No Deal: Renesas Terminates Proposed $249 Million Acquisition of Sequans
Company cites adverse tax rulings in Japan as reason…
Japan-based Renesas Electronics has cancelled its proposed $249 million acquisition of IoT module manufacturer Sequans Communications SQNS 0.00%↑. Renesas said that under the terms of the previously announced memorandum of understanding (MOU), the company could terminate the deal if it would take a big hit from the National Tax Agency of Japan.
The company said that on Feb. 15, it received an adverse tax ruling by the Japanese government, which allowed Renesas to terminate the MOU, which included the tender offer, according to a press release. “As a result of the termination of the MOU and termination of the tender offer, no ordinary shares or [American Depositary Shares] of Sequans will be purchased by Renesas in the tender offer and all ordinary shares and ADSs previously tendered but not withdrawn will be promptly returned,” according to the press release.
The deal was expected to close in the first quarter of 2024. It would have allowed Renesas to integrate Paris-based Sequans’ cellular connectivity products into its core product lineup of microcontrollers and microprocessors, the company said.
In its own press release, Sequans basically said it was moving on. "Our revenue pipeline continued to grow during the tender process," said Georges Karam, Sequans CEO and chairman, in a statement. "Many Massive IoT design wins are shipping and product revenues are ramping compared to 2023. We continue to enjoy a strong position in key sectors such as metering, fleet management and asset tracking. Furthermore, our 5G product is currently in the sampling phase, allowing us to capitalize on the distinct strategic value of this intellectual property. This is opening up new strategic opportunities similar to those successfully pursued in the past.”
Sequans has championed IoT tracking with cellular and low-power GNSS, particularly to mitigate loss from theft. The company marketed its IoT trackers for such applications as luggage, wallets, bikes, motorcycles, automobiles, industrial pallets, fleets, farm animals and shipping containers, to name a few.
For its part, Renesas has been expanding its connectivity product offerings through strategic acquisitions that include Dialog, Celeno and Panthronics. Sequans, founded in 2003 as a WiMAX chip company, almost went under when HTC stopped ordering its radio chips in 2011.
Sequans will release its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023 on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
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Mobile World Congress 2024: Location Technology Enabler for 5G, IoT and Connected Vehicles
While artificial intelligence dominated the sessions at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, location technology remained a solid choice for telecom companies to track people, vehicles and assets.
Google GOOG 0.00%↑ always has a big presence at MWC. The company announced a slew of Android-related updates, including one that allows Wear OS users to access public transit directions on Google Maps. Google said that users can look up departure times from their smartwatches and get compass-guided navigation directions.
The company also announced an enhanced screen reader support for Lens in Maps, which helps users explore nearby and identify places like ATMs, restaurants and transit stations. In addition, the Google announced, with the help of AI, Android Auto can automatically summarize long texts or busy group chats while users are driving. “It will also suggest relevant replies and actions, so you can simply tap once to send a message, share your ETA or start a call,” the company said.
In other mapping news, as Location Business News reported last week, Mapbox partnered with Snowflake and Maxar Intelligence to offer digital twin mapping solution for the telecommunications industry.
Connected Vehicles Still Big at MWC…
Before the worldwide pandemic, MWC was almost becoming an auto tech show with a slew of automakers and their Tier 1 suppliers. The past three years, this conference hasn’t been an auto show, but a forum for connectivity (except for the rollout of Xiaomi’s SU7 SUV this year).
Such companies as Harmon launched its Ready Connect 5G Telematics Control Unit (TCU), with Qualcomm’s QCOM 0.00%↑ Snapdragon Digital Chassis connected car technologies.
Cisco CSCO 0.00%↑ and TELUS announced at MWC that they are launching new 5G capabilities in North America to serve IoT use cases across industry verticals, with a focus on connected cars. The network will serve as a foundation to “support drive testing by a major North American automotive manufacturer's 5G Connected Car,” the company said.
Getting back to the most-talked about topic at MWC, AI, Geotab demonstrated its generative AI assistant for connected transportation, Geotab Ace. The solution, first launched at the company’s Geotab Connect user conference, features data-led AI processing capabilities that analyzes 75 billion data points daily.
Overall, MWC was upbeat for many attendees. However, Light Reading’s Mike Dano unloaded on the show with an article titled, “MWC Barcelona Stinks of Quiet Desperation.” Dano said that the undercurrent of MWC is a show of “quiet desperation” because 5G isn’t living up to the “sky-high expectations laid out at previous [MWC shows].” As a result, big vendors and network operators are laying off employees and there is a spending slowdown that isn’t going away.
