TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Wi-Fi HaLow, based on the IEEE 802.11ah standard, operates in the sub-GHz radio frequency range (902MHz–926MHz), distinguishing it from traditional Wi-Fi by utilizing narrower channels. Positioned as an IoT enabler, HaLow opens doors for diverse applications in industrial, agricultural, smart building, and smart city contexts.
According to IDC forecasts, by 2025, there will be an estimated 41.6 billion IoT devices, generating a substantial 79.4 zettabytes (ZB) of data. HaLow is particularly advantageous indoors, notably in smart homes. However, its potential in challenging LPWAN protocols for outdoor applications, which require low bit rates, such as smart metering and environmental monitoring is yet to be fully released.
BUSINESS BENEFITS
With the positive growth of IoT devices shipment and the current market fragmentation, Wi-Fi emerges as a unifying force, offering advantages to various industry players. This includes chipset vendors, Wi-Fi HaLow infrastructure vendors, IoT and wireless device OEMs, ISPs and operators, as well as vertical sector enterprises worldwide. Leveraging a widely recognized access technology and existing infrastructure, Wi-Fi facilitates seamless integration.
This project conducts a thorough evaluation of Wi-Fi HaLow technology through use cases, aiming to assess its comparative value in the low-power, long-range segment of the market against other unlicensed IoT technologies.
