AIoT Archives - Counterpoint

5G AIoT Unlocking New Era of IoT

The use of IoT devices is making our daily lives smarter. IoT combined with artificial intelligence (AI), or artificial IoT (AIoT), is helping in automated real-time decision-making and data analysis. AI can add value to IoT through machine learning (ML) and improved decision-making. Similarly, IoT can add value to AI through connectivity and data exchange. With the rapid technological advancements, AIoT is transforming every industry, enterprise and consumer.

5G is going to be the key ingredient in driving AIoT applications. According to a Counterpoint Research study, the shipments of 5G AIoT-supported modules will grow at a CAGR of 84% between 2022 and 2030. Further, 60% of 5G IoT modules will have AI capability by 2030 for better processing and real-time decision-making.

AIoT applications

The adoption of AIoT is becoming an emerging technology trend across a wide range of industries where real-time data operation is needed, such as industrial manufacturing, robotics, logistics, healthcare, agriculture, smart cities and smart home.

Industrial manufacturing

Manufacturing relies on digital transformation to become more efficient and reduce human error. This sector needs to adopt AIoT solutions. AIoT-powered robots in factories improve the manufacturing process with excellent efficiency. They help reduce labor costs as well as time.

Smart cities

In a smart city, there are several uses of AIoT, such as traffic management and waste management. To avoid chaos and congestion on the road in a crowded city, AIoT-based drones help monitor traffic and transmit real-time traffic data for analyses through AI and for making decisions on the speed limit and timing of traffic lights, all without human interference. Therefore, real-time traffic monitoring by drones increases efficiency and reduces congestion.

Security and surveillance are other important applications for AI in smart cities. AI cameras can help police monitor illegal activities and prevent unwanted situations.

Autonomous vehicles

Self-driving cars are one of the best use cases of AIoT applications. IoT-enabled devices like cameras, radars and sonars in the car gather data and the AI system helps analyze this data within a few milliseconds so that the car can make decisions like a human. Fully autonomous vehicles will generate 1-2TB of data per hour and AI will be required to handle this amount of data and take some decisions at the edge.

Smart homes

AI in the connected home space is mainly used for voice assistant, situational awareness, automation and security. Starting from door locks, smoke alarm, surveillance and smart speakers to smart appliances such as lighting, thermostat, refrigerator, plugs, routers, meters, home controllers and vehicle chargers, many applications have already adopted AI features.

Challenges in implementing AI in IoT

As most AI applications are based on real-time decision-making, they need a high-speed data rate to communicate. 5G’s high speed and low latency will be ideal for AIoT applications. But in many regions, 5G infrastructure is still not there or is in the initial phase. Hence, it will be challenging to scale. Data management and taking the right decision at the right time by handling huge amounts of data will be another big challenge for AI adoption. Moreover, the security angle will also need to be addressed. Both hardware- and software-level security will be required for AIoT applications to keep connected devices safe.

Initiatives by module and chipset players in AI applications

With the increasing traction for 5G-based AIoT applications, module vendors like Fibocom, Quectel, Thundercomm and MeiG are stepping forward to launch AI-supported 5G IoT modules. Some module vendors are offering AI features at the hardware level while some vendors are offering AI features at the software level. Whether to use hardware- or software-level AI features depends on the application and cost of the project. Recently, Quectel announced that it would add software-level AI capability in its Rel 16-based 5G modules by partnering with NVIDIA. International module vendor Telit is also adding AI capabilities in its FM980 5G module through NVIDIA software. However, Quectel, Fibocom, MeiG and Thundercomm are already offering hardware-level 5G AI-supported modules for high-end applications such as C-V2X, AR/VR, robots, smart cities, live streaming, gaming and edge computing.

In terms of chipset players, Qualcomm is leading in the 5G AIoT chipset space. This year, it launched the world’s first AI-supported 5G modem Snapdragon X70. Moreover, it has broader 5G AIoT SoC offerings with the QCM6490, Snapdragon 480, Snapdragon 690 and Snapdragon 750.

The second-largest IoT chipset player, UNISOC, is trying to gain momentum for 5G through AIoT-based SoCs. So far, UNISOC is offering AIoT features in its T770, T760 and T740 chipsets.

Recently, MediaTek launched the Genio 1200 chipset, specially designed for 5G AIoT devices. It is targeting applications such as smart home, industrial, robotics and audio/video terminals.

We expect that 2023 will provide momentum to the 5G AIoT market as the IoT market has been facing some instability lately due to inflation, supply issues and other macro factors.

