STMicroelectronics and Qualcomm Enter into Strategic Cooperation on Wireless Internet of Things

STMicroelectronics (ST) and Qualcomm Technologies International Ltd. (QTI), a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, announced that they have reached a new strategic agreement to jointly develop next-generation industrial and consumer IoT solutions based on edge AI . The two parties will give full play to their complementary advantages, starting with Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread multi-protocol system-on-chip SoCs, integrating Qualcomm Technologies' advanced AI wireless connectivity technology with ST's market-leading microcontroller ( MCU ) ecosystem. Through this collaboration, developers will enjoy wireless software, including software toolkits, that is seamlessly integrated into STM32 general-purpose MCUs, while promoting rapid and widespread market adoption of the solution through ST's global sales and distribution channels.

“Wireless connectivity is key to the rapid adoption of edge AI, which is emerging in enterprise, industrial, and personal devices,” said Remi El-Ouazzane, president of STMicroelectronics’ Microcontroller, Digital IC, and RF Division (MDRF) . “ST has chosen to enter into a strategic wireless connectivity partnership with Qualcomm Technologies, starting with Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread multiprotocol SoCs. We are also considering further collaboration plans to complement our existing Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, Thread, and sub-GHz multiprotocol portfolio. We hope to enhance the product power of each STM32 with Qualcomm Technologies’ wireless connectivity technology, bringing great value to our more than 100,000 STM32 customers worldwide.”

Rahul Patel, general manager of the connectivity, broadband and networking business unit at Qualcomm Technologies, said : "Qualcomm Technologies leads the industry in technology research and development, from groundbreaking 4G/5G to high-performance Wi-Fi to micro-power connectivity solutions, Qualcomm has promoted the development of wireless IoT technology. Our collaboration with STMicroelectronics will integrate Qualcomm's advanced wireless connectivity solutions with ST's market-leading STM32 microcontroller ecosystem, which will help feature-rich products to develop rapidly throughout the IoT industry. Together, the two parties have opened up a new experience in IoT application development, providing developers and end users with seamlessly integrated development convenience and excellent wireless connectivity performance."

STMicroelectronics will launch standalone modules with Qualcomm Technologies' Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread multi-protocol SoC portfolio built-in for a wider market, which can be integrated at the system level with any STM32 general-purpose microcontroller product. The optimized wireless connectivity solution will be integrated into the STMicroelectronics developer ecosystem to help developers shorten development time and time to market. The first products developed through this collaboration are expected to be available to OEMs in the first quarter of 2025, and the scope of supply will be expanded thereafter. This is just the first step in the collaboration between the two parties. The Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread multi-protocol SoC product roadmap will continue to evolve over time and is planned to expand to the field of mobile cellular connectivity for the Industrial Internet of Things.

“The installed base of consumer, commercial and industrial IoT devices is expected to exceed 80 billion by 2028. The emergence of products that combine high-performance wireless connectivity solutions with a wide range of microcontrollers will be the foundation for the next wave of wireless IoT innovation,” said Andrew Zignani, senior research director at ABI Research. “STMicroelectronics and Qualcomm Technologies are a strong combination, thanks to ST’s cutting-edge microcontroller ecosystem and Qualcomm Technologies’ significant strength in wireless connectivity R&D. As the two sides work together to develop integrated solutions, it will help device manufacturers develop simpler, faster and more cost-effectively in the next few years to better respond to the changing IoT market.”