ST87M01-1000 - NB-IoT LTE Cat NB2 Module | STMicroelectronics
MPN: ST87M01-1000 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ST87M01-1000 Overview
An NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) module is a low-power wide-area (LPWAN) radio transceiver standardized by 3GPP for LTE Cat NB2. It sits within the broader hierarchy of cellular modules: transceiver -> cellular module -> wireless connectivity IC -> semiconductor device. NB-IoT prioritizes deep indoor penetration, ultra-low standby current and years of battery life over raw throughput, which suits metering, sensing and tracking infrastructure.
Key features of the ST87M01 include fully programmable embedded processing, comprehensive worldwide band coverage on a single hardware SKU, and advanced security features per the STMicroelectronics product brief. The ultra-compact LGA footprint facilitates device miniaturization without compromising RF performance, and the industrial-grade design targets long deployment lifetimes.
Architecturally, the ST87M01 series integrates the NB-IoT modem, baseband and RF front end into one module, exposing a standard LGA land pattern for direct PCB mounting. The 1.8 V supply domain simplifies power-tree design around common low-voltage batteries and regulators. ST describes it as the first all-in-one module family combining NB-IoT, GNSS and Wi-Fi positioning across its variants; the -1000 SKU provides the cellular function alone.
Typical applications include smart electricity, gas and water metering, smart-city infrastructure such as street lighting and parking sensors, industrial condition monitoring, and asset-tracking endpoints where positioning is handled by another means.
Design consideration: choose the -1000 variant when GNSS is not required, since the -1001 variant with GNSS capability costs more and consumes additional power; verify antenna keep-out and RF layout per the ST87M01 hardware design guidance.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ST87M01-1000 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with ST87M01-1000 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Antenna, Positioning, Security, Availability Commitment, Certification.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ST87M01-1001
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →ST87M01-1000 Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | NB-IoT industrial module |
| Standard | 3GPP LTE Cat NB2 |
| LTE FDD Bands | B1, B3, B5, B8, B20, B28 |
| Positioning | Not included (-1000 variant; GNSS available on -1001) |
| Package Type | LGA |
| Package Dimensions | 10.6 mm x 12.8 mm |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V |
| Antenna | Antenna not included |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Programming | Fully programmable |
| Security | Advanced security features |
| Application Segment | Industrial IoT |
ST87M01-1000 Interfaces & Connectors
ST87M01-1000 exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Power Input | 1.8 V |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 1.8 V |
Power input and thermal parameters for ST87M01-1000 as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
ST87M01-1000 is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Metering (Gas, Water, Electricity), Smart City Infrastructure, Industrial Condition Monitoring, Asset Tracking (Positioning via Companion), Smart Parking and Occupancy Sensors, Agricultural and Environmental Monitoring.
Smart Metering (Gas, Water, Electricity)
The ST87M01-1000 fits smart metering because NB-IoT signals penetrate basements, shafts and metal meter cabinets where 2G/4G coverage fails, and the ultra-low-power LTE Cat NB2 design supports multi-year battery operation on a 1.8 V supply rail shared with metering electronics. In a typical deployment the module registers on band B8, B20 or B28, transmits a short consumption telegram periodically, then enters power-saving states between reports. Because meter endpoints are stationary, the absence of GNSS on the -1000 variant saves cost and quiescent current compared with the -1001. ST's STEVAL-NBIOTV1 reference design explicitly targets metering, validating the design-in path. Layout effort is modest: one external antenna, standard decoupling, and the compact 10.6 mm x 12.8 mm LGA footprint integrate cleanly inside meter housings.
Recommended
Smart City Infrastructure
Street-lighting controllers, parking sensors, waste-container monitors and environmental stations all share the same requirements: long battery life, deep-indoor/outdoor coverage and low monthly connectivity cost. The ST87M01-1000 addresses each point with LTE Cat NB2 operation across bands B1, B3, B5, B8, B20 and B28, allowing one hardware SKU to be deployed across different cities and operators. Its fully programmable architecture lets firmware handle sensor polling, message scheduling and OTAA/NB-IoT network registration locally, while advanced security features protect command channels for actuators such as dimmers and lock controls. The ultra-compact 10.6 mm x 12.8 mm LGA package suits pole-mounted and pole-top enclosures with tight volume budgets. For city nodes needing location stamping, the ST87M01-1001 variant adds GNSS in the same footprint, enabling a single PCB platform across both fixed and movable assets.
Recommended
Industrial Condition Monitoring
Factory and site condition-monitoring nodes measuring vibration, temperature or pressure benefit from the ST87M01-1000's industrial-grade design and comprehensive band coverage, which maintains connectivity across geographically distributed plants using different NB-IoT operators. The module's low-power profile allows nodes to wake, sample, transmit a compact payload and return to sleep for months on a small battery or energy-harvesting supply. Its 1.8 V supply domain pairs naturally with modern low-voltage sensor front ends and STM32 host controllers, reducing level-shifting complexity. Because machine locations are fixed, omitting GNSS (versus the -1001) trims unit cost at fleet scale. For development, the EVKITST87M01-1 X-NUCLEO shield lets engineers validate link budget inside metallic enclosures early, and the STEVAL-NBIOTV1 demonstrates a complete battery-powered reference design suitable for retrofit sensor adapters.
