Sequans Communications

Sequans Communications S.A. is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops, and supplies cellular IoT chips and modules for 5G/4G networks. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Paris, France, Sequans specializes in creating semiconductor solutions for massive, broadband, and critical internet of Things (IoT) markets. The company's product portfolio includes chips, integrated circuits (ICs) of baseband processors and radio frequency (RF) transceivers, as well as machine-to-machine (M2M) modules incorporating these chips along with radio front-end subsystems and software.

Sequans' technology focuses on delivering advanced features optimized to meet IoT requirements of power, cost, and size for massive IoT applications, as well as throughput and latency requirements for broadband and critical IoT. The company's flagship products include the Monarch LTE-M/NB-IoT platform for massive IoT, the Calliope Cat 1 platform for broadband IoT, and the Taurus 5G platform for broadband and critical IoT applications. Sequans has developed multiple generations of LTE technology, with its first IoT-optimized Category 1 (Cat 1) chipset, Calliope, gaining traction in the market as a low-cost and low-power solution deployed by leading operators.

In recent years, Sequans has expanded its focus to include 5G technology development, establishing R&D facilities in Israel, France, and Finland. The company has also formed strategic partnerships with major industry players, including Renesas Electronics, to enhance its product offerings and market reach. In August 2023, Renesas Electronics announced its intention to acquire Sequans for approximately USD 249 million, a move aimed at strengthening Renesas' position in the cellular IoT market.

Key customers and partnerships

Sequans has established partnerships with numerous leading companies in the IoT ecosystem. The company's chips and modules are utilized by major telecom operators worldwide, including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, NTT DoCoMo, and KDDI. Sequans has also formed collaborations with LTE module makers such as Gemalto, Foxconn, and Fibocom, as well as technology leaders like Skyworks and STMicroelectronics.

In the IoT device market, Sequans has secured partnerships with various manufacturers. Withings, a pioneer in connected health devices, selected Sequans' Monarch 2 LTE-M/NB-IoT technology for its next generation of IoT connected health devices. Ubiik, a global Industrial IoT solutions provider, chose Sequans' Monarch 2 GM02S module for Taiwan Power Company's Advanced Metering Infrastructure deployment. Additionally, Sequans has partnered with companies like JACS Solutions, qastle, and AmericanPharma Technologies to provide connectivity solutions for various IoT applications, including enterprise tablets, home security systems, and vaccine monitoring systems.

Sequans has also established strategic partnerships with major semiconductor and technology companies. The company has an ongoing collaboration with Renesas Electronics to develop IoT modules combining Renesas' embedded processors with Sequans' wireless chipsets. Sequans has also partnered with Thales to develop next-generation LTE-M, NB-IoT, and Cat 1 solutions, focusing on advanced security features for IoT devices.