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u-blox CEO on IoT Innovation in Taiwan

By Korbin Lan
Published: Oct 20,2024

TAIPEI, Taiwan - u-blox CEO, Stephan Zizala, recently visited Taiwan to meet with partners and customers. He also took time for a media interview, sharing insights into the company's development strategies, technological innovations, and future prospects in the IoT field. Zizala particularly emphasized how u-blox is leveraging precise positioning and reliable connectivity technologies to strategically position itself in the industrial and automotive sectors.

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"u-blox's mission is to cultivate connectivity and positioning technologies," said Zizala. "This encompasses numerous sectors including industrial, automotive, and consumer, providing a critical foundation for the development of the Internet of Things." Industrial applications currently account for 67% of u-blox's revenue (2023), while automotive contributes 19% and represents the fastest growing area thanks to the global development of autonomous driving technology.

He pointed out that u-blox's high-precision positioning modules are used in various industrial applications such as drones, robots, and agricultural machinery, enabling automation and precise control. In the automotive sector, u-blox's positioning and communication modules provide reliable support for autonomous driving, connected cars, and fleet management. In the consumer space, u-blox's technology can be found in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and pet trackers, enhancing convenience and enjoyment in people's lives.

Zizala further explained the impact of urbanization, citing examples like e-scooters, bike sharing, and charging stations. "Bike sharing requires precise positioning and cloud connectivity to function, and u-blox provides the key components to achieve this."

"u-blox's success stems from continuous technological innovation and deep cultivation of core technologies," Zizala emphasized. He highlighted u-blox's core technologies and products, including the latest GNSS chip technology – the M10 and X20 platforms. The M10 is the first cellular module with built-in GNSS for satellite IoT-NTN, integrating the low-power UBX-S52 cellular/satellite chipset with concurrent GNSS positioning and the M10 GNSS platform. The X20 is a full-band (L1/L2/L5/L6) platform integrating an L-band receiver, enabling high-precision positioning even in weak signal environments.

Regarding product sales, Zizala noted that most of u-blox's revenue comes from module sales, with only 20% from standalone chips. This is attributed to the nature of the IoT customer base. "Typically, even in large companies, these are smaller or mid-sized customers. If they can get something pre-configured, modularized, it simplifies their development cycle and saves them a lot of trouble."

He stated that u-blox provides a one-stop-shop approach offering positioning, cellular, and short-range technologies, along with cloud connectivity services. "It's natural for a development team providing a positioning device to think about how to connect that data to the cloud. So, if they can get both from the same place, it's easier for them."

"We are committed to providing customers with easy-to-use, reliable, and secure products and services. We also offer comprehensive technical support to help customers solve various problems," Zizala added.

Finally, addressing the Taiwanese market, Zizala stated that Taiwan's export-oriented economy, with many major US/EU customers having design or production sites and partners in the country, makes it an important base for u-blox. The Taiwanese market combines a rapidly developing business environment with a strong emphasis on product quality.

Furthermore, Zizala believes that the success of many Taiwanese SMEs in their niche markets demonstrates the breadth and diversity of the customer base in Taiwan. This drives u-blox's R&D team to continuously develop innovative products to meet these diverse needs.

Zizala also identified the key factors contributing to u-blox's success in Taiwan: market-leading GNSS technology, strong R&D capabilities, comprehensive services from design to production, local support (Taipei office established in 2007), and a commitment to quality and reliability.

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