ST Buys BeSpoon

ST has bought UWB specialist BeSpoon and the cellular IoT connectivity assets of Riot Micro.

“Cellular IoT and UWB technologies are key wireless connectivity solutions that will enable a next wave of IoT connected objects and innovative applications,” says Claude Dardanne (pictured) President of ST’s MCU and Digital ICs Group, “these acquisitions complement ST’s existing wireless microcontroller offer which includes Bluetooth and IEEE 802.15.4 communication protocols as well as the world’s first LoRa-enabled System-on-Chip. With these acquisitions, we will address all wireless IoT communication protocols.”

BeSpoon, based in Le Bourget du Lac, France, is a fabless semiconductor company founded in 2010 and specialised in UWB.

Their technology enables secure real-time indoor location with centimetre accuracy in environments under adverse conditions.

The integration of this key secure positioning technology in the STM32 product portfolio will enable developers of IoT, automotive and mobile communication applications to provide services such as secure access, and precise indoor & outdoor mapping.

ST will acquire BeSpoon from its majority shareholder, TRUMPF, and from its founders. In parallel with the transaction, ST and TRUMPF will enter into a strategic partnership for UWB tracking technology.

Riot Micro, based in Vancouver, Canada, designs cellular IoT solutions by applying proven design techniques from Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Wi-Fi to LTE Cat-M and NB-IoT to optimize system cost and power. The integration of cellular communication capabilities into the STM32 portfolio will strengthen ST’s offer for customers developing applications such as asset tracking, metering, and fleet management services.

The terms of the transactions were not disclosed.