LTE Cat 4 module optimized specially for M2M and IoT applications. Adopting the 3GPP Rel. 11 LTE technology, it delivers maximum data rates up to 150Mbps downlink and 50Mbps uplink.

Designed in the compact and unified form factor, EC25 is compatible with Quectel multi-mode LTE Standard EC21/EC20 R2.0/EC20 R2.1/EG25-G/EG21-G modules and UMTS/HSPA+ UC20/UC200T module, which allows for flexible migration among them in design and manufacturing.

Form Factor: Integrated LGA
LTE Category: Cat 4

Quectel EP06 is a series of LTE Advanced category 6 module optimized specially for M2M and IoT applications. Adopting the 3GPP Rel. 11 LTE technology, it delivers maximum data rates up to 300Mbps downlink and 50Mbps uplink.

Form Factor: Mini PCIe
LTE Category: Cat 6

Quectel EM06 is a series of LTE Advanced category 6 module optimized specially for M2M and IoT applications. Adopting the 3GPP Rel. 11 LTE technology, it delivers maximum data rates up to 300 Mb/s downlink and 50 Mb/s uplink.

Form Factor: M.2
LTE Category: Cat 6

Quectel EM12-G is an LTE Advanced category 12 module optimised specially for M2M and IoT applications. Adopting the 3GPP Rel. 12 LTE technology, it delivers M2M-optimized speeds of 600 Mb/s downlink and 150 Mb/s uplink peak data rates.

Form Factor: M.2
LTE Category: Cat 12

Quectel EG18 is a series of LTE Advanced category 18 module optimized specially for M2M and IoT applications. Adopting the 3GPP Rel. 12 LTE technology, it delivers M2M-optimized speeds of 1.2 Gb/s downlink and 150 Mb/s uplink peak data rates. Designed in an LGA form factor, EG18 is compatible with Quectel Cat 6/12 modules EG06 and EG12, which will help customers to migrate between different categories.

Form Factor: Integrated LGA
LTE Category: Cat 18

Quectel EG12 is a series of LTE Advanced category 12 module optimized specially for M2M and IoT applications. Adopting the 3GPP Rel. 12 LTE technology, it delivers M2M-optimized speeds of 600 Mb/s downlink and 150 Mb/s uplink peak data rates. Designed in an LGA form factor, EG12 is compatible with Quectel Cat 6/18 module EG06/EG18, which will help customers to migrate between different categories.

Form Factor: Integrated LGA
LTE Category: Cat 12

Quectel EM20 is LTE Advanced category 20 module optimized specially for M2M and IoT applications. Adopting the 3GPP Rel. 13 LTE technology, it delivers maximum data rates of 2 Gb/s downlink and 150 Mb/s uplink.

Form Factor: M.2
LTE Category: Cat 20

Quectel RG500Q is a series of 5G Sub-6GHz module optimized specially for M2M and eMBB applications. Adopting the 3GPP Rel. 15 technology, it supports both 5G NSA and SA modes.

Form Factor: Integrated LGA
LTE Category: Cat 12

Quectel RM500Q is a 5G module optimized specially for IoT/eMBB applications. Adopting the 3GPP Rel. 15 LTE technology, it supports both 5G NSA and SA modes. Designed in an M.2 form factor, RM500Q is compatible with Quectel LTE-A Cat 6 module EM06, Cat 12 module EM12 and Cat 20 module EM20, which will facilitate customers to migrate from LTE-A to 5G.

Form Factor: M.2
LTE Category: Cat 20

Quectel EG91 is a series of LTE category 1 modules optimized specially for M2M and IoT applications. Adopting 3GPP Rel. 11 LTE technology, it delivers maximum data rates up to 10 Mb/s downlink and 5 Mb/s 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 LTE network.

Form Factor: Integrated LGA
LTE Category: Cat 1

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 is compatible with Quectel LTE Standard module EG91/EG95, LPWA module BC95-G/BG95, UMTS/HSPA module UG95/UG96 and GSM/GPRS module M95.

Form Factor: Integrated LGA
LTE Category: Cat-M1

Based on LTE Category 11, the LM940 mCPIe data card achieves download rates up to 600 Mbps supported by the 3GPP release 11 with MIMO and LTE Carrier Aggregation.

Form Factor: Mini PCIe
LTE Category: Cat 11