Qualcomm, UNISOC, ASR Lead Cellular IoT Module Chipset Market in Q1 2022

Qualcomm, UNISOC, ASR and MediaTek were the top four cellular IoT chipset vendors in Q1 2022.
4G (Cat 1 and Cat 1 bis) contributed to almost one-third of the cellular IoT module chipset shipments.
Smart meters, POS, industrial, automotive and telematics were the top five applications in the quarter.

New Delhi, San Diego, Buenos Aires, London, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul – July 7, 2022

Global cellular IoT module chipset shipments grew 35% YoY in Q1 2022, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Global Cellular IoT Module and Chipset Tracker by Application. China was the key region for cellular IoT module chipset consumption during the quarter, with China, North America and Western Europe accounting for over 75% of the volume. PC, router/CPE and industrial were the top three applications for 5G.

Commenting on the market dynamics, Research Analyst Anish Khajuria said, “Qualcomm, UNISOC and ASR held the top three positions in the global cellular IoT module chipset market in Q1 2022, accounting for nearly 75% of the total shipments. UNISOC, Qualcomm and ASR were top chipset players in China in terms of shipments. For the rest of the world, Qualcomm led, followed by UNISOC and Sequans. 4G (Cat 1 and Cat 1 bis) grew 79% YoY in this quarter.”

Qualcomm led with a 42% share and 30% YoY growth across nine out of the ten key regions globally. However, competition from local players in China, such as UNISOC and ASR, in key fast-growing segments like LTE Cat-1/Cat-1 bis and NB-IoT limited Qualcomm’s growth opportunities in the world’s largest IoT market, China. However, Qualcomm has been broadening its IoT chipset portfolio, targeting premium 4G and 5G solutions for verticals such as retail, automotive, industrial robotics and smart cities. It is also collaborating with several industry application and technology providers, including Microsoft, ZTE, BMW and Bosch, to focus on high-value artificial intelligence and 5G IoT capabilities, also termed as the 5G AIoT segment.

UNISOC, the second-largest cellular IoT chipset player globally with a 26% share in shipments, has been strong across 4G (Cat 1 and Cat 1 bis) and NB-IoT technologies. Its cellular IoT chipset shipments have continued to grow for nearly last five quarters, filling the gap which HiSilicon left in the market. Moreover, it is making steady improvements in advanced cellular technologies such as 4G Cat4+ and 5G. It has also succeeded in expanding its customer base, adding Quectel, Fibocom, China Mobile and other international module players. This helped it to capture more than one-fourth of shipments in Q1 2022. UNISOC is focused on low-end applications like smart metering, POS and industrial with stronger demand for its Cat1 bis 8910DM chipset.

ASR Microelectronics maintained its third rank in the cellular IoT chipset market in Q1 2022 due to strong performance in the high-volume 4G Cat 1 and 4G Cat 4 module segments. China continues to be the key market for ASR. The company is yet to launch NB-IoT and 5G solutions and thus will have to work on its long-term capabilities and strategy to maintain this high growth which could continue through 2025. ASR has increased its production capacity this year to meet demand. Local partnerships with several module players in 4G Cat 1 and Cat 4 technology, like Quectel, SIMCom, Neoway, Longsung and Rinlink, are helping drive the scale.

Commenting on the competitive dynamics, Vice President Research Neil Shah said, “The cellular modem chipset competition is heating up in the IoT module space with a growing number of players entering the higher-volume LPWA (LTE-M and NB-IoT) and lower-category 4G LTE (Cat 1 and Cat 1 bis) segments as incumbent players such as Qualcomm and MediaTek focus on the higher-value and more integrated 4G LTE and 5G segments. The move from a two-chip (discrete MCU + cellular modem) to an integrated SoC solution is happening as we enter the 5G era. Further, the addition of AI/ML capabilities in future advanced cellular IoT applications is also catalyzing this trend. However, the low-power and less advanced applications will continue to prevail into the next decade and we could see some adoption of SoC-based integrated solutions. But the discrete solutions will prevail, driving sizeable opportunities for the likes of UNISOC, ASR, Sequans, Sony Semi, Eigencomm, Xinyi and Nordic Semi.”

Other Players

MediaTek took the fourth position in this market. However, it is not much focused on the cellular IoT market compared to the smartphone chipset market. This is one of the key reasons for MediaTek having a 5% shipment share in this quarter. The company is also focusing on 5G enhancement and recently launched Kompanio 900T, a new 5G platform for tablets, notebooks and other IoT devices. The MediaTek T750 chipset launched earlier is growing strong in FWA and CPE devices.