In other MWC news:
Ceva CEVA 0.00%↑ rolled out its RivieraWaves ultra-wideband (UWB) IP for FiRa 2.0. Some use cases include private indoor navigation, which enables users of UWB-enabled smartphones or tablets to find their way in indoor positioning systems (such as shopping malls, airports), with centimeter-level accuracy while maintaining location privacy.
Quectel Wireless Solutions and MediaTek have announced that the Quectel RG620T 5G modules and MediaTek BE7200 Wi-Fi 7 modules have been adopted for mass commercial roll-out in Australia. This deployment is the first commercial, massive volume production use case for the RG620T and will bring 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) to end users across Australia, the company said.
1NCE launched high data IoT software for its customers with one price. Use cases include smart metering, street lighting and asset tracking.
Sequans launched its 5G Broadband: Taurus 5G NR with 1 Gbps speed. The company also rolled out its Calliope 2 module that is designed for industrial IoT and for trackers, security and alarm systems, payment systems, and industrial equipment. The company plans to launch the Monarch 2 GM02S LTE-M/NB-IoT module that supports GNSS.
Not many location tech announcements from such companies as Ericsson ERIC 0.00%↑, which use indoor 5G positioning systems.
GSMA, the show’s organizer, said MWC 2024 had 101,000 attendees from 205 nations. There were 2,700 exhibitors and 1,100 speakers.
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U.S. Government Looks at Regulating Connected Vehicles To Prevent Users From Tracking Victims
The Federal Communications Commission has announced a notice of proposed rulemaking that would allow the agency to use its authority to create protections for domestic abuse survivors by regulating connected vehicles.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s proposal would examine how the agency can use existing law to ensure car manufacturers and wireless service providers are taking steps to assist abuse victims, FCC said. The agency plans to seek comment on additional steps it can take to safeguard domestic violence survivors. The FCC said there are multiple media reports of smart car services that were used to stalk and harm survivors of violence and abuse.
“A car is a critical lifeline that can give survivors a way to escape their abusers, gain independence, and seek support,” Rosenworcel said in a statement. “Survivors of domestic abuse shouldn’t have to choose between giving up their vehicle and feeling safe. We must ensure car manufacturers and wireless carriers understand the full impact of the connectivity tools in new vehicles and how these applications can be used to stalk, harass, and intimidate.”
As Location Business News reported in January, the FCC asked the largest automakers and wireless carriers how they retain, share, or sell drivers’ location data collected on apps, devices and vehicles.
In letters to both automakers and carriers, the FCC said it was trying to protect survivors of domestic violence violence and abuse through the Safe Connections Act. The Act was signed into law in late 2022 to require mobile service providers to separate their phone lines from those of their abuser’s.
Other Location News
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Top News:
😮 Apple Spent More Than $10 Billion on Apple Car Before Canceling Project. “An electric vehicle with self-driving capabilities would need to cost at least $100,000, and it would have razor thin margins and stiff competition.”
🏛 Geotab, U.S. Can’t Stop Samsara’s Postal Tracking Device Protest. “Samsara Inc. IOT 0.00%↑ can advance its protest of the U.S. Postal Service’s $300 million procurement for telematic fleet-tracking devices, according to a U.S. Court of Federal Claims order. The court has denied contract awardee Geotab USA Inc.'s and the government’s motions to dismiss”
👍 BT Launches 'Multi-Million-Pound' NB-IoT Network for UK Smart Cities. “BT has opened a new NB-IoT network in the UK to serve the smart cities space, alongside utilities, construction, and logistics services. The firm claims 97 percent population outdoor coverage for the new infrastructure, which rides on its EE-branded LTE network in the 1800MHz band.”
🚘 Geely-Backed Luxury EV Maker Lotus Tech to Launch Autonomous Driving Cars in 60 Chinese Cities This Year. “Lotus Tech, which this week raised $880 million after completing a merger with Nasdaq-listed L Catterton Asia Acquisition, will start delivering its second mass-production EV model to Chinese customers next month.”
🤦♂️ Ukraine's War Has Shown the US Its Expensive GPS-Guided Munitions Aren't as Effective as It Thought: Report. “US-made Himars or Excalibur shells, which are guided to their targets using GPS, have proven vulnerable to Russian electronic-warfare units, which scramble their signals and send them off course.”
