Kerlink has introduced the Wirnet iStation M2, a next‑generation outdoor gateway designed to extend reliable IoT connectivity and edge processing to remote and power‑constrained locations. The company positions the device as suited to use cases such as mining sites, islands, smart cities, smart metering and smart agriculture.
“With the Wirnet iStation M2, Kerlink brings reliable IoT connection to isolated markets where power availability has historically been a barrier to deployment,” said Yann Bauduin, chief sales officer at Kerlink. The announcement emphasises energy efficiency, radio performance and on‑device compute as its principal advances.
Key technical features include ultra‑low power consumption (under 1.8 W), compatibility with a dedicated solar kit that Kerlink says delivers ten days of autonomy, and an i.MX 8XLite CPU with increased RAM to support local processing.
The gateway uses a Semtech SX1302 LoRa core and adds support for SF5/SF6 spreading factors intended to enable faster modulation and higher cell capacity. The M2 also provides twice the number of demodulators (eight channels) compared with earlier models, which is intended to raise message throughput.
Connectivity options cover 4G/5G cellular backhaul, Wi‑Fi and ethernet, while antenna design includes four internal antennas (covering cellular, GNSS and Wi‑Fi/BLE) plus an external LoRa antenna. Kerlink highlights built‑in radio diagnostics and optimisation tools to assist installation and ongoing operations.
Security and regulatory compliance are addressed through SecureBoot, SecureStorage and encrypted links, and the gateway is stated to comply with the EU RED Delegated Act 2022/30 (RED Cyber).
For operations and deployment teams, the combination of low power draw and solar autonomy is likely to be the most operationally significant aspect.
Deployments in locations where grid power or reliable backhaul are intermittent — such as remote agricultural sites, small islands or dispersed industrial operations — can be simplified by equipment that reduces cabling, battery replacement and frequent site visits.
The on‑device compute capability also supports local filtering and data reduction, which can lower bandwidth and cloud processing costs for large‑scale sensor estates.
Kerlink says the Wirnet iStation M2 will integrate with major LoRa network server providers, including Actility TAO, Netmore, ChirpStack, Orbiwise, Loriot and The Things Network. The company also notes that the existing Wirnet iStation will remain available alongside the new M2 model.
The gateway is designed and manufactured in France and carries a lifetime guarantee consistent with Kerlink’s portfolio. The company frames the M2 as a device to support the “Age of Edge” by enabling more processing at the network periphery and bringing connectivity to locations that have previously been difficult to serve.