Global Cellular IoT Module Chipset Shipments Share by Vendor, Q1 2022

Source: Counterpoint Global Cellular IoT Module and Chipset Tracker by Region, Q1 2022

Eigencomm registered the highest growth of 869% YoY during Q1 2022, thanks to a strong partnership with Quectel and Fibocom for NB-IoT modules. However, the brand needs to diversify in terms of supporting cellular technologies beyond NB-IoT in its portfolio as well as beyond China.

Xinyi was the second fastest growing chipset player in the market during the quarter with 230% YoY growth. Similar to Eigencomm, the company is currently focusing on the NB-IoT chipset and China region. For the near-to-mid-term, Xinyi needs to leverage its strong partnership with major module vendors such as Quectel, China Mobile, Fibocom, SIMCom, Cheerzing, Longsung, MeiG and Ai-Link and expand into newer cellular technologies to maintain the growth and market share.

Sequans was also in a growth mode in Q1 2022 with a robust 4G, LPWA and 5G chipset portfolio and rising demand in key markets such as smart meters, healthcare and asset tracking. Sequans is the world’s second chipset vendor after UNISOC to commercialize the 4G Cat-1 bis chipset to increase its share and design wins in the growing Cat 1 bis-based IoT applications.

Sony Semicon (Altair) also saw growth this quarter with solid cooperation with Sierra Wireless and Wistron NeWeb focusing on the markets for smart meters, asset trackers and smart cities. Sony is only focusing on LPWA technology with low-power and high-security features on chipsets.

For detailed research, refer to the following reports available for subscribing clients and also for individual subscriptions:

Counterpoint tracks and forecasts on a quarterly basis 1,450+ IoT module SKUs’ shipments, revenues and ASP performance across 80+ IoT module vendors, 12+ chipset players, 18+ IoT applications and 10 major geographies.

Background

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

Analyst Contacts:

Anish Khajuria

Neil Shah

Counterpoint Research

press@counterpointresearch.com

Related Reports:

Qualcomm Retains Top Position in Global Cellular IoT Chipset Market in Q4 2021

Qualcomm, UNISOC and ASR were the top three cellular IoT chipset vendors in Q4 2021.
NB-IoT contributed to almost a third of the cellular IoT chipset shipments during the quarter.
Smart meter, POS, router/CPE, industrial and automotive were the top five applications in Q4 2021.

New Delhi, San Diego, Buenos Aires, London, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul – April 12, 2022

Global cellular IoT chipset shipments grew 57% YoY in Q4 2021, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Global Cellular IoT Module and Chipset Tracker by Application. China continued to dominate the cellular IoT chipset market by accounting for nearly 60% of the shipments. 5G grew 392% YoY followed by 4G Cat 1 with 154% YoY growth. Router/CPE, PC and industrial were the top three applications for 5G.

Commenting on the market dynamics, Research Analyst Anish Khajuria said, “Qualcomm, UNISOC and ASR held the top three positions in the global cellular IoT chipset market in Q4 2021, accounting for nearly 75% of the total shipments. UNISOC, Qualcomm and ASR were the top three players in China. For the rest of the world, Qualcomm led the market, followed by UNISOC and Intel.”

Qualcomm led the global cellular IoT chipset market with a 38% share in terms of shipments. Qualcomm grew its share both annually and sequentially with traction across key segments such as automotive, router/CPE, retail, asset tracking and industrial IoT. However, competition from local players in China, such as UNISOC and ASR, in key fast-growing segments like LTE Cat-1/Cat-1 bis and NB-IoT limited Qualcomm’s growth opportunities in the world’s largest IoT market. However, Qualcomm has broadened its portfolio of IoT solutions, targeting specific verticals like retail, automotive, industrial IoT and smart cities. It has also launched an IoT services suite covering more than 30 verticals to enhance platform support for IoT-as-a-service (IoTaaS) applications and accelerator programs (like smart cities) with a more ecosystem-led approach bringing in different stakeholders across the value chain.

UNISOC, the second-largest cellular IoT chipset player globally, has been strong across NB-IoT and 4G Cat 1 technologies. Its cellular IoT chipset shipments growth has continued for nearly last four quarters and is able to fill the gap which HiSilicon left in the market. Moreover, it is making steady improvements in higher-end technologies such as 5G, 4G Cat 4 and above. It has also succeeded in expanding its customer base to Quectel, Fibocom, China Mobile and many more module players. This helped it to capture more than one-fourth of shipments in Q4 2021. UNISOC is focused on low-end applications like smart metering, POS and industrial. For 5G, it has launched the V510 baseband and V516 platform which are widely used in FWA routers and CPE devices.