✈ Russian Jamming Is Now Messing Up GPS Signals for Norwegian Aviation Practically Every Day. “All countries in northern Europe bordering Russia are now reporting widespread jamming that could pose a risk to both shipping and aviation.”
😦 Russia Pursues New ASAT Capability Amid Declining Space Program. “After an uncharacteristically public back and forth between the administration and Capitol Hill, the White House confirmed last week that Russia is developing a “troubling” anti-satellite capability.”
Maps:
🗺 HERE WeGo Redefines Navigation with Visual Cues: A New Challenger to Google Maps and Waze. “Challenging Google Maps and Waze, this new feature aims to make turns and maneuvers simpler by incorporating visual reference points, offering a more precise and assuring navigation experience.”
🌎 Snapchat's Snap Map: A New Lens on the World and Friendships. “Snapchat's Snap Map feature allows users to explore global events, connect with friends, and maintain privacy settings, revolutionizing social media interactions.”
🚒 Rhode Island E-911 Announces Deployment of what3words.
📱 After Google Maps, Waze Is Also Getting New Map Colors. “Waze is quietly getting a subtle map color refresh, only a few months after Google released a similar makeover for Google Maps.”
🙂 Updated Apple CarPlay Navigation Displays Are Far More Convenient. “The upcoming iOS 17.4 update for Apple products will bring a valuable improvement to certain Apple CarPlay users, namely those with dual-screen setups in their vehicles. Described as a ‘new instrument cluster experience’ by Apple, the new setup allows drivers to select which map view is displayed on the infotainment touchscreen and the digital instrumentation.”
📌 OpenStreetMap’s Pedestrian Working Group.
✔ Google Maps Is Finally Making Glanceable Directions Widely Available. “Glanceable directions feature on Google Maps provides real-time ETA and turn-by-turn directions in the route preview, improving the navigation experience.”
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Connected and Autonomous Vehicles:
😕 Robotaxis by GM's Cruise Are Getting Ready To Hit the Streets Again. “As per a report by Bloomberg, the driverless taxi company is in the works of resuming operations on public roads in the coming weeks, with vehicles deploying in cities such as Dallas and Houston.”
👌 Mitsubishi, TomTom Combine on Cockpit That Monitors Driver, Traffic. “Mitsubishi Electric Automotive, with help from TomTom [TOM2], has developed a cockpit that incorporates the latest developments from both companies such as simplified controls, more precise maps and driving instructions and more effective voice recognition.”
🚗 Verizon Creating Replica Of US Wireless Network In Germany For Audi’s Connected Car Tests. “Together, the two companies plan to build replicas of U.S., European, and Asian wireless networks at a single facility in Germany.”
🚐 Verizon and KDDI Partner To Connect High-Tech AFEELA Electric Vehicle From Sony Honda Mobility. “Verizon VZ 0.00%↑ is the telematics and connectivity provider for the AFEELA brand's first mass-production electric vehicle in the United States, through a long-term partnership with Japanese-headquartered telecom operator KDDI.”
🤔 Stellantis CEO Says There's Still Life in Waymo Deal for Self-Driving Delivery Vans. “This ‘deepened’ partnership will focus on commercial self-driving Ram delivery vans, a target that was first announced in 2020 and promptly faded from public view.”
🌎 Tesla Looks to Add New Full Self-Driving and Premium Connectivity Plans in Canada. “The monthly subscription is available in the U.S. for $200 per month, this service allows Tesla owners to access the company’s suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).”
🚍 Driverless Trucking at CES 2024: Product Deployment on the Horizon.
🤞 Hyundai Motor, Kia and Kaist Form Joint Research Laboratory To Develop Next-Generation Autonomous Driving Sensor. “The joint research lab aims to develop high-performance and compact on-chip sensors and new signal detection technology that are essential in the increasingly competitive autonomous driving market.”
Drones:
👏 $500 Drone Calculates Its Position With Camera, Google Maps. “A team of drone enthusiasts have built a sub-$500 drone that uses a camera and Google Maps to provide itself with GPS coordinates, removing the need for a satellite signal.”
💲 SOCOM Awards Drone Company $6.9m for System To Overcome Radio Interference. “U.S. Special Operations Command has awarded a $6.9 million contract to drone technology company PDW today for delivery of a radio system that can overcome contested radio-frequency environments.”
