Wi-Fi HaLow Adoption Lags Despite IoT Potential

Wi-Fi HaLow, officially standardized as IEEE 802.11ah in 2017, operates in the sub-1 GHz spectrum (typically 900 MHz), which allows its signals to travel farther and penetrate walls more effectively than traditional 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi. This key difference enables connections over distances of a kilometer or more. The technology is designed to connect a massive number of devices, with a single access point capable of supporting up to 8,191 connections. This scalability is a significant advantage for dense IoT deployments in locations like smart cities or large industrial facilities. Compared to other IoT protocols, HaLow offers a middle ground. It provides higher data rates than LoRaWAN (up to 86.7 Mbps) but is more power-efficient than standard Wi-Fi. Unlike non-IP-based protocols such as Zigbee or Z-Wave, HaLow's native IP support simplifies integration with existing internet and cloud services. The Wireless Broadband Alliance has been advancing real-world trials for Wi-Fi HaLow across various sectors, including smart homes, agriculture, and industrial automation, to demonstrate its viability and performance. A recent trial in a large industrial complex, for instance, achieved data rates of 21.3 Mbps and connectivity up to 425 feet in high-density areas. Key players in the HaLow ecosystem include fabless semiconductor company Morse Micro, co-founded by one of the original inventors of Wi-Fi. The company produces SoCs (System on a Chip) like the MM6108, which are being integrated into modules and single-board computers by partners like Silex Technology and Gateworks. While HaLow offers advantages in range and scalability, it is not intended to replace all other wireless standards. Traditional Wi-Fi is still superior for high-bandwidth activities like video streaming, while technologies like Bluetooth and Zigbee can be more power-efficient for very low-data, short-range applications.