ASR Microelectronics maintained its third ranking in the cellular IoT chipset market in Q4 2021 due to strong performance in the 4G Cat 1 and 4G Cat 4 module segments. ASR is providing strong competition to UNISOC for 4G Cat 1 and to Qualcomm for 4G Cat 4 module-based applications lately. However, ASR is yet to launch NB-IoT and 5G solutions and thus will have to work on its long-term capabilities and strategy to maintain this high growth which could remain for the next 2-3 years. The company has increased its production capacity this year to meet demand. ASR has local partnerships with many module players in 4G Cat 1 and Cat 4 technology, like Quectel, Longsung and Rinlink.

MediaTek took the fourth position in the market in Q4 2021. However, it is not much focused on the cellular IoT market compared to the smartphone chipset market. This is one of the key reasons for it to lose 4% market share sequentially in this quarter. MediaTek is also focusing on 5G enhancement and recently launched Kompanio 900T, a new 5G platform for tablets, notebooks and other IoT devices. The MediaTek T750 chipset is already quite popular for FWA and CPE devices.

Global Cellular IoT Chipset Shipments Share by Chipset Vendor, Q4 2021

Source: Counterpoint Global Cellular IoT Module and Chipset Tracker by Region, Q4 2021

Eigencomm registered a strong growth of 3743% YoY albeit on a smaller base as it struck partnerships with Quectel and Fibocom for NB-IoT module chipsets.

Sequans also registered growth with a robust 4G, LPWA and 5G chipset portfolio. The French manufacturer saw strong traction in key markets such as asset tracking, healthcare and smart meters.

Sony Semicon (Altair Semi) registered growth this quarter with a strong partnership with Sierra Wireless and Wistron NeWeb targeting smart meters, asset trackers and smart cities markets.

Samsung also launched a 5G chipset targeting automotive applications. It may provide strong competition to Qualcomm and MediaTek if it can enter a strong partnership with automakers.

Intel and HiSilicon are still supplying their leftover inventory to some of their top customers where the modules with their chipsets are designed in.

Global Cellular IoT Chipset Shipments Share by Application, Q4 2021

Source: Counterpoint Global Cellular IoT Module and Chipset Tracker by Application, Q4 2021

*Note: Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding

Commenting on the application side of chipsets, Vice President Research Neil Shah said, “Smart meter, POS, router/CPE, industrial and automotive were the top five applications in terms of shipments in Q4 2021. PC had the maximum growth of 245% YoY, followed by smart meter with 124% YoY and router/CPE with 112% YoY growth. Router/CPE, PC and industrial were the top three applications for 5G. For NB-IoT, smart meters, asset tracking and energy were the top three applications. 4G Cat 1 is becoming popular in the POS, industrial and smart meter segments due to its high performance and low power consumption architecture. We forecast that smart meters, industrial and router/CPE will grow the maximum in the future.”

For detailed research, refer to the following reports available for subscribing clients and also for individual subscriptions:

Counterpoint tracks and forecasts on a quarterly basis 1,450+ IoT module SKUs’ shipments, revenues and ASP performance across 85+ IoT module vendors, 12+ chipset players, 18+ IoT applications and 10 major geographies.

Background

Analyst Contacts:

Anish Khajuria

Neil Shah

Counterpoint Research

press(at)counterpointresearch.com

Related Reports:

Global Cellular IoT Module Shipments Cross 100 Million for First Time in Q2 2021

The quarter saw record 53% and 60% YoY increase in shipments and revenue respectively.
Qualcomm dominated the global cellular IoT chipset market, capturing almost half of it.
Smart meter, POS, automotive, router/CPE and industrial were the top five applications in this quarter.

San Diego, Buenos Aires, London, New Delhi, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul – September 9, 2021

Global cellular IoT module quarterly shipments reached the 100 million mark for the first time in Q2 2021, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Global Cellular IoT Module, Chipset and Application Tracker. 5G was the fastest growing technology YoY (+800%), followed by 4G Cat 1 (+100%). However, NB-IoT captured close to a third of the market in terms of shipments. China alone contributed nearly 85% of the total NB-IoT module shipments in this quarter and continues to be the leading geography for cellular IoT use-cases and deployments.

Commenting on the market dynamics, Research Analyst Soumen Mandal said, “Quectel, Fibocom and Telit are the top three players in global cellular IoT module revenue rankings, capturing nearly 40% of the total revenue during Q2 2021.

