Sierra Wireless to Provide LTE-Advanced for Lenovo Products

Although Sierra Wireless is more focused on the Internet of Things (IoT) with its wireless solutions, the company does still provide connectivity for more traditional tech, like laptops, now and then. Case in point, Sierra’s AirPrime EM7455 embedded module has been selected by Lenovo to enable reliable LTE-Advanced cellular connectivity in the manufacturer’s upcoming notebooks, tablets and 2-in-1s.

LTE-Advanced is the latest 4G LTE standard that is meant to improve network capacity, throughput and operational efficiency. The AirPrime EM7455 is the industry’s first embedded module to support LTE-Advanced, making it a significant release for Sierra. The fourth generation of LTE modules from Sierra Wireless, the EM7455 is a good fit for Lenovo’s devices as it is designed for mobile computing and enterprise networking.

Sierra Wireless has a long history in supporting the latest LTE standards. For example, the company last year released new 4G gateways, namely the AirLink GX450 4G mobile gateway and the AirLink ES450 4G enterprise gateway. Both devices brought support for a broader line of LTE frequency bands, making them compatible with more 4G LTE networks around the world.

“The new AirPrime EM7455 module allows OEM customers to deploy solutions for LTE-A networks in North America and Europe with a single device, making it easy for them to provision and change mobile networks,” said Dan Schieler, senior vice president of OEM Solutions for Sierra Wireless. “On-board mobile network switching, which is unique to Sierra Wireless LTE-A modules, can help customers drive efficiency in their inventory management, manufacturing, and deployment processes.”

The new AirPrime EM7455 is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X7 LTE modem and is pre-certified for European and North American networks. Lenovo hasn’t announced which specific devices will feature the EM7455, but with broad connectivity and support for the latest LTE standards, the embedded module is likely to turn up in a number of the company’s devices in the year ahead.