Longer Range 900MHz Wi-Fi HaLow Introduced

The Wi-Fi Alliance has introduced an extension to the upcoming IEEE 802.11ah specification aimed at the “smart home” users and business. Dubbed, HaLow, this new specification will extend Wi-Fi into the 900 MHz band used back in the day by home cordless phones and will allow low power connectivity necessary for smart home applications including sensor and wearable technology. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, the new HaLow designation is designed to improve range giving it twice the capability of current Wi-Fi. HaLow will also cosume significantly lower power than other Wi-Fi standards. Many insiders are calling this an alternative to Bluetooth.

“Wi-Fi HaLow is well suited to meet the unique needs of the Smart Home, Smart City, and industrial markets because of its ability to operate using very low power, penetrate through walls, and operate at significantly longer ranges than Wi-Fi today, said Edgar Figueroa, President and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance.

The primary focus of HaLow will be for usability over a greater range than current devices at significantly lower power consumption, not necessarily pushing speed boundaries like 802.11ac did when first introduced. The Wi-Fi Alliance has not said when they will begin to start certifying 802.11ah products, but we can expect to see network companies and partners start to roll out devices in 2018.