Quectel cellular IoT revenue grew 49% YoY during the quarter due to strong performance of NB-IoT and 4G Cat 1 modules in mainland China. Continuous rise in global presence, diversified product portfolio and increasing partnerships with more IoT module ecosystem players helped Quectel increase its market share in Q2 2021 compared to the previous quarter. Moreover, Quectel entered IoT antenna services, offering more than 250 antenna options. These services can be an alternative revenue source in the coming years. The vertical integration will help Quectel establish itself as a “true IoT” component solutions vendor in the global market.

Fibocom was also able to increase its share in the global cellular IoT module market, cementing the second spot in our global rankings. The company saw strong demand for its 4G Cat 1 shipments during this quarter but also continued to expand its 5G modules portfolio, targeting multiple applications to closely compete with the likes of Quectel, Thales and MeiG.

Telit entered the top three rankings of cellular IoT module vendors riding on its strong performance in 4G Cat 1 and LPWA modules. Moreover, Telit launched smart modules and NB-IoT modules recently following in Chinese module players’ footsteps. These modules will give Telit a boost across North America and Europe in the coming quarters.

Thales’ cellular IoT module revenue grew 47% YoY. 4G Cat 1, 5G and smart modules are expected to help Thales regain market share in coming quarters, with strong traction across the developed markets like Europe, North America and Japan.

Rolling Wireless and MeiG are some notable players among the Top 10 cellular IoT module vendors which are improving performance continuously. Rolling Wireless is purely focussed on automotive applications, whereas MeiG is more focussed on POS, telematics, industrial and router/CPE applications.”

Exhibit 1: Global Cellular IoT Module Revenue Share by Module Vendor, Q2 2021

Source: Counterpoint’s Global Cellular IoT Module, Chipset and Application Tracker, Q2 2021

The following exhibit showcases the competitive dynamics for IoT chipset vendors across different geographies. These dynamics are a function of a telecom operator’s strategy, application focus and partnerships with module vendors.

Exhibit 2: Global Cellular IoT Chipset Vendor Shipment Rankings by Key Geographies (%), Q2 2021

Source: Counterpoint’s Regional Cellular IoT Module, Chipset and Application Tracker, Q2 2021

Commenting on the cellular IoT chipset supplier landscape, Vice President Research Neil Shah said, “Qualcomm is leading cellular IoT chipset shipments share across most of the fast-growing advanced cellular technologies. This has helped Qualcomm increase its market share further by capturing nearly half of the cellular IoT chipset market.

HiSilicon is the second-largest player in the cellular IoT chipset market, still holding the fort in the IoT segment. NB-IoT is contributing more than 90% of HiSilicon’s shipments. Going forward, HiSilicon is expected to surrender the NB-IoT leadership position to its homegrown competitor UNISOC.

The third-largest vendor, UNISOC, is the only one among the top five cellular IoT chipset players which grew by more than 100% YoY during the quarter. The recent module launches trend shows UNISOC is focussing more on NB-IoT and 4G Cat 1. Quectel, Neoway, Longsung and Open Luat are some notable players which launched UNISOC-based modules during this quarter. Moreover, UNISOC unveiled Release 16 supported 5G chipset platform V516 in August. It is expected to help UNISOC increase market share in 5G applications such as manufacturing, port surveillance, grid monitoring, telehealth and patient monitoring.”

Overall module ASP increased by 5% YoY due to rising 5G shipments and semiconductor shortages. The ASP for 5G modules reached sub-$150 for the first time in Q2 2021. The second half of this year will provide momentum for 5G module adoption as most of the modules will come under production by then. However, the global cellular IoT module market will be more prone to supply shortages in Q3 2021 compared to Q2 2021.

Currently, Counterpoint Research is tracking and forecasting 80+ IoT module vendors’ shipments, revenue performance across 12+ chipset players, and 18+ IoT applications across 10 major geographies on a quarterly basis, with a forecast up to 2025.

Full reports are available for subscribing clients through the following links:

These reports are a part of Counterpoint’s IoT Service.

Background

Analyst Contacts:

Soumen Mandal

Neil Shah

Counterpoint Research

press@counterpointresearch.com

Related Reports:

Quectel, Thales & Fibocom Lead the Global Cellular IoT Module Market in Q4 2020

The global cellular IoT module market continued to recover sequentially but is yet to reach 2019 levels.
Quectel and Qualcomm maintained their top positions in the cellular IoT module vendor and chipset player market shares respectively.
Smart meter, automotive and telematics are the top three applications for cellular IoT modules globally in terms of shipments.

