u‑blox Launches SARA‑R5 LTE‑M/NB‑IoT Modules: 5G‑Ready, Ultra‑Secure, Low‑Power for Long‑Term IoT Deployments

u‑blox today announced the SARA‑R5 series—its most advanced LTE‑M and NB‑IoT modules for low‑power wide‑area (LPWA) IoT. Built on the in‑house UBX‑R5 chipset and the M8 GNSS receiver, the modules deliver industry‑leading end‑to‑end security and a long product life cycle, making them ideal for mission‑critical devices that must operate for years.

Each module incorporates a lightweight, pre‑shared‑key (PSK) management system designed specifically for IoT workloads, and a full suite of security features that comply with the latest standards.

With operators worldwide preparing 5G roll‑outs, 5G readiness is now a critical selection criterion. The SARA‑R5 supports all 3GPP Release 14 LTE‑M/NB‑IoT features, enabling a seamless software upgrade path to 5G‑compatible networks without hardware changes.

Because the SARA‑R5 relies on u‑blox’s own UBX‑R5 chipset and M8 GNSS core, manufacturers enjoy guaranteed production availability, roadmap certainty, and silicon‑level support—critical for long‑term deployments.

Two variants are offered. The SARA‑R511M, equipped with an integrated M8 GNSS receiver, targets automotive, fleet‑management, tracking, and telematics applications. Its chip‑down design, with a dedicated GNSS antenna interface, can run in parallel with the cellular link, providing design flexibility while keeping total power consumption low.

The SARA‑R510M focuses on minimal power draw, consuming less than 1 µA in power‑save mode. It’s perfect for metering, smart‑city, connected‑health, security, and remote‑monitoring use cases that rely on battery power.