CC2560A (SIM card on RISC-V processor)

2024: Product Announcement

At the end of June 2024, the Chinese operator China Mobile announced the development of the world's first SIM card with a processor based on the open RISC-V architecture. The product with the designation CC2560A allows you to implement additional functions, as well as increase the speed of data exchange and improve the quality of communication.

The novelty is endowed with one RISC-V core operating at a clock frequency of 120 MHz. There is 2.5 MB of integrated flash memory, which is 10 times more than traditional SIM cards. In addition, the CC2560A supports hardware encryption technologies, which increases security.

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The solution is compatible with 5G and 5,5G mobile networks. The operating temperature range ranges from -40 to + 85 degrees Celsius. Thanks to this, the SIM card can be used in various equipment, including Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which are operated in harsh conditions, for example, in open spaces. NFC support has been implemented.

Among the possible areas of application are electronic student tickets, digital car keys, public transport and other areas where access control is needed. It is assumed that China Mobile will use SIM cards with a RISC-V processor in its own products. As of mid-2024, nothing has been announced about whether it is planned to supply the product to third-party customers.

It is noted that SIM-cards with extended functionality, including CC2560A, are in demand primarily in the IoT segment. They provide capabilities such as connecting to multiple networks and automatically switching to another network in the event of a problem. These SIM cards can be installed in rental scooters, digital billboards and fleet tracking devices.^[1]

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