Raspberry Pi 3 gets LTE thanks to Altair chipset

The Raspberry Pi series has long been popular with teachers, learners, and hobbyists due to its low price and flexibility. The Pi 3 is the latest in the series—as well as the first to introduce Wi-Fi connectivity out of the box. This connectivity has made it popular with Internet of Things (IoT) creators, but it looks like it's about to get a major upgrade in the form of an inexpensive ($15-20) LTE chipset from Altair.

According to ComputerWorld, the LTE chipset will allow long-distance control of electronics such as drones, cameras, and other devices over a cellular network—albeit at a modest 10/5Mbps. The founder of Raspberry Pi, Eben Upton, even sees industrial applications for the LTE-enabled Pi.

The Raspberry Pi 3 sells for $35, while Altair's chipset will cost between $15 and $20. Upton has stated that he has no plans to integrate LTE functionality directly into the Pi SoC itself as he wants to keep it as inexpensive as possible. Still, if you're really itching for a remote control to your smart dog-food dispenser that works over 50 miles away, $45-50 doesn't sound too bad.

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