🛩 Why the Army Needs a Drone Branch: Embracing Lessons From Ukraine. “The recent decision by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to establish a separate branch within their armed forces dedicated to drone systems signals a significant shift in military strategy, and reflects an evolving battlefield where uncrewed systems play a pivotal role.”
Fleet:
🚚 Ford Pro E-Telematics Subscription Rolls Out for Commercial Electric Vehicles. “With the software, fleet owners can keep track of EV range or fuel consumption. The software will also enable fleet managers to monitor vehicles and driver habits with live GPS, telematics with dashcam, and more.”
🚛 Lytx Integrates Data Management With Fleetio. “The company says paring its telematics with Fleetio's platform will quickly give customers insights to improve maintenance workflow.”
Financial:
💰 Unseenlabs Raises €85M for Maritime Tracking. “Unseenlabs’ key technology is an RF sensing payload that can track ships, including dark vessels, as they travel across the ocean.”
📈 Powerfleet and MiX Telematics Receive Shareholder Approval for Proposed Business Combination.
🌍 GEODNET Raises $3.5M To Build the World’s Largest Real-Time Kinematics Network
✔ Globalstar Announces 2023 Financial Results.
💲 Decoding Trimble: A Strategic SWOT Insight.
✔ Ride-Hailing Giant Grab Posts First Profitable Quarter.
✔ Ituran Presents Fourth Quarter & Full Year 2023 Results.
✔ Urgently to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conferences.
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Location Industry Briefs
Send your news releases to kdennehy@driverlessreport.com. Go to www.locationbusinessnews.com for more news and an archive of stories.
Gabb Wireless and HERE Technologies Partner
Gabb Wireless has partnered with HERE Technologies to launch Gabb Maps, which the companies are calling kid-safe mapping and navigation for all Gabb mobile phones. Gabb Maps leverages the HERE SDK to develop a customized, in-app map and routing solution with kid digital safety as the top priority, the company said.
Gabb Maps is customized to provide smart filtering that blocks out business information for age-inappropriate businesses such as liquor stores and blocks kids from “backdoor” access to the internet. Users can opt-in to send data to HERE, but the child’s data is anonymous and is only used to improve the navigation, the company said.
Contact: Brandon Jeppson, Gabb Wireless, brandon.jeppson@gabb.com, www.gabb.com.
Call for Proposals: Operationally Ready Complementary PNT Services
A solicitation was issued by the DOT/OST-R Volpe Center to obtain proposals from vendors with operationally ready Complementary PNT (CPNT) services and who are interested in fielding those services for test and evaluation in the Rapid Phase of DOT’s CPNT Action Plan. Evaluation conditions will include situations where GPS/GNSS service is disrupted or manipulated and CPNT‐specific threat vectors are introduced. Proposals are encouraged to be tailored to critical infrastructure PNT user requirements, the agency said. The Volpe Center is prepared to make multiple awards should multiple qualified bidder proposals meet the solicitation requirements, the agency said. Offers are due March 25, 2024.
Contact: Volpe Center, https://sam.gov/opp/5d3764f0f0794a57b83c257d4caf2248/view.
ABiT and UnaBiz Partner in Japan
ABiT Corporation has partnered with UnaBiz for their smart cities and logistics sectors offerings in Japan and around the world, the company said. The partnership will enable ABiT to create Sigfox-version of their IoT devices and solutions.
The new line of Sigfox-ready solutions will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2024, in markets within and beyond Japan, through joint sales and marketing efforts, the company said. Existing customers of ABiT and UnaBiz will have priority access to the new solutions wherever they align with their technical requirements, the company said.
Contact: Fu Shuhui, UnaBiz Technology, 65 6386 4932, shuhui.fu@unabiz.com, www.unabiz.com.
Oxa Deploys its Commercial Self-Driving Software
Oxa has launched its Oxa Driver product in passenger shuttles in Jacksonville, Florida. The services are a major investment in the city’s downtown area and are operated by U.S. shuttle service provider Beep in partnership with the Jacksonville Transport Authority (JTA) and the Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), the company said.
The shuttles are part of an autonomous vehicle (AV) program licensed by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Contact: Andy Winstanley, Oxa, 44 7387 528441, andy.winstanley@oxa.tech, www.oxatech.com.
GMV Awarded £2 Million Contract
GMV has been awarded a United Kingdom contract to develop the new White Rabbit switch, an emerging open hardware technology for fiber-optic time distribution. The contract was awarded by Innovate UK through its quantum-enabled positioning, navigation, and timing competition.
