The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) has announced that the successful completion of phase two field trials of IEEE 802.11ah Wi-Fi HaLow, which promises reliable, long-range, low-power connectivity, making it an ideal solution for a variety of IoT scenarios.
Part of the WBA’s Wi-Fi HaLow for IoT project, the trials, which took place in North America, have proven the scalability and efficiency of Wi-Fi HaLow in challenging environments such as dense urban settings and large industrial complexes. The accompanying “Wi-Fi HaLow for IoT: Field Trials Report” details actionable insights for businesses, network planners, and operators.
A range of benefits have been proven in each of the use cases outlined below including extended ranges, improved material penetration capabilities, extended battery life, enhanced device density, a higher level of security, ease of installation and management, and elevated data throughput in IoT scenarios when compared with existing Wi-Fi standards. The phase two field trial use cases were smart home, warehousing, smart farm, smart city, smart office building, smart school campus and smart industrial complex.
The trials were conducted by WBA and its members including key partners like Morse Micro, Newracom, and Methods2Business, alongside participants such as AT&T, Charter Communications, Nextcomm Systems, and Qualcomm, which focused on larger-scale implementations and testing Wi-Fi HaLow in more challenging environments.
Wi-Fi HaLow includes a host of key features such as operation in the sub-1 GHz radio band, the use of narrow channel bandwidths, an increased number of supported devices and new operating modes to accommodate battery-operated devices. It also, builds upon the foundations of Wi-Fi, retaining such features as the most up-to-date high levels of security and native-IP support inherent in all internet connectivity.
The “Wi-Fi HaLow for IoT: Field Trials Report” contains actionable insights that can help drive innovation and strategic decisions across the Wi-Fi industry. For businesses, it lays down a roadmap to harnessing Wi-Fi HaLow for developing new products and entering new markets. For network planners and operators, it offers evidence-based strategies for enhancing network capabilities and service offerings. Additionally, the report serves as a valuable educational tool, deepening understanding of Wi-Fi HaLow’s operational dynamics and advantages.
Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance, said: “Each of these real-world field trials has been a huge success demonstrating the readiness and the benefits Wi-Fi HaLow standard can bring to a vast range of industries and use cases, improving performance and reducing complexity. We now move to the next phase, and are inviting industry players interested in participating in trials across EMEA and APAC to reach out. Your participation can help shape the future of IoT connectivity and drive innovation across various sectors.”