Recommended
Asset Tracking (Positioning via Companion)
For tracking applications, the ST87M01-1000 handles the wide-area communication link while positioning is delegated to a companion GNSS receiver or Wi-Fi positioning scheme, which can reduce system cost when trackers report infrequently. The module's NB-IoT LTE Cat NB2 modem sends compact position reports across bands B1, B3, B5, B8, B20 or B28, and its advanced security features protect fleet-management payloads. Where integrated positioning is preferred, the pin-compatible ST87M01-1001 variant adds GPS/Galileo and Wi-Fi positioning in the identical 10.6 mm x 12.8 mm LGA package, letting one PCB design serve both economy (-1000) and full-feature (-1001) tracker SKUs. ST's STEVAL-NBIOTV1 battery-powered reference design specifically targets asset tracking, providing a proven power-architecture starting point for duty-cycled transmit and sleep scheduling that maximizes cell-battery lifetime in the field.
Recommended
Smart Parking and Occupancy Sensors
Ground-embedded and kerb-side parking sensors demand the exact strengths of the ST87M01-1000: NB-IoT's penetration through asphalt and concrete, an ultra-compact 10.6 mm x 12.8 mm LGA footprint that fits slim in-road housings, and multi-year battery life from the low-power LTE Cat NB2 protocol. A typical node detects vehicle presence magnetically or ultrasonically, then uploads a short occupancy message on bands B20 or B8; the -1000's lack of GNSS is irrelevant because parking bays are fixed coordinates provisioned at installation. The fully programmable module can embed detection logic and adaptive reporting intervals directly in firmware, cutting host-MCU workload. ST's smart-city positioning of the ST87M01 family and the STEVAL-NBIOTV1 reference design (smart city, metering, tracking) give engineers a validated path from bench prototype to deployed parking-sensor fleets.
Recommended
Agricultural and Environmental Monitoring
Remote agricultural and environmental nodes - soil-moisture probes, weather stations, irrigation valve controllers - operate far from power infrastructure, making the ST87M01-1000's ultra-low-power NB-IoT link and 1.8 V supply ideal for solar-rechargeable or primary-cell operation. Band coverage spanning B1, B3, B5, B8, B20 and B28 supports rural NB-IoT deployments across Europe, Asia and Australia with one SKU. The module transmits small telemetry payloads at low duty cycles, and its industrial temperature-grade construction tolerates outdoor enclosures. Fixed installations gain no benefit from GNSS, so the -1000 variant minimizes cost across large sensor fleets; mobile equipment can adopt the ST87M01-1001 with built-in GPS/Galileo on the same footprint. Development is accelerated by the EVKITST87M01-1 Arduino-compatible shield, and the STEVAL-NBIOTV1 demonstrates a complete battery-powered node architecture ready for field trials.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ST87M01-1000 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ST87M01-1001 |
|---|---|---|
| Package | LGA 10.6 mm x 12.8 mm | LGA 10.6 mm x 12.8 mm - same |
| Brand | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics |
| Cellular Standard | LTE Cat NB2 (NB-IoT) | LTE Cat NB2 (NB-IoT) |
| LTE FDD Bands | B1, B3, B5, B8, B20, B28 | B1, B3, B5, B8, B20, B28 |
| GNSS Positioning | Not included | GPS/Galileo GNSS integrated |
| Wi-Fi Positioning | Not included | Wi-Fi 802.11b positioning support |
| Relative Cost Position | Lower (positioning omitted) | Higher (adds GNSS/Wi-Fi positioning) |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest cost and power in the ST87M01 family (vs ST87M01-1001)
- Worldwide band coverage on one SKU (vs ST87M01-1001)
- Trade-off: no integrated positioning (vs ST87M01-1001)
Design Notes
The ST87M01-1000 does not include an antenna (per DigiKey listing), so the RF port must connect to an external antenna through a 50-ohm controlled-impedance trace with a matching network per the ST87M01 hardware design documentation. Keep the antenna clear of ground planes and metal housings, and validate link budget early using the EVKITST87M01-1 X-NUCLEO shield, which is Arduino-connector compatible. For deep-indoor nodes such as basement meters, an external high-gain antenna often improves NB-IoT coverage class and reduces retransmissions, directly extending battery life.
Design the power tree around the module's 1.8 V supply domain (per the Farnell listing title referencing 1.8 V operation). NB-IoT transmit bursts create significant transient current; size the regulator and bulk capacitance to handle peak burst current without droop, following the ST87M01 datasheet power-supply recommendations. For battery nodes, use a low-Iq LDO or buck converter and implement the module's power-saving modes between reporting intervals. Consult the STEVAL-NBIOTV1 battery-powered reference design, which ST validated specifically for asset tracking, smart city and metering duty cycles.
Verify the exact land pattern before layout: sources conflict on the pin count of the ST87M01 LGA package (one datasheet excerpt states 51 pins; the Ultra Librarian CAD listing describes 58 pads). Always take the official ST87M01 datasheet or verified CAD model as ground truth. Also note the manufacturer standard lead time is long (Farnell lists 47 weeks), so qualify the ST87M01-1001 as a second source early - it shares the same footprint and adds GNSS, giving an in-family fallback if -1000 supply tightens.
Compliance Information
Compliance data was not present in the retrieved web data for ST87M01-1000. Consult the official ST87M01 datasheet and ST product page for RoHS/REACH declarations.