San Diego, Buenos Aires, London, New Delhi, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul – April 15, 2021

Global cellular IoT module shipments increased 9% QoQ but decreased 6% YoY during Q4 2020, according to the latest research by Counterpoint’s Global Cellular IoT Module, Chipset and Application Tracker. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the cellular IoT module demand across mobility sectors but saw an increased adoption among other industry verticals, such as healthcare and gateways. Only Japan and South Korea witnessed an increase in shipments on a YoY basis. The total cellular IoT module shipments for 2020 ended at 265 million units. A fresh wave of COVID-19 and semiconductor shortages stopped the cellular IoT module market from recovering fully.

Commenting on the market dynamics, Research Analyst Soumen Mandal said, “Quectel continued to lead global cellular IoT module vendors in terms of shipment volumes and revenues. However, it lost market share in successive quarters due to the rise of longtail module vendors, especially in China. There has been an intense competition for the second spot between the incumbent Thales, Sierra Wireless and the fast-growing Fibocom. The negative impact of COVID-19 forced Thales to surrender the second spot to Fibocom in Q2 2020. However, Thales recaptured it in Q3 2020, retaining it through the end of the year. The improved performance in Europe, North America and Japan helped Thales regain its position. Fibocom is trying to increase its global presence and improve service support to increase its share in the global cellular IoT module market.

Sierra Wireless slipped out of the top five module vendor rankings with the divestment of its automotive business to a consortium led by Fibocom Wireless to form an independent company, Rolling Wireless. Among large module vendors in China, only Fibocom and Meig experienced positive quarterly and yearly growth during Q4 2020 in terms of shipments.”

Exhibit 1: Global Cellular IoT Module Shipments Share by Module Vendor, Q4 2020

Source: Counterpoint Global Cellular IoT Module, Chipset and Application Tracker

Mandal added, “The 4G LTE modules continued to dominate, contributing to nearly half of the global cellular IoT module shipment volumes. The demand for 4G Cat-1 modules is poised to grow significantly this year. The demand for NB-IoT modules remains healthy, contributing to a third of the cellular IoT module shipment volumes in Q4 2020. Smart meters, telematics and utilities are the top applications for NB-IoT technology. The 3GPP Release 14 spec-based NB-IoT (Cat NB2) modules gain location capabilities among others, expanding the spectrum of use cases to the broader mobility, tracking and telematics applications.

The demand for 5G IoT modules during the quarter was limited to the router/CPE market and other industrial applications. However, the majority of launched 5G modules are expected to enter mainstream production in the second half of 2021. The demand will also begin to take off with improving 5G coverage in many key markets such as China, North America and parts of Europe.”

Exhibit 2: Global Cellular IoT Module Shipments Share by Chipset Brand, Q4 2020

Source: Counterpoint Global Cellular IoT Module, Chipset and Application Tracker

Commenting on the cellular IoT module chipset supplier landscape, Vice-President Research Neil Shah noted, “Qualcomm further increased its share in the global cellular IoT chipset market to nearly half in Q4 2020, riding on the growing demand for 4G and LPWA modules. As the top-tier Chinese module vendors look to expand their presence beyond China, Qualcomm and other suppliers such as Sony (Altair Semi) and Sequans seem to be major beneficiaries going forward. HiSilicon has been the top supplier when it comes to NB-IoT technology. It expects to continue to lead in the coming quarters despite US sanctions. However, with growing competition and design wins, UNISOC and MediaTek look forward to increasing their market share, especially in the NB-IoT segment away from HiSilicon. With the entry of newer suppliers in the cellular IoT chipset market, such as AutoTalks, ASR and Eigencomm, alongside the vertically integrated u-blox, Nordic Semi will light up some competition, especially in the fast-growing LPWA segment.”

Shah added, “The NB-IoT module ASP (average selling price) continues to decline (3% YoY) with scale in Q4 2020, driving further adoption of NB-IoT technology. Sub-$5 priced modules contributed to almost a third of the shipments during this quarter. The ASP of another fast-growing segment, 4G LTE Cat 1 modules, decreased by 9% YoY in Q4 2020 and is an emerging choice to replace many existing and future 2.5G/3G M2M applications.”

Currently, Counterpoint is tracking and forecasting 40+ IoT module vendors’ shipments, revenue performance across 10+ chipset players, and 18+ IoT applications across 10 major geographies on a quarterly basis, with a forecast up to 2025. Full reports are available for subscribing clients through the following links:

These reports are a part of Counterpoint’s IoT Service.