The GMV product will be used to augment and replace other technologies that currently depend on satellite navigation signals (GNSS) to meet their timing and synchronization needs, the company said.
Contact: GMV, marketing@gmv.com, www.gmv.com.
Quuppa and OnLogic Partner
Quuppa and OnLogic have partnered to integrate OnLogic’s controllers and servers to enhance asset tracking efficiency, the company said. The Onlogic controllers are pre-configured with the Quuppa Positioning Engine software and designed to connect to the Quuppa Site Manager. enabling secure real-time full-duplex communication and, above all, facilitating deployment ease.
As part of the partnership, Quuppa has selected the OnLogic Helix 500 fanless industrial computer as its recommended hardware platform for their positioning engine, the company said.
Contact: Quuppa, www.quuppa.com.
Topcon Partners With ProStar, Rolls Out GNSS Receiver
ProStar Holdings has announced a technology integration with Topcon. The integration combines ProStar's utility mapping software, PointMan, and Topcon's fixed and portable GNSS antennas.
In other Topcon news, the company launched its HiPer CR GNSS receiver designed for centimeter-level, real-time kinematic (RTK) accuracy. The unit is tailored for professionals in the surveying, construction, engineering, forestry, and mining industries.
Contact: Staci Fitzgerald, Topcon Positioning Systems, (925) 245-8610, corpcomm@topcon.com.
ORBCOMM Rolls Out ST 9101 Dual-Mode Terminal
ORBCOMM’s new ST 9101 dual-mode features strengthened IoT security with cellular jamming detection. The product is suited for government and military applications, the company said.
With the ST 9101 terminal comes a new cellular connectivity partner in AT&T Global, the company said. In addition, the solution now carries an extra 32 MB of device memory, the company said.
Contact: ORBCOMM, www.orbcomm.com.
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Lenovo Customers Can Purchase Airgain Asset Tracker
Airgain AIRG 0.00%↑ said that customers purchasing the Lenovo ThinkEdge SE360 V2 Servers now have the option of purchasing Airgain’s cellular-based AT6 Asset Tracker. These devices will fit inside a dedicated compartment built into the server with only minimal installation. The AT6 device leverages LTE-M cellular connectivity, Wi-Fi, cellular triangulation and GPS for location services and an accelerometer, light and temperature sensor for condition monitoring.
Contact: Martyn Gettings, Airgain, 44(0) 7831158416, www.airgain.com.
Greenville Water Uses Woolpert Survey Data
Greenville Water has contracted Woolpert to acquire bathymetric survey data of the North Saluda and Table Rock reservoirs using vessel-based multibeam sonar, the company said. The proactive data collection effort will be used to compile a high-density point cloud that will help support the assessment and management of the reservoirs’ critical water supply, the company said.
The data is expected to be delivered by the end of April. The contract is now underway, the company said.
Contact: Woolpert, woolpert.com.
Sanborn Used in Missouri Broadband Availability Map
The Missouri Department of Economic Development’s (DED) Office of Broadband Development (OBD) has launched the first version of the new Missouri Public Broadband Availability Interactive Map, which uses Sanborn Map Company’s Broadband Navigator technology. The project allows the public and private sectors to find out about broadband availability.
Contact: Thomas Harrington, Sanborn Map Company, tharrington@sanborn.com, www.sanborn.com.
GeoCue and CHC Navigation Launch TrueView 540
GeoCue and CHC Navigation have launched TrueView 540, a survey-grade lidar system for the North America market. The solution features a lidar payload with LP360 3D Point Cloud Processing Software.
TrueView 540 is a next-generation aerial surveying system that is the result of six years of development, the company said. It features fast and accurate acquisition of 3D data, the company said.
Contact: CHC Navigation, www.chcnav.com.
People
Driivz has appointed Blake Jessen as vice president of North America.
Tony Frazier, who led Maxar Technologies’ Earth Intelligence business, was named CEO at space mapping firm LeoLabs. Dan Ceperley, who co-founded LeoLabs in 2016, will become COO.
Ashutosh Pande has been named to the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), Blockchain and Web3 Advisory Council.
Yllka Shkupolli has been named customer success manager at Bintel AB. Shkupolli was with Combain Mobile AB, Worxmate and Traxmate.
Deb Rozeboom has celebrated 20 years at GeoComm. Rozeboom is product manager of Public Safety Applications and GIS Services.
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