IN Brief:
- The SC153 uses Qualcomm Dragonwing Q-4390 processing and supports 3GPP Release 16 sub-6GHz 5G and LTE.
- Fibocom quotes maximum downlink rates of 2.3Gbps in standalone mode and 2.5Gbps in EN-DC operation.
- The LGA module is still in debugging, with mass production planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Fibocom has introduced the SC153 5G smart module at NetworkX 2026 in Vienna, combining Qualcomm Dragonwing Q-4390 application processing with sub-6GHz cellular connectivity for embedded equipment. The module supports 3GPP Release 16 and both standalone and non-standalone 5G networks, while providing interfaces for displays, peripheral electronics and data acquisition. The company says the hardware is still undergoing debugging and that mass production is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Unlike a cellular modem module designed primarily to pass data to an external host, the SC153 integrates application processing and supports Android-based device software. Its Qualcomm CQ4390 platform uses an eight-core Kryo CPU configuration with two cores specified at 2.2GHz and six at 1.8GHz, alongside an Adreno 613 graphics processor. Fibocom lists a configuration with 2GB of LPDDR4X memory and 16GB of eMMC storage, although designers must establish which options will be available when production begins.
The company quotes a maximum downlink rate of 2.3Gbps in 5G standalone operation, increasing to 2.5Gbps when using E-UTRA New Radio Dual Connectivity, or EN-DC. EN-DC combines LTE and 5G New Radio resources in a non-standalone deployment; it is not simply another name for a standalone 5G connection. The quoted numbers are peak module capabilities under relevant network conditions, rather than guaranteed application throughput inside a completed industrial device.
The hardware supports a global collection of sub-6GHz 5G NR and LTE frequency bands, with two SIM interfaces and eSIM support noted in Fibocom’s published specifications. Band support is an important prerequisite for regional hardware reuse, but regulatory approvals and mobile-network certification are separate steps. The product information identifies proposed certification programmes, some marked as pending, so equipment developers should not assume universal carrier acceptance before testing is complete.
Fibocom packages the module in a land-grid-array housing measuring 45.0 × 48.0 × 2.75mm, placing the electrical connections beneath the component for assembly onto a customer board. The company specifies a supply range from 3.5V to 4.4V and an operating temperature range from −30°C to +75°C. These limits define useful integration constraints for handheld or fixed industrial equipment, particularly where the module sits near processing electronics that add heat inside a compact enclosure.
The listed interface set includes USB 3.1, UART, I²C, SD and a MIPI display connection, with the announcement also referring to a MIPI camera interface. Fibocom’s public product table does not currently give a camera specification, which leaves that detail to be confirmed against the final integration documentation. Its Wi-Fi capability is likewise described through external interfaces that can support selected Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 configurations, rather than as a universally integrated wireless subsystem.
Embedding an application processor alongside a cellular modem can reduce the number of separately designed board functions, but it concentrates decisions about software maintenance, power management and thermal behaviour around the module. USB and serial connections must be allocated among peripherals, while operating-system updates and cellular firmware need a support plan suited to the product lifecycle. Engineers also need to check how radio transmission affects peak supply current and nearby sensitive electronics.
Fibocom identifies smart retail equipment, industrial handheld terminals and connected robotics among the intended application areas. A high-data-rate uplink can support image transfer or remote diagnostics, although wireless latency also depends on radio coverage, network loading and application processing. A mobile robot requiring deterministic local control would still rely on its own safety and control architecture when network connectivity is interrupted.
Fibocom expects to move the SC153 into mass production during the fourth quarter of 2026, with carrier approvals and final interface documentation still to be established. Deployment in retail terminals or robotics equipment will depend on completed module qualification and testing within each host device, rather than the capabilities demonstrated at NetworkX alone.
