Thales has been delivering trusted IoT solutions to its customers for more than 20 years. In early February, it announced the launch of a new IoT connectivity solution: Cinterion® ELS62. Applications such as connected security systems, medical devices, smart meters… will be able to benefit from the reliable and secure communication capabilities of the ELS62 series.
Thales, a French group based in Paris, is present in 68 countries and has 81,000 employees. It also has an artificial intelligence division and an AI research center located in Montreal. A world leader in high technology, it invests in digital and deep tech innovations (connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum). The Group offers solutions, services and products that help its customers, companies, organizations and governments in the fields of defense, aeronautics, space, transportation and digital identity and security, to fulfill their critical missions by putting people at the heart of decisions.
The IoT market
The market for the IoT industry is exponential: while there were 27 billion connected IoT devices in 2020, the number is expected to grow to 75 billion by 2025, with a potential market value of approximately $1.6 trillion or more. IoT solutions enable these business opportunities to be seized faster and simplify connectivity, security, data management and analysis, improving business competitiveness. To support its customers, Thales offers innovative IoT technology and solutions that streamline and accelerate the digital transformation of businesses.
IoT building blocks to accelerate time to market
Thales’ 360° approach provides the essential IoT building blocks needed to simplify design and development and accelerate time to market for the world’s most demanding and reliable connected solutions, which are:
- Connect assets to wireless networks and cloud platforms
- Manage the long lifecycle of IoT solutions
- Secure devices and their data
- Analyze data in real time by turning it into business intelligence.
The group offers a broad portfolio of Cinterion® IoT modules, gateways and modem cards that enable always-on cellular communications for virtually any IoT or M2M application.
The new Thales Cinterion® ELS62 module
The new Thales Cinterion® ELS62 module is compliant with the LTE-Cat.1bis standard, a new wireless communication protocol that allows for simplified design of IoT devices because only one antenna is required, as opposed to the industry standard LTE Cat.1 protocol requiring two antennas. This new solution provides IoT device manufacturers with flexible connectivity options and improved cybersecurity measures. Its optimized size is suitable for smaller objects such as wearable medical devices, smart meters, home alarm systems or any other device used in mission-critical applications. Indeed, the ELS62 module incorporates security features to protect devices and data, ensuring robustness against cyber-attacks through strong authentication and data encryption.
Device management is also simplified through Thales’ expertise in remote device activation and connection management. Remote activation of connectivity and a comprehensive set of security features ensure lower total cost of ownership and resiliency for single-antenna designs. In addition, Thales’ 2G fallback service maximizes network accessibility and improves quality of service for users. This saves money not only during installation, but also over the life cycle of the device by eliminating the need for physical device upgrades (thereby reducing the total cost of ownership). Piotr Blaszczyk, member of the management board, director of research, development and technical support at EBS Sp. z o. o. said:
“Absolute security is at the heart of EBS’ business. As a manufacturer of intelligent security systems, we have over 3 million devices installed. Our customers trust EBS to protect them and their assets because we have always been a forerunner in security technology. It’s a responsibility we take incredibly seriously, especially when we choose our suppliers. With the Cinterion® ELS62 module, we can leverage Thales’ extensive security expertise and have a state-of-the-art connectivity module that allows us to explore new technologies and remove any doubt about data protection.”
For his part, Francis D’Souza, head of strategy for IoT solutions and product line management at Thales noted:
“Security has always been part of Thales’ DNA. Our new ELS62 module comes with essential security features built in, including device identity verification for secure interworking in the cloud and extensive penetration testing for security threats. The new Thales Cinterion® ELS62 Cat.1 bis module will support the ambitions of device manufacturers and help our customers develop innovative IoT services. Thales’ unique expertise in developing compact and reliable connectivity solutions, combined with a security-by-design approach, enables our customers to build a future we can all trust.”
Translated from Thales lance une nouvelle solution de connectivité IoT pour les appareils intelligents
