Photo: Manuel / Unsplash
What to weigh before you shortlist:
- Radio technology: LTE-M, NB-IoT, LTE Cat 1 bis or 5G RedCap, and what fallback you need
- Regional variants and operator certifications for every market you plan to ship to
- Power profile: PSM and eDRX support, sleep current, and the peak current your battery can deliver
- Integration model: a modem driven by AT commands, or a module that runs your application
- Extras: integrated GNSS, eSIM or iSIM support, security features and the vendor's cloud tools
- Longevity: product lifecycle, pin-compatible successors and the maker's commitment to cellular
At a glance
| Company | Good fit for | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| Cavli Wireless | Teams wanting module, eSIM and device management from one supplier | United States |
| Fibocom | 5G RedCap and higher-throughput LTE designs such as routers and CPE | China |
| Nordic Semiconductor | Battery-powered devices that run their application on the module | Norway |
| Quectel | Designs that need a wide choice of LTE-M, NB-IoT, Cat 1 and RedCap variants | China |
| Sequans Communications | Low-power LTE-M and NB-IoT designs that want the chipmaker's own module | France |
| SIMCom | Cost-sensitive NB-IoT, LTE-M and Cat 1 bis designs | China |
| Telit Cinterion | Industrial programs that want modules plus connectivity from one vendor | United Kingdom |
Listed in alphabetical order, not ranked. Nobody pays to appear on a shortlist, and paid directory placements get no preference here (see the editorial policy).
A cellular IoT module packages a modem chip, RF front end, memory and often a GNSS receiver into a pre-certified part you solder onto your board. The module choice fixes which networks the product can use, how long its battery lasts and how much certification work is left for you, and it is hard to change after the board is laid out. This page is about choosing that part; for the SIM and data plan that go with it, see our IoT SIM shortlist.
Which radio technology do you need?
LTE-M suits devices that move, need voice or firmware updates of meaningful size, and want lower latency. NB-IoT suits static, deep-indoor devices sending small payloads, such as meters. Most LPWA modules support both; the guide to NB-IoT and LTE-M explains the differences. LTE Cat 1 bis is a simplified LTE category with more throughput than LPWA, which makes it a common pick for payment terminals, alarms and trackers that need regular LTE coverage. 5G RedCap is the option for cameras, routers and wearables that need more bandwidth than Cat 1 bis but not full 5G.
Check network support in your markets before you choose: LPWA and RedCap availability varies by country and operator, and 2G fallback is disappearing as networks shut down.
Modem or application module?
Most modules are modems: your microcontroller drives them through AT commands, and your firmware handles sockets, TLS and retries. Some, such as Nordic’s nRF91 series, include an application processor, so the whole product can run on the module. That saves a chip and board space, and keeps power management in one place, but ties your firmware to that vendor’s SDK. If you expect to second-source the radio, a host MCU with a modem behind a thin driver layer is easier to change.
What about power and SIM options?
For battery products, compare sleep current in PSM, the eDRX cycles the module supports, and the peak current during transmission, which sets the size of the battery and capacitors. Read the datasheet values, then measure on your own board, because firmware and network settings decide real consumption. SIM options are moving onto the module: soldered eSIM, iSIM built into the chip, and SoftSIM. Each affects how you later switch connectivity providers.
Why does vendor commitment matter?
Products with cellular modules often ship for many years, and module makers do change course. u-blox decided in January 2025 to phase out its cellular business and focus on positioning, as its 2024 annual report explains. In August 2026 Semtech agreed to sell its cellular module business to Compal Electronics. Customers of both have to plan last-time buys or redesigns. Ask every vendor for lifecycle commitments in writing, and prefer families with pin-compatible successors across technologies.
Questions to ask the vendor
- Which operator and regulatory certifications does this exact variant hold in our markets?
- What is the guaranteed availability period, and what is the end-of-life notice policy?
- Is there a pin-compatible path from this LPWA part to Cat 1 bis or RedCap?
- Which TLS, secure boot and key storage features are available to our firmware?
- How are firmware updates for the modem delivered, and who carries the certification impact?
How we built this list
The picks come from the chips and modules category of our directory, filtered for companies that currently sell their own cellular IoT modules. Directory members such as u-blox and Semtech are left out because of the changes described above. Each note was checked against the maker’s official site on October 22, 2026. The list is alphabetical, not ranked, no maker paid to appear, and we have not tested the modules.
The shortlist
Cavli Wireless
Cellular modules bundled with embedded SIM connectivity and a device management platform · San Jose, United States · founded 2017
Good fit for: Teams wanting module, eSIM and device management from one supplier.
Makes LTE Cat 1, Cat 1 bis, Cat 4, 5G NR and RedCap modules plus automotive 5G parts, with integrated eSIM for remote SIM management and the Hubble platform for device management, remote AT commands and FOTA. Its modules are made in India. Fits teams that want hardware, connectivity and management from one supplier. Its LPWA line is short, with a single LPWA module listed on its site.
