Cavli's New Cat 1bis Portfolio Targets IoT's 'Goldilocks Zone'

SAN JOSE, CA – January 30, 2026 – As the Internet of Things (IoT) matures, the industry is increasingly searching for a connectivity standard that is 'just right'—a perfect balance of performance, power efficiency, and cost. Today, Cavli Wireless, an end-to-end IoT solutions provider, made a significant move to capture this middle ground with the launch of a new trio of cellular IoT modules: the CQ16, C16QS, and C17QS. This expansion of its LTE Cat 1bis portfolio aims to provide device manufacturers with a versatile and scalable toolkit for applications ranging from smart meters to intelligent industrial sensors.

The Rise of the 'Just Right' IoT Standard

The timing of Cavli's announcement is critical, as LTE Cat 1bis is rapidly emerging from the shadow of its more famous siblings, NB-IoT and LTE-M. Positioned as a crucial bridge technology, Cat 1bis is finding favor in a market grappling with the global sunsetting of older 2G and 3G networks. It leverages existing 4G infrastructure, ensuring broad, reliable coverage without requiring network operators to perform costly upgrades.

Market analysts project significant momentum for the standard. The global LTE Cat 1bis module market, valued at over $1 billion in 2024, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% through 2031. Some forecasts are even more aggressive, with ABI Research estimating that Cat 1bis will replace nearly 70% of the legacy Cat-1 market by 2029.

Its appeal lies in its balanced capabilities. With data speeds up to 10 Mbps for downloads and 5 Mbps for uploads, it handily outperforms the sub-1 Mbps speeds of LPWAN technologies like NB-IoT, making it suitable for applications that need to transmit more than just tiny packets of data. Yet, thanks to a simplified single-antenna design and support for power-saving modes like eDRX (extended Discontinuous Reception), it offers a more power- and cost-efficient profile than higher-category LTE standards. This combination makes it the ideal candidate for a vast swath of mid-tier IoT applications.

A Tiered Strategy for Scalable Connectivity

Recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach is insufficient for the diverse IoT landscape, Cavli has structured its new portfolio as a tiered offering, allowing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to select the precise level of functionality their application requires.

At the entry-level is the CQ16, a module designed for compactness and cost-sensitivity. Available in an ultra-small LGA form factor, it targets space-constrained devices where basic, reliable connectivity is the primary goal. While it forgoes integrated GNSS for positioning, it includes Wi-Fi scanning for location triangulation and dual-SIM support, providing crucial network redundancy for deployments in areas with variable carrier coverage. This makes it a strong fit for stationary applications like smart metering and remote environmental monitoring.

Stepping up the ladder is the C16QS, which emphasizes versatility and mobility. It builds on the core Cat 1bis foundation but adds optional L1 GNSS support for standard positioning capabilities, making it suitable for asset tracking and logistics. The module is offered in multiple form factors, including LGA, Mini-PCIe, and a convenient USB dongle, and comes in several regional variants to ensure optimized global deployment. Integrated eSIM functionality further simplifies global connectivity management by allowing remote provisioning of network profiles.

At the top of the range is the C17QS, positioned as the high-performance option for advanced and demanding IoT solutions. Compared to its C16QS sibling, it boasts up to 50% more processing power, 60% more RAM, and double the storage. Its standout features include dual-band L1+L5 GNSS, which delivers significantly improved positioning accuracy and resilience in challenging environments like urban canyons. The C17QS is also designed to support iSIM (integrated SIM) technology, which embeds the SIM function directly into the module's silicon for ultimate integration and security.

Pushing Intelligence to the Edge

The most significant differentiator for the new portfolio is arguably the C17QS's support for an integrated Software Development Kit (SDK). This feature allows developers to run their own custom applications directly on the module, which runs on the FreeRTOS real-time operating system. This capability is a game-changer for IoT device architecture.

By enabling on-module processing, the C17QS can effectively eliminate the need for a separate, external microcontroller (MCU) in many designs. This consolidation directly reduces the device's bill of materials (BOM), lowers its overall power consumption, and shrinks its physical footprint. For developers, it simplifies the system architecture and can dramatically accelerate the time-to-market by providing a pre-validated hardware and software environment.

This shift toward edge intelligence allows data to be processed, filtered, and analyzed locally on the device. Instead of streaming raw sensor data to the cloud—which consumes bandwidth and costs money—the device can send only relevant insights or alerts. This is particularly valuable in industrial automation, where low-latency decision-making is critical, or in high-volume deployments where minimizing data transmission costs is paramount.

An Ecosystem for Global Scale

Cavli's strategy extends beyond just the hardware. All three new modules integrate seamlessly with Cavli Hubble, the company's proprietary cloud platform for connectivity and modem management. This integration is a key part of Cavli's value proposition, transforming a collection of modules into a cohesive ecosystem.

Through the Hubble platform, customers can remotely monitor device health, manage eSIM profiles, control data plans, and troubleshoot connectivity issues on a global scale. This centralized management layer is crucial for companies deploying thousands or millions of devices across different countries, as it abstracts away the complexity of dealing with multiple network operators and varying regional requirements.

John Mathew, CEO & Chief Technology Architect of Cavli Wireless, emphasized this holistic approach in the company's announcement. “Cavli’s Cat 1bis module series is a major leap forward for our IoT module portfolio,” he stated. “By combining LTE Cat 1bis technology with diverse form factors, GNSS capabilities, SDK support, and the Cavli Hubble connectivity and modem management platform, we are offering a product line built to efficiently, reliably, and durably meet the evolving needs of various IoT applications, even in the most demanding settings.”

By offering a clear upgrade path from the simple CQ16 to the intelligent C17QS, all managed under the Hubble umbrella, Cavli is providing a flexible and future-proof foundation for the next wave of IoT innovation. This strategic portfolio allows OEMs to start with a simple, cost-effective solution and scale up to more complex, feature-rich devices without having to switch vendors or re-architect their core platform. As the industry continues its march toward billions of connected devices, such integrated and scalable ecosystems will be essential for turning the promise of IoT into a practical reality.