Background

Analyst Contacts:

Soumen Mandal

Neil Shah

Counterpoint Research
press(at)counterpointresearch.com

Related Posts:

NB-IoT Module Share in Cellular IoT Module Shipments at Record 30% in Q3 2020

Quectel, Sierra Wireless, Thales and Telit controlled more than half of the global cellular IoT module revenue.
Automotive, Router/CPE and Enterprise are the top three applications for cellular IoT modules globally in terms of revenue.
Qualcomm dominated the global cellular IoT module chipset market, capturing almost half of the market in terms of shipment volumes.

London, San Diego, Buenos Aires, New Delhi, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul – January 20, 2021

Global cellular IoT module revenue increased 8% QoQ but decreased 1% YoY during Q3 2020, according to the latest research by Counterpoint Global Cellular IoT Module and Chipset Tracker. The demand is yet to recover fully from the impact of COVID-19. However, all regions except the Middle East and Africa (MEA), Latin America and South Korea reported an increase in revenue. NB-IoT modules were the fastest-growing cellular IoT module segment and contributed to a record 30% of the global cellular IoT module shipment volumes in Q3 2020.

Commenting on market dynamics, Research Associate Soumen Mandal said, “Quectel, Fibocom and Neoway were the only suppliers which grew their revenues on a YoY basis. Quectel revenues grew a healthy 41%, with a balanced performance across regions widening its lead with the rest of the suppliers. Fibocom revenues grew 34% YoY on strong growth in North America, Asia and China. From the fourth quarter onwards, Fibocom will be further benefiting from the divestment of Sierra Wireless’s automotive segment. Going forward, this should push Sierra Wireless, the second-largest supplier by revenue, down a couple of notches and drive Fibocom to become one of the top three players globally.”

Exhibit 1: Global Cellular IoT Module Shipment Revenue Share, Q3 2020

Source: Global Cellular IoT Module and Chipset Tracker, Q3 2020

Mandal added: “NB-IoT now contributes to 30% of the total cellular IoT module shipment volumes but only 11% of the total revenue due to the low ASPs. At the same time, the demand for LTE Cat 4 and Cat 1 applications is also rising. Cat 1 modules are mostly being deployed in industrial, telematics, and asset-tracking applications, whereas LTE Cat 4 is seeing deployment in automotive, router/CPE and enterprise. Overall, LTE (Cat 1, Cat 4 and beyond) continues to command the lion’s share of the global cellular IoT module revenues. The share of LPWA technologies (NB-IoT and LTE-M) is steadily growing. However, the share of 5G is forecast to grow in coming quarters with the proliferation of CPEs and other applications.”

Exhibit 2: Global Cellular IoT Module Shipments by Application Revenue Share, Q3 2020

Source: Global Cellular IoT Module by Brand by Tech by Application Tracker, Q3 2020

Talking about cellular IoT applications, Research Vice President Neil Shah highlighted, “The higher ASP of automotive modules helped this segment lead the global cellular IoT module application market, followed by router/CPE, enterprise, industrial and telematics. Automotive, router/CPE and smart meters are top applications for 4G, 5G and NB-IoT respectively. Healthcare, asset tracking and telematics have been seeing some growth buoyed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Commenting on the IoT module cellular chipset supplier landscape, Shah noted, “Qualcomm has seen a significant growth in the cellular IoT module market for its broad portfolio of cellular chipsets, which commanded almost half of the market in Q3 2020 in terms of shipments. Qualcomm is the top supplier for 4G, 5G and LPWA dual connectivity IoT applications while Mediatek is leading in NB-IoT and 2G connectivity. Hisilicon has been losing its chipset market share owing to supply shortage and the US sanctions.”

Counterpoint is tracking more than 35 IoT module vendors and 18 applications across 10 major geographies. These comprehensive and in-depth reports are a part of Counterpoint’s IoT (Internet of Things) Practice and available for download for subscribing clients.

Background

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in technology products in the TMT industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analysis of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are experts in the industry with an average tenure of 15 years in the high-tech industry.

Analyst Contacts:

Soumen Mandal

Neil Shah

Counterpoint Research

press@counterpointresearch.com

Related Posts:

AIoT Innovation Forum 2020: Virtual Event

Our Research Vice President Neil Shah will be moderating a panel discussion at the 10th Edition AIoT Innovation Forum 2020 on 9th October 2020. The discussion is on “AI + IoT = AIoT smart homes, smart devices and smart cities”.

