5G Gateway Platforms Integrate Localization and Radar

Telit Cinterion has announced a strategic collaboration with Airfide Networks to integrate localization and sensing capabilities into platforms built on the FN990B40. The partnership combines 5G connectivity with ultra-wideband (UWB) positioning and millimeter-wave radar sensing to enable intelligent edge capabilities in enterprise and industrial IoT systems.

The integrated platform targets applications including fixed wireless access (FWA), enterprise gateways, customer premises equipment and network repeaters.

5G Connectivity Platform for IoT Infrastructure
The FN990B40 is a next-generation 5G sub-6 data card designed for broadband wireless connectivity. It supports 5G New Radio alongside LTE and WCDMA cellular technologies and incorporates an integrated GNSS receiver for positioning services.

The compact module is intended for deployment in gateways and network infrastructure devices where scalable connectivity and edge processing capabilities are required.

Through the collaboration, Airfide’s sensing and localization technologies are embedded into hardware platforms built around the 5G data card.

Ultra-Wideband Positioning for Indoor Tracking
Airfide integrates FiRa-compliant ultra-wideband technology into the 5G platform to enable high-precision indoor positioning. UWB supports fine-range measurement between devices, allowing accurate tracking of assets or personnel within facilities such as warehouses or enterprise campuses.

Compared with systems based on Bluetooth Low Energy, UWB provides higher accuracy and better performance in large or dense environments. Integrating the positioning capability directly into 5G gateways allows equipment manufacturers to implement geofencing and asset tracking functions without deploying separate location infrastructure.

The solution includes reference hardware, software and cloud management tools designed to simplify system integration.

Millimeter-Wave Radar for Environmental Sensing
The platform also incorporates Airfide’s 60 GHz millimeter-wave radar technology. Operating across 4 GHz of unlicensed spectrum, the radar uses a four-receiver and three-transmitter configuration capable of sub-centimeter sensing precision.

Embedded into FN990B40-based systems, the radar enables applications including occupancy detection, object tracking and monitoring of human activity. Potential use cases include fall detection for assisted living environments and contactless monitoring of physiological signals such as heart rate.

Because the sensing technology does not rely on cameras or visual imaging, it can be deployed in privacy-sensitive environments including healthcare facilities or public spaces.

Intelligent Services on 5G Infrastructure
In addition to connectivity, the combined platform allows network infrastructure devices to provide data analytics and sensing services. For example, telecommunications operators are evaluating the technology in markets such as Japan for deployment in 5G repeater systems.

By embedding sensing capabilities directly into network equipment, service providers can potentially deliver new location-aware and analytics services alongside traditional broadband connectivity.

The collaboration reflects a broader shift in 5G deployments toward edge intelligence, where connectivity platforms integrate sensing, positioning and data processing capabilities within a single system architecture.

Edited by Industrial Journalist, Romila DSilva - Powered by AI