This blog was written by:
Justin Hopper
Nexcomm Systems
Zac Freeman
Newracom
Wi-Fi HaLow™ or 802.11ah is a long-range, energy efficient, secure, high capacity, IP-based Wi-Fi implementation in the Sub-1 GHz frequency bands. In simple terms, Wi-Fi HaLow is Wi-Fi for IoT.
Wi-Fi HaLow takes the features that have made Wi-Fi one of the most successful wireless protocols and brings it into lower frequency bands. It fills a gap by offering much better range and much better data throughput than protocols like ZigBee, Thread, and LoRa. This allows Wi-Fi HaLow to offer several distinct advantages.
Range – Lower frequencies offer better range and signal penetration through obstructions in the environment. HaLow operates in Sub-1GHz ISM bands, allowing its signals easily penetrate floors and walls in buildings while reaching over 1km outdoors using simple antennas and typical power levels. This lowers infrastructure costs and eases network deployments.
Scalability – HaLow can support over 8,000 nodes connected to a single Access Point. Unlike other IoT technologies, HaLow devices coordinate and prioritize communication to reduce interference and network contention while making efficient use of the wireless spectrum.
Figure 1: Wi-Fi Certified HaLow™ for IoT
Source: Wi-Fi Alliance
Figure 2
Source: Nexcomm Systems
Data Throughput – Wi-Fi HaLow chipsets deliver tens of Mbps of throughput. Plenty for the majority of IoT applications and significantly faster than protocols like Bluetooth, ZigBee, Thread, and LoRa. Because it uses Sub-1 GHz spectrum, HaLow can deliver this throughput to IoT devices without interfering with existing 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi devices.
Power Consumption – Low power operation is critical in battery powered devices. Low power consumption requires optimizing transmission power, throughput, and responsiveness to minimize active power and maximize sleep. HaLow optimizes these three aspects:
1) Energy-Efficient Signal Transmission: Sub 1-GHz signals use less energy to travel the same distance as higher frequencies.
2) Fast & Reliable Data Transfer: Advanced modulation provides low packet error rates and high throughput so devices can transmit data faster and sleep sooner.
3) Smart Power-Saving Features: Mechanisms such as TIM (Traffic Indication Map), Non-TIM, TWT (Target Wake Time), and RAW (Restricted Access Window) coordinate device sleep cycles while balancing latency and minimizing contention with other HaLow devices.
Figure 3
Source: “Wi-Fi HaLow: Wi-Fi for IoT Applications” by Wi-Fi Alliance, May 2020; “Real World Performance, exhibited in: Wi-Fi HaLow for IoT Field Trials Report “ by Wireless Broadband Alliance, June 2024
