ST87M01-2301 NB-IoT + GNSS/Wi-Fi Module | STMicroelectronics
MPN: ST87M01-2301 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ST87M01-2301 Overview
A cellular module is a self-contained wireless subassembly that integrates an LTE modem baseband, RF transceiver, front-end, power management and protocol stack on a single surface-mount land pattern, connecting a host microcontroller to operator networks through a simple UART or USB interface. Within the IoT connectivity hierarchy, NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT, standardized by 3GPP as LTE Cat NB2) sits alongside LTE-M as a licensed-spectrum LPWAN technology optimized for low data rates, deep indoor coverage and multi-year battery life.
Key differentiating features of the ST87M01-2301 include its all-in-one integration of NB-IoT cellular, GNSS satellite positioning and Wi-Fi positioning - which ST describes as the first such combination in the industry - together with advanced security features and full programmability of the module firmware.
The module series is described by STMicroelectronics as high-performance, fully programmable, ultra-compact and low-power, certified for LTE Cat NB2 operation with comprehensive worldwide band coverage. The -2301 variant is region-targeted for the USA and Canada and is certified for those markets, with companion Anatel-certified variants (-1100/-1101) available for Brazil.
Typical applications include asset tracking (where GNSS and Wi-Fi positioning remove the need for a separate positioning IC), smart metering, smart-city infrastructure and battery-powered industrial sensors - use cases showcased in the STEVAL-NBIOTV1 evaluation platform and the STDES-ST87M01IGN 2-layer FR4 reference design.
Design considerations: NB-IoT coverage and operator support must be confirmed per country, and SIM selection (eSIM or classic SIM, both supported) affects the data plan; RF layout should follow the STDES-ST87M01IGN reference design for antenna matching and power integrity.
This page synthesizes datasheet data, family-variant drop-in alternatives, evaluation-tool pairings and pricing references not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ST87M01-2301 — 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 ST87M01-2301 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Positioning, Availability Commitment, Antenna, Certification, LTE FDD Bands.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ST87M01-1301
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ST87M01-2001
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →ST87M01-1001
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →ST87M01-1101
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →ST87M01-1100
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →ST87M01-2301 Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | NB-IoT (LTE Cat NB2) industrial cellular module |
| Positioning | GNSS + Wi-Fi positioning |
| Additional Interfaces | Extra ADC |
| LTE FDD Bands | B2, B4, B5, B12, B13, B66, B85 |
| Target Region | USA and Canada (region-certified variant) |
| Cellular Standard | 3GPP LTE Cat NB2 (NB-IoT) |
| Programmability | Fully programmable |
| Security | Advanced security features |
| SIM Support | Classic SIM and eSIM |
| Form Factor | Ultra-compact (LGA SMD) |
| Power Profile | Ultra-low-power |
| Certification | Certified NB-IoT module family |
| Availability Commitment | 15 years availability (per ST community statement) |
ST87M01-2301 Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ST87M01-2301. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for connector and header details.
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ST87M01-2301 is suitable for 6 applications: Asset Tracking, Smart Metering, Smart City Infrastructure, Battery-Powered Industrial Sensors, Multi-Region IoT Product Lines, Security and Location Reporting Devices.
Asset Tracking
The ST87M01-2301 fits asset tracking because it combines NB-IoT cellular connectivity, GNSS satellite positioning and Wi-Fi positioning in one ultra-compact, ultra-low-power module, removing the need for a separate positioning IC on the PCB. In a tracker, the module reports position via the NB-IoT uplink on LTE FDD bands B2/B4/B5/B12/B13/B66/B85, while the extra ADC can monitor battery voltage or an external sensor. STMicroelectronics explicitly targets this use case with the STEVAL-NBIOTV1 battery-powered evaluation platform. The Wi-Fi positioning fallback provides fixes where GNSS signals are weak, at the cost of slightly higher average current during positioning sessions, which must be duty-cycled for multi-year battery life.
Recommended
Smart Metering
For smart water, gas and electricity meters, the ST87M01-2301 provides certified LTE Cat NB2 connectivity with deep-indoor penetration characteristics inherent to NB-IoT, plus an extra ADC suitable for analog meter-front-end sampling. Meters are typically fixed installations, so the GNSS/Wi-Fi positioning can serve commissioning-time location stamping or anti-tamper relocation alarms rather than continuous tracking. ST offers the connectivity-only ST87M01-2001 as a drop-in family variant when positioning is not needed, letting one PCB design span meter SKUs. Design considerations include operator NB-IoT coverage verification per deployment country and SIM/eSIM plan selection, both highlighted in ST's community guidance for this module family.