The session details are provided below:
Theme: “AI + IoT = AIoT Smart Homes, Smart Devices & Smart Cities”
Date: 9^th October 2020
Time: 1630 – 1715 hrs IST
Format: Panel Discussion

You can find more information about the sessions here.

Counterpoint Research is the official knowledge partner at the event. To get live AIoT Innovation Forum 2020 updates you can watch this space or follow us on Twitter Follow @CounterPointTR. You can also follow #AIOTINDIAFORUM on social media for more updates.

In the “Year of the Pig” – Here’s Facial Recognition for Pigs

China’s endeavours in using facial recognition for the surveillance of its populace is well documented, as is the fact that the country boasts the densest network of AI-driven facial recognition cameras in the world. Less well known, perhaps, is that the country’s top tech companies are now turning their facial recognition cameras at a completely different target: pigs!

In the Year of the Pig, well-known e-commerce giants such as Alibaba, JD.com and Tencent are developing AI-based Smart Agriculture platforms which they believe will lead to improved agricultural efficiency, particularly with respect to pig rearing.

Pork is by far the most popular meat dish in China and more than half of the world’s pigs are reared and consumed in the country. However, pig farming in China is woefully inefficient compared to western countries and Chinese tech companies see opportunities to apply AIoT solutions to remedy this. For instance, Alibaba is using its so-called “Agriculture Brain,” an AI platform that uses AI-supported facial and speech recognition plus other AIoT technologies, to help farmers monitor pigs in real time.

Pig facial recognition works in a similar way to human facial recognition, recording details of the pig’s eyes, ears, snout and bristles. Like humans, pigs do not all look alike! Audio recognition detect symptoms such as coughing and breathing difficulties while infra-red technology is used to detect the pig’s temperature. In addition to identifying the pig, the facial recognition camera also monitors the pig’s movements and can detect whether the pig is becoming lethargic or not eating. Each pig has its own archive file, which includes key details such as its age, weight, breed, exercise frequency and its feeding habits, often a good indicator of a pig’s health.

Using all this data, the AI platform continuously monitors the pig and triggers an alarm if it suspects the pig is unwell so that early diagnosis can be made. In 2018, the outbreak of African swine fever virus resulted in nearly a million pigs being slaughtered to contain the disease, so there is hope that AI-based systems can help prevent similar contagion in future.

Counterpoint Research is aware of several big pig farms in China that are currently using these AI-based systems. But how accurate can pig facial recognition really be and how do the companies overcome some of the obvious challenges? For instance, how do they get a pig to stand still in front of an AI camera long enough for it to be identified? Pigs live in a dirty environment and can easily soil their faces, which would make it more difficult for a camera to identify them.

Start-up Yingzi Technology, one of the first Chinese companies to roll out a pig facial recognition system, is trialling its system on a farm with 3,000 pigs. The system works by continuously scanning each pig’s face using a smartphone, which records the pig’s distinguishing features (see the picture below). The data is then analysed by an app on the phone using deep learning algorithms and uploaded to an online database. The company claims that system matches and updates the individual pig’s profile in just a few seconds and documents details such as its ID number, its breed, birth date, weight, gender and genetic composition.

Furthermore, Yingzi claims that identification accuracy is more than 98 per cent and that a pig can be identified even if it is moving in a herd. However, there is no scientific evidence to back these claims as government rules to fight the swine fever prevent outsiders from visiting pig farms to see the technology in action, so claims by the companies cannot be independently verified at present.

As well as improving pig rearing efficiency and animal healthcare, another objective here is to improve food traceability. China has a history of food safety scandals over the years, from melamine-tainted eggs, to smuggled and out-of-date frozen meat, to crops tainted with heavy metals. Ultimately, Yingzi wants to develop a system whereby customers are able to scan a PR code on the food packaging which immediately informs them of the full provenance of the pig.

Exhibit: 1 Yingzi Technology’s facial recognition for pigs

Despite serious doubts about some of the accuracy and reliability claims made by these companies, the use of AI-based systems in livestock farming is expanding worldwide and are being used to improve animal husbandry more universally. For example, US global food company Cargill recently partnered with Irish machine vision company Cainthus to develop facial recognition for cows. Clearly, further studies are required to demonstrate whether these systems are able to consistently identify an animal under all circumstances, and it is likely that it will take a few years for the technology to be perfected. However, one thing is sure: facial recognition is expanding rapidly from the human world to the animal world.

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In the “Year of the Pig” – Here’s Facial Recognition for Pigs

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