Cinterion, Sierra Wireless, Telit lead M2M module market

Sierra Wireless was the top revenue earner from sales of M2M cellular embedded module vendors in 2011, according to ABI Research. Cinterion came second, and Telit third. The top three vendors by module unit shipment volume in 2011 were Cinterion, Telit, and Sierra Wireless.

ABI Research’s market share rankings of M2M cellular embedded module vendors for 2011 evaluates vendors’ market share performance for both total unit shipment volume of M2M cellular modules, as well as for total M2M revenue, including modules, terminals, software, and services.  



Cinterion has been the unit shipment volume market share leader since ABI Research started tracking cellular M2M module sales in 2003. With the acquisition of Cinterion by Gemalto in 2010, the company is hoping to leverage Gemalto’s resources and complementary offerings (i.e. SIMs) to build a more comprehensive and differentiated offer in the market.  



Sam Lucero, practice director, M2M connectivity, states, “The biggest change from 2010 to 2011 was the rise of Telit from third place to second place in the unit shipment volume analysis. Likewise, Telit Communications displaced SIMcom Wireless Solutions at third place in the M2M revenue rankings.”

ABI Research’s “M2M Embedded Module Vendor Market Share Market Data,” presents cellular M2M embedded module vendor market share data for 2011. 

It is part of ABI Research’s M2M Research Service. 

Sierra Wireless was one of the first vendors to push beyond modules to the supply of a software platform – its AirVantage hybrid connected device platform/application enablement platform (CDP/AEP).  Moving away from a pure module strategy has benefited Sierra Wireless financially in the face of increasing price pressure, as is the company’s strong focus on higher-value automotive module products.



Telit Communications has been the fastest growing of the major vendors for several years now, rising from roughly 6% market share in 2007 to more than 20% market share (on a unit shipment volume calculation) in 2011.

The main companies active in the cellular M2M module market include: Cinterion, Huawei, iWOW, Neoway, Novatel Wireless, Quectel, Sagemcom, Sierra Wireless, SIMcom Wireless Solutions, Telit Communications, u-blox, and ZTE.