Qualcomm looks to sweep LTE IoT market, ramps up US MNO tests

Qualcomm is doing the rounds at CTIA, announcing new LTE-focused IoT partnerships with the two dominant US MNOs – AT&T and Verizon, with drones and an IoT application platform respectively. Qualcomm is hoping to wrap up the IoT LTE market before it gets going, rooting itself into high-value applications before its rivals catch up. Qualcomm, unsurprisingly, is focused on solutions that will be used by its familiar customer portfolio – namely, cellular operators and device makers looking to connect their equipment to these networks. With AT&T, Qualcomm is investigating the potential for small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS), a.k.a. drones. Specifically, the project wants to examine how to use LTE in beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) applications – where an…