Quectel Matter over Thread modules for smart home interoperability

Quectel Wireless Solutions has unveiled its KGM133S Matter over Thread modules, designed to enhance interoperability among mainstream smart home ecosystems. These modules integrate Thread connectivity with support for the latest Matter 1.4 specification, along with additional options for Zigbee and Bluetooth LE. Targeted at devices like door locks, sensors, and lighting systems, the KGM133S series aims to simplify protocol complexity for equipment manufacturers and address fragmentation in connected-home designs.

For readers of eeNews Europe, the introduction of Matter over Thread modules like the KGM133S could have significant implications on how European OEMs approach the architecture of low-power nodes, select radio front-ends, and plan IP-based connectivity for multi-ecosystem smart home products.

Matter over Thread modules leveraging Silicon Labs platform

The KGM133S series is built on Silicon Labs’ EFR32MG24 platform and supports Matter 1.4 over Thread, enabling IP-based connectivity with popular ecosystems such as Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings. Quectel emphasizes that the combination of Thread and Matter aims to reduce the reliance on proprietary gateways, as Thread nodes can connect via a Border Router, potentially streamlining network topology and reducing latency.

Each module in the KGM133S series features 256 KB SRAM and a choice of Flash capacities (1.5 MB, 2.5 MB, or 3.5 MB) to accommodate current firmware needs and future Matter feature updates. Powered by an Arm Cortex-M33 core running at speeds up to 78 MHz, these modules can handle protocol stacks and application code, offering a consolidated solution for vendors seeking to integrate multiple functions on a single radio SoC.

Quectel highlights the compact nature of the KGM133S modules, available in two footprints: 12.5 × 13.2 × 2.2 mm with IPEX or pin antenna options, and 12.5 × 16.6 × 2.2 mm with an onboard PCB antenna. Designers can configure up to 26 GPIOs as I²C, UART, SPI, or I²S, providing flexibility for interfacing with sensors, actuators, or audio subsystems.

Targeting efficient, secure smart home nodes

The KGM133S modules prioritize low-power operation based on Thread technology, catering to battery-powered endpoints that require mesh connectivity. With an RF section boasting a receive sensitivity better than –105 dBm and an optional transmit power of up to 19.5 dBm, these modules can maintain robust links in European homes with challenging layouts. The operating temperature range of –40 to +105 °C positions the modules for use in various settings, including outdoor lighting and exposed sensors.

In addition to supporting Matter over Thread, the KGM133S series also offers compatibility with Zigbee 3.0 and Bluetooth LE 6.0, facilitating the integration of legacy products and enabling commissioning and control features via smartphones. Secure Vault enhanced security, derived from the underlying Silicon Labs platform, equips manufacturers with a hardware-assisted approach to safeguard credentials and user data in connected-home deployments.

Delbert Sun, Deputy General Manager at Quectel Wireless Solutions, commented on the significance of the Matter protocol, stating, “Protocol fragmentation remains one of the biggest obstacles to seamless smart device connectivity, and the Matter protocol is the key to overcoming it. With our new Matter over Thread modules, we are helping the industry achieve true interoperability.”