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Altair Semiconductor, a provider of LTE chipsets, is partnering with Verizon Wireless to bring LTE-based Internet of Things (IoT) products to market. Altair is preparing to introduce commercial Cat-1 and Cat-0 products designed specifically for IoT applications, targeting devices that require reliable cellular connectivity while keeping costs and power consumption low.
The Altair FourGee-1160 Cat-1 chipset is intended for a wide range of connected devices, including smart meters, automotive telematics, security systems, and smart home products. By focusing on Cat-1 and Cat-0 categories, Altair aims to offer solutions that balance throughput needs and power efficiency for devices that do not require the full speed of advanced LTE categories but do need dependable, wide-area cellular coverage.
One of the standout features Altair will demonstrate is extended battery life through the use of LTE Release 12 Power Saving Mode (PSM). At the CTIA conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Altair plans to showcase PSM functionality, illustrating how LTE connections can be optimized so that devices enter deep-sleep states and maintain battery life measured in years rather than months. The demonstration of PSM-capable chipsets will be hosted at Ericsson’s Super Mobility Week Booth #4322.
Power Saving Mode, as defined in 3GPP Release 12, enables devices to notify the network that they intend to enter a prolonged inactive state. Once the network is informed, the device can hibernate for extended periods without remaining fully connected, which dramatically reduces energy consumption. This approach is especially effective for IoT devices that send small, infrequent messages—such as telemetry updates, status pings, or periodic sensor readings—because it eliminates the need to maintain continuous radio activity between transmissions.
For many IoT applications, the balance between low cost, reliable coverage, and long battery life is crucial. Smart meters, for example, often need to transmit only brief usage readings at scheduled intervals; similarly, many smart home sensors and security devices report events or status changes sporadically. By leveraging Cat-1/0 chipsets that support PSM, device manufacturers can extend battery life significantly without sacrificing the benefits of LTE’s wide-area coverage and robust security features.
Eran Eshed, Altair’s co-founder and vice president of marketing and business development, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership: “Our collaboration with Verizon Wireless demonstrates that North America’s largest communications service provider recognizes the value of our LTE Cat-1/0 chipsets for IoT applications.” Altair’s focus on delivering competitively priced chipsets with long battery life targets an expanding market of connected devices that require cellular connectivity but have modest data needs.
From Verizon’s perspective, working with chipset vendors that prioritize low-cost and energy-efficient LTE solutions helps broaden the ecosystem of connected devices on its network. Ro McNally, vice president at Verizon Wireless, noted: “Altair’s low-cost, long battery life LTE Cat-1 solution, being demonstrated at the Ericsson booth, is a great example of the innovation happening in this space.” For carriers, bringing a wider variety of IoT devices onto the network can generate new service opportunities while meeting enterprise and consumer demand for reliable connectivity and manageable device lifespans.
Technical and commercial developments like Altair’s Cat-1/0 line and PSM support respond to specific market needs. Many IoT deployments require simple, cost-effective cellular links where devices transmit small amounts of data intermittently and must remain field-deployable for many years. By combining optimized chipset design with standardized network power-saving features, chipset vendors and network operators can deliver solutions that reduce total cost of ownership for IoT deployments and simplify integration for device makers.
Altair’s public demonstrations at large industry events also serve to validate the real-world capabilities of these chipsets and related network features. Live exhibits and vendor collaborations help illustrate how power-saving mechanisms are implemented, how devices behave during extended idle periods, and what trade-offs—such as latency for waking and transmitting—device designers must consider. These practical insights help manufacturers and solution integrators make informed decisions about which cellular technology class and feature set best match their product requirements.
Ultimately, the combination of Cat-1/0 hardware, standardized PSM behavior, and carrier partnerships points toward broader adoption of LTE-based IoT devices in sectors where long battery life, low unit cost, and reliable connectivity are essential. As the IoT market continues to expand across utilities, automotive, security, and smart home domains, solutions that optimize energy consumption while delivering dependable network access are likely to play a central role in enabling scalable, cost-effective deployments.