The Digital Air Gap: Portless Provisioning to Eliminate Supply Chain Risk
Industry Context
The proliferation of connected devices has placed immense pressure on manufacturers to guarantee security from the first moment of creation. For producers of cellular modules, IoT devices, and secure electronics, provisioning, the act of injecting critical data like eSIM profiles, encryption keys, and unique identities, is the most critical and vulnerable step in manufacturing. As deployments scale into the billions, ensuring the integrity of this process is no longer just a feature; it is the foundation of customer trust and product viability.
The Problem: PROVISIONING IS BROKEN
Today's factories rely on outdated and insecure methods for provisioning. Physical connectors like USB, UART, or pogo pins are a fundamental security flaw, creating a physical attack surface for injecting malware or extracting secrets. These methods are also slow, unreliable, prone to mechanical failure, and require custom-built test fixtures that can cost over $50,000 per SKU.
The Solution: XA-NFE2001
The XA-NFE2001 Near Field Electric (NFE) transceiver chip replaces vulnerable physical ports with an instant, physically-secure data link that works directly through a device's plastic or glass enclosure.
Physically Secure Provisioning
The 'private by physics' NFE link creates a digital air gap. Data is shared within a confined communication bubble, making interception physically impossible and eliminating RF leakage.
Eliminate Production Bottlenecks
What takes 60+ seconds with a physical connector can be done in under 5 seconds with NFE. Flash a 1MB firmware file in about one second and provision up to 16 devices simultaneously.
Streamlined & Fixtureless
By removing the need for physical ports, you can simplify PCB design and build truly tamper-proof, sealed devices. A single, reusable NFE station handles endless product SKUs, eliminating the ~$50,000 CapEx for custom fixtures with every new product launch.
IMPACT & ROI
For a mid-volume module manufacturer producing 500,000 units/year and launching 20 new SKUs over 3 years.
The cost of a single supply chain breach can cripple a product line. The XA-NFE2001's digital air gap is an insurance policy against this catastrophic risk.
Based on avoiding the typical $50,000 fixture cost for 20 new product SKUs. One NFE station replaces dozens of custom legacy jigs.
Labor Savings
Rework Savings
Key Features
True Portless Provisioning
Access devices through sealed plastic, glass, or composite enclosures without ports or pins.
High Speed Key Injection
A 5 Mbps data rate supports rapid transfer of firmware, eSIM profiles, and configuration files.
Physically Confined Data Link
Communication is confined to a near-field bubble of <20 cm, making it physically unsniffable.
Ultra Low Power Consumption
Requires less than 1 mW in operation, ideal for power sensitive IoT devices.
Out of the Box Integration
A complete development kit, SDK, and SPI host interface enable rapid deployment.
Key Use Cases
eSIM & iSIM Provisioning
Secure Element Key Injection
Firmware & SKU Flashing
Post Assembly Configuration
Technical Highlights
Enabling high throughput, secure provisioning for any sealed electronics device.
Why XA-NFE2001 Outperforms Alternatives?
| NFE (XA-NFE2001) | NFC | BLE | IO-Link Wireless | 60GHz mmWave | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Rate | 5 Mbps | 424 kbps | 1–2 Mbps | 1–10 Mbps | Gbps+ |
| Power Consumption | <1 mW | ~10 mW | 5–15 mW | 10+ mW | 60–70 mW |
| Alignment Required | No | Precise Tap | Good | N/A | Demanding |
| Security | Physics-confined | RF Sniffable | Needs Pairing | RF-leaky | RF-leaky |
| Packaging Usability | Through | Not possible | Limited | Not ad-hoc | Overkill/cost |
No other protocol delivers the mandatory combination of high-speed, physical security, and fixtureless usability required for modern secure manufacturing.
SECURITY & INTEGRITY
Private by physics
Unlike RF technologies that broadcast signals into the open air, our NFE technology uses a contained electric field to form a private data link.
Field-confined data bubble: This field-confined data bubble makes interception, remote snooping, or unauthorized programming impossible without direct physical presence.
Zero Contact Integrity
XA-NFE2001 eliminates ports, removing the physical threat of connector wear, ESD hazards, and moisture or dust ingress that could compromise long-term reliability.
Tamper resistant by design: Your devices can be designed to be truly tamper resistant and service free from the moment they are created.
Getting Started
- •Accelerate evaluation with the XA-NFE2001 Development Kit, which includes ready to use modules and sample firmware.
- •Use our SDK and integration documents for rapid trial setup and benchmarking your throughput gains.
- •Request an OEM integration guide or pilot.
XA-NFE2001 isn't just about faster production; it's a new standard for secure manufacturing. It delivers the physical integrity and efficiency that the connected world demands.