For companies running vast fleets of IoT devices, the biggest headache is no longer the sensors themselves—it’s figuring out how those devices will stay connected over the next decade.
Mads Fischer, European Sales Director at SIMCom, says fleet owners are facing a crisis of uncertainty, one that is reshaping how hardware is designed.
“In the old days, you had one module that did it all,” Fischer recalled. “LTE was standard, everything worked globally. That’s gone. Today, North America needs certification, Africa doesn’t even have LTE yet, South America is different again. If you’re a massive IoT owner, you have to figure out what connectivity you need—and where.”
This fragmentation is why SIMCom has taken a radical approach with its new smart AI modules, the SIM8666 and SIM8668. Unlike previous generations, the cellular part has been stripped out entirely.
“We don’t know how customers want to connect their devices in the future,” Fischer said, speaking at embedded world 2026. “There are so many options—NB-IoT, Cat M1, Cat 1, Cat 4, 5G RedCap. Instead of locking in LTE, we focus on the AI engine. Customers can add connectivity later if they need it.”
The modules themselves are small but powerful: Rockchip RK3566 and RK3568 processors, ARM Mali-G52 GPU, an 8-megapixel ISP, a 1-teraflop neural processing unit, and a full suite of interfaces from HDMI to PCIe. But for Fischer, the real story isn’t the specs—it’s what they represent: flexibility in a market clouded by uncertainty.
“Fleet owners are asking themselves: do I invest in Cat 1, Cat M, or wait for 5G RedCap? Will the old frequencies be switched off? Do people really need RedCap right now?” Fischer said. “The answers aren’t clear. Operators talk about switching off LTE, but usually that just means they’re not issuing new SIM cards. The network itself will still run for years. So for many IoT deployments, LTE is still the safest bet.”
Even as operators roll out 5G, they are segmenting which standards they support. “AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon—they’re signalling: we’re not going to focus on NB-IoT or Cat 1 devices. Leave that to someone else,” Fischer explained. “In Europe, it will be similar. Operators will specialise. Some will focus on IoT, some on enhanced mobile broadband, some on automotive. Customers need to adapt to that reality.”
This uncertainty has elevated the role of virtual network operators (MVNOs). “MVNOs remove a lot of the administrative burden,” Fischer said. “They can make sure your devices connect wherever they are—NB-IoT in Europe, LTE in North America, whatever is required. It adds cost, yes, but for a global fleet, it’s essential.”
For SIMCom, the lesson is that modularity is now a survival strategy. “Instead of redesigning a module every time LTE or 5G standards change, you lock in the AI engine. You can upgrade the network interface later without touching the core. It’s about adaptability in a fast-moving market,” Fischer said.
He cautions, however, that complexity comes with trade-offs. “Every choice is a compromise—price, power, size, connectivity. There’s no magic solution. Our job is to lay out the options and let customers decide what matters most for their deployments.”
The company’s new modules, which integrate AI processing, MCU, and short-range connectivity like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, are designed to help engineers build edge intelligence without worrying about connectivity standards. Fischer describes them as a “head start” for applications in smart hospitals, industrial control, IoT gateways, and intelligent displays—applications that may not even exist yet.
“The market is evolving faster than anyone can keep up with,” Fischer said. “If you want your IoT deployments to last, flexibility isn’t optional—it’s essential.”
There’s plenty of other editorial on our sister site, Electronic Specifier! Or you can always join in the conversation by visiting our LinkedIn page.