Fibocom
5G, LTE and LPWA cellular modules for laptops, routers, gateways and industrial equipment · Shenzhen, China · founded 1999
Good fit for: 5G RedCap and higher-throughput LTE designs such as routers and CPE.
Chinese module maker with 5G, LTE, LPWA, smart, Wi-Fi and GNSS modules. Its 5G RedCap line includes the FG131 and FG132 series, aimed at CPE, outdoor units, hotspots and USB dongles, and the MQ771-GL is a compact LTE-M module for asset trackers. Also active in fixed wireless access, vehicles and robotics. Check operator certifications for your region and any sourcing policies your customers apply to Chinese suppliers.
Nordic Semiconductor
Wireless SoCs for Bluetooth Low Energy, Thread, Zigbee, Matter and low-power cellular IoT. · Trondheim, Norway · founded 1983
Good fit for: Battery-powered devices that run their application on the module.
The nRF91 series covers LTE-M, NB-IoT and Cat 1 bis, with GNSS and an Arm Cortex-M33 application processor with TrustZone, so small products need no separate MCU; a smart modem mode serves designs that keep a host MCU. SIM options include nuSIM, SoftSIM and SGP.32 eSIM, and nRF Cloud adds OTA, diagnostics and location. Low and mid data rates only; eRedCap is on the roadmap.
Products: nRF52 series, nRF53 series, nRF54L series, nRF91 series, nRF70 series, nPM power management ICs, nRF Connect SDK, nRF Cloud.
Quectel
Cellular, GNSS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and antenna products from one of the largest IoT module makers · Shanghai, China · founded 2010
Good fit for: Designs that need a wide choice of LTE-M, NB-IoT, Cat 1 and RedCap variants.
A wide catalog: LTE-M and NB-IoT families such as BG95, BG77 and BG950, NB-IoT-only BC modules, LTE categories up to 5G, the RG255C RedCap series, and GNSS modules. Many families come in several regional variants and in LGA, M.2 or Mini PCIe formats. Pick the exact variant certified for your operators, and check any sourcing policies your customers apply to Chinese suppliers.
Products: 5G RG and RM modules (RM255G RedCap and RG660), LTE EC and EG modules (EG915N and EC200), LPWA BG modules (BG95 / BG770S / BG950Q), Smart modules (SH503ZD), GNSS modules, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules, Antennas, QuecPython.
Sequans Communications
4G and 5G cellular IoT chips and modules for LTE-M, NB-IoT and broadband devices · Paris, France · founded 2003
Good fit for: Low-power LTE-M and NB-IoT designs that want the chipmaker's own module.
French chipmaker that also sells modules: Monarch for LTE-M and NB-IoT (including the Monarch 2 GM02S module used in smart meters), Calliope for Cat 1 bis and Cassiopeia for Cat 4, with a 5G eRedCap chip in development. Fits makers who want a modem from the chip designer itself; as with any single-source modem, ask about long-term supply commitments.
SIMCom
Low-cost cellular, GNSS and Wi-Fi modules found in trackers, meters and hobbyist boards · Shanghai, China · founded 2002
Good fit for: Cost-sensitive NB-IoT, LTE-M and Cat 1 bis designs.
Long-running module maker, founded in 2002, with NB-IoT and LTE-M parts (SIM7070 series, SIM7000C), Cat 1 bis modules, 4G thin modems, 5G modules such as the SIM8200 series, C-V2X and smart modules. Its site points the SIM7070 series at smart metering. Many models are built for specific regions, so check bands and certifications of the exact variant before committing.
Telit Cinterion
Cellular, GNSS and short-range modules with connectivity plans and device management · London, United Kingdom · founded 1986
Good fit for: Industrial programs that want modules plus connectivity from one vendor.
Covers LPWA (LTE-M and NB-IoT), LTE Cat 1 to Cat 13, 5G including RedCap, plus Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GNSS modules. Adds NExT SIM and eSIM connectivity, management tools, the deviceWISE platform, and NExT modules sold with connectivity as a subscription. It has announced plans to onshore trusted manufacturing to the United States, which matters to some public buyers. Confirm lifecycle status per model in a large portfolio.
Products: FN990 and FE990 5G modules, FE910C04 5G RedCap modules, LTE Cat 1 to Cat 13 modules, ME310G1 / ME910G1 / ML865G1 LTE-M and NB-IoT modules, Cinterion EXS62 / EXS82 / TX62 / TX82 LPWA modules, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules, NExT connected modules, deviceWISE platform.
Picks, products and the notes above were checked on the vendors' official sites on October 22, 2026. Plans and prices change; the official page is the reference. A vendor missing or described wrongly? Tell us.