CHANDLER, Ariz., LABEGE, France - Oct. 26, 2016 – Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller (MCU), mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, and Sigfox, the world’s leading provider of global solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT), today launched the industry’s first FCC-certified, fully integrated RF transceiver and kits for developing IoT solutions for use on the Sigfox network.

Powered by Microchip’s highly integrated ATA8520E, a low-power RF transceiver with an integrated AVR® microcontroller, the new kits contain the first FCC-certified board that allows developers to easily connect to Sigfox’s long-range, two-way global IoT network – resulting in a low-cost, low-power device-to-cloud connectivity solution.

 

This is ideal for IoT applications in the US, ranging from logistics, to agriculture, smart cities and other Machine-to-Machine (M2M) sectors. The ATA8520E is also the first fully Sigfox-certified chip suitable for both North America and Europe.

 

The solution is available in two versions. Customers can either purchase Microchip’s Sigfox-certified ATA8520E as a standalone kit, designed primarily to test the technology, or as a kit combined with anXplained Pro  board, a solution for system-design purposes. Both are dedicated for Sigfox’s IoT network in the license-free ISM bands. The solutions come complete with the Sigfox library, modulation, ID and PAC code, and a security key enabling IoT developers to quickly get their designs to market.

 

Currently operating in 24 countries, Sigfox is on its way to establishing one global, seamless network that provides simple, ubiquitous, energy-efficient connectivity for billions of devices that periodically will send small quantities of data over long distances. Sigfox and Microchip are teaming together to drive down IoT device costs, operational costs and power consumption, ultimately resulting in substantially longer battery life compared to traditional cellular, Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® connectivity.

 

About the ATA8520E Wireless Sigfox Solutions

The ATA8520x family features the industry's highest-performance, lowest-power sub-GHz Systems-on-Chip (SoC) transceiver designed to maximize range and battery life for power-sensitive wireless systems. Offering frequency coverage for 868 MHz in Europe and 902 MHz in North America, the ATA8520x transceivers offer industry-leading RF performance resulting in extended wireless range and compliance with the industry's most stringent narrowband regulatory standards. The ATA8520x transceivers provide exceptional power efficiency resulting in fewer battery replacements and/or reduced battery size.

 

Availability
There are currently four types of development kits available today for both US and European networks. For additional information and to purchase the kits, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor or visit www.atmel.com/products/wireless/sigfox Kits are also available on the Sigfox Partner Network