BICS and Avnet Silica Accelerate Global IoT Deployment 

Companies combine largest cellular connectivity with hardware expertise to facilitate quick deployment of connected devices around the world

Brussels – Belgium, 30^th June 2020 – BICS, an international communications enabler, has joined forces with technology solutions provider, Avnet Silica, to deliver IoT connectivity to OEMs, devices and applications. The collaboration will enable Avnet Silica to directly embed 2G, 3G, 4G,  NB-IoT and LTE-M/Cat-M1 connectivity via BICS’ SIM for Things IoT global solution. This will also accelerate the deployment of Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) by solving many technical, operational and commercial challenges, helping hardware manufacturers deploy new IoT solutions around the world. 

Leveraging BICS’ global network and eUICC technology, Avnet Silica’s customers can connect their IoT devices to more than 700 mobile operators around the world, and easily switch networks depending on quality and coverage. “Manufacturers can quickly benefit from NB-IoT/LTE-M technology, which lowers power consumption, eases provisioning, and creates new commercial opportunities,” said Guillaume Crinon, Global IoT Strategy Manager at Avnet.

Cyrille Saulet, Solution Sales Leader and eUICC program manager at Avnet Silica, commented: “Thanks to our work with BICS, we’re able to enhance our offering for OEMs and IoT partners, and ensure our customers can choose the best cellular connectivity requirements for their individual needs virtually anywhere in the world. The addition of LPWAN connectivity such as NB-IoT/LTE-M gives us a complete tool box to accelerate and expand IoT adoption, by being able to design smart and flexible connectivity solutions for our customers’ connected devices.”

Gartner predicts by the end of this year there will be 5.8 billion enterprise and automotive IoT endpoints, a 21% increase from 2019. BICS and Avnet Silica’s partnership is the next step in facilitating deployment of IoT projects for enterprises, providing instant, secure connectivity for their devices.

“Our work with Avnet Silica demonstrates how BICS’ SIM for Things provides the global connectivity that OEMs and hardware manufacturers need to produce connected devices and solutions in a simple, reliable, flexible and cost effective manner,” explained Mikaël Schachne, CMO and VP Mobility & IoT at BICS. “Together we have created a future-proof IoT-as-a-service offering, which will make mass IoT a reality in the coming years.”

Additionally, mobile operators can capitalise on the opportunity to provide connectivity to a greater range of devices by opening up their networks to support the surging IoT demand. An increasing number of mobile operators have partnered with BICS to support M2M connectivity, with BICS being able to offer NB-IoT/LTE-M connectivity in more than 30 countries worldwide.

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About BICS

As a leading international communications enabler, BICS is connecting the world by creating reliable and secure mobile experiences anytime, anywhere. We are a global voice carrier and the leading provider of mobile data services worldwide. Our solutions are essential for supporting the modern lifestyle of today’s device-hungry consumer – from global mobile connectivity, seamless roaming experiences, fraud prevention and security, to global messaging and the Internet of Things. We are headquartered in Brussels, with a strong presence in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

For more information visit www.bics.com and follow our tweets @BICS_SA

About Avnet

Avnet is a global technology solutions provider with an extensive ecosystem delivering design, product, marketing and supply chain expertise for customers at every stage of the product lifecycle. We transform ideas into intelligent solutions, reducing the time, cost and complexities of bringing products to market. For nearly a century, Avnet has helped its customers and suppliers around the world realize the transformative possibilities of technology. 

Learn more about Avnet at www.avnet.com.

About Avnet Silica

Avnet Silica is the European semiconductor specialist division of Avnet, one of the leading global technology distributors, and acts as the smart connection between customers and suppliers. The distributor simplifies complexity by providing creative solutions, technology and logistics support. Avnet Silica is a partner of leading semiconductor manufacturers and innovative solution providers over many years. With a team of more than 200 application engineers and technical specialists, Avnet Silica supports projects all the way from the idea to the concept to production. 

For more information, visit www.avnet-silica.com