Recommended
Smart City Infrastructure
Smart-city nodes - parking sensors, streetlight controllers, waste-level monitors - benefit from the ST87M01-2301's combination of licensed-spectrum NB-IoT reliability and integrated positioning. According to ST, the STEVAL-NBIOTV1 platform integrating the ST87M01 is tailored for smart city applications, enabling rapid prototyping of battery-powered infrastructure nodes. The module's advanced security features support the authentication and secure-update requirements typical of publicly deployed infrastructure, and its ultra-compact form factor fits pole- or enclosure-constrained installations. For city-wide rollouts, the region-certified suffix system (-2301 for USA/Canada, -1100/-1101 Anatel-certified for Brazil) simplifies multi-region deployment without PCB changes.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Industrial Sensors
Industrial condition-monitoring sensors running for years on a primary cell are a core target for the ST87M01-2301: ST describes the family as ultra-low-power and cost-efficient, and NB-IoT's LTE Cat NB2 protocol is designed for infrequent small-payload reporting with extended coverage. The extra ADC allows direct connection of analog sensors (temperature bridges, pressure transducers) without an external converter in simple nodes. A duty-cycled architecture - sensor measure, ADC read, position fix if needed, NB-IoT transmit, deep sleep - maximizes battery life. ST guarantees 15 years availability for the family, matching the service life expectations of industrial sensor deployments, and the STDES-ST87M01IGN reference design provides a proven 2-layer PCB starting point.
Recommended
Multi-Region IoT Product Lines
The ST87M01 family's region-certified suffix system makes it well suited to products shipping to multiple regions on one PCB. A single hardware design can populate ST87M01-2301 for USA/Canada, ST87M01-1100 or -1101 (Anatel-certified) for Brazil, or the connectivity-only -2001/-1001 for cost-optimized fixed nodes, all on the same module footprint within the same family. This eliminates PCB respins and requalification when entering new markets - only the certified module variant changes. The main engineering consideration is confirming each target operator's NB-IoT band support against the variant's band list (e.g., B2/B4/B5/B12/B13/B66/B85 for the -2301) before regional release.
Recommended
Security and Location Reporting Devices
The ST87M01-2301's advanced security features and integrated GNSS/Wi-Fi positioning make it appropriate for security-oriented devices such as movable equipment alarms, lone-worker devices and high-value goods seals. The module provides authenticated NB-IoT uplink of position and status, with the Wi-Fi positioning layer delivering coarse fixes indoors where GNSS is unavailable - a common requirement for theft-detection scenarios. Because the module is fully programmable, positioning and reporting logic can partially run on-module, reducing host MCU load. Trade-offs versus a dedicated tracker chipset are higher module cost and the need to duty-cycle positioning to preserve battery life; the extra ADC supports tamper-switch or vibration-sensor inputs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ST87M01-2301 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ST87M01-1301 | ST87M01-2001 | ST87M01-1101 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | Ultra-compact LGA SMD (ST87M01 family) | Same ST87M01 form factor | Same ST87M01 form factor | Same ST87M01 form factor |
| Brand | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics |
| Cellular Standard | LTE Cat NB2 (NB-IoT) | LTE Cat NB2 (NB-IoT) | LTE Cat NB2 (NB-IoT) | LTE Cat NB2 (NB-IoT) |
| GNSS Positioning | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Positioning | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- All-in-one NB-IoT + GNSS + Wi-Fi positioning (vs ST87M01-2001)
- North America certified (vs ST87M01-1101)
- Same-footprint feature downgrade path (vs ST87M01-1001)
Design Notes
Follow the STDES-ST87M01IGN reference design for production layout: ST implements it on a 2-layer FR4 PCB of 90 mm x 60 mm, 1.6 mm thickness, demonstrating that the ST87M01 NB-IoT + GNSS module does not require exotic stackups. Keep the RF feed from module antenna pad to antenna connector/PCB antenna short and matched per the datasheet RF section, and keep the GNSS antenna path separated from the cellular path to avoid desense during NB-IoT transmit bursts.
Verify NB-IoT coverage and operator support before committing hardware: ST community guidance explicitly states you must check with operators that NB-IoT coverage exists in your target country and choose a SIM with a suitable data plan. Also confirm the band list (B2/B4/B5/B12/B13/B66/B85 for the -2301) against your operator's NB-IoT carriers. Using an uncertified region variant can block network access or delay regulatory approval.
Design the power supply for NB-IoT transmit burst currents: LTE Cat NB2 radios draw significant pulsed current during uplink even though average consumption is ultra-low. Size the supply and decoupling so voltage does not droop below the module's minimum during bursts - consult the datasheet electrical characteristics for exact current figures (not listed in the summary data here). For battery designs, the STEVAL-NBIOTV1 platform provides a working battery-powered reference for the ST87M01.
Compliance Information
The ST87M01 series is described as a certified NB-IoT module family (regulatory/cellular certifications such as FCC/IC for North America and Anatel for Brazil per ST announcements); RoHS/REACH status not stated in provided data - confirm on st.com product page.
