STMicroelectronics to Acquire Bespoon and Riot Micro
Integrating UWB and Cellular IoT Technologies into STM32 MCUs
Germany also formed a partnership with Trump to cooperate on UWB technology.


STMicroelectronics announced on the 29th that it has signed two merger and acquisition agreements related to the acquisition of the entire stock capital of BeSpoon, a UWB (Ultra Wide Band) specialist, and Riot Micro, a company with cellular IoT connectivity technology. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

Upon completion of both transactions, which are subject to customary regulatory approvals, ST plans to strengthen and add wireless connectivity capabilities to its STM32 MCU and secure MCU portfolio.

Founded in 2010 in Le Bourget du Lac, France, Bespoon is a fabless company specializing in UWB communication technology. UWB communication technology enables safe, real-time indoor positioning with centimeter-level accuracy even under adverse conditions.

ST plans to integrate Bispoon's positioning technology into its STM32 product portfolio to support the development of IoT, automotive, and mobile communications applications that provide services such as secure access and precise indoor and outdoor mapping.

At the same time as acquiring Bespoon from its founder and Germany's TRUMPF, which is the majority shareholder of Bespoon, ST has decided to form a strategic partnership with TRUMPF to enhance its UWB communication technology.

Riot Micro, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, designs cellular IoT solutions using proven design techniques optimized for system cost and power, from Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Wi-Fi to LTE Cat-M and NB-IoT.

ST will integrate Riot Micro's cellular communication technology into its STM32 portfolio, strengthening its product line to enable customers to develop applications such as asset tracking, metering, and fleet management services.

“Cellular IoT and UWB technologies are solutions that will enable the next generation of IoT connected applications,” said Claude Dardanne, President of STMicroelectronics’ MCU and Digital IC Group. “This acquisition will complement ST’s existing wireless MCU portfolio, which includes Bluetooth 5.0 and IEEE 802.15.4 communication protocols, as well as LoRa®-enabled SoCs.”