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The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), the global industry body dedicated to improving Wi-Fi standards and services, announced the successful completion of phase two field trials of IEEE 802.11ah Wi-Fi HaLow, which promises reliable, long-range, low-power connectivity for a variety of IoT scenarios. Wi-Fi HaLow includes a host of key features such as operation in the sub-1 GHz radio band, 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 standard IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi, retaining such features as the most up-to-date high levels of security and native-IP support inherent in all internet connectivity.
Part of the WBA’s Wi-Fi HaLow for IoT project, the North American trials were designed to confirm Wi-Fi HaLow’s scalability and efficiency 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.
The phase two field trial use cases included Smart Industrial Complex, Warehousing, Smart Farm, Smart City, Smart Office Building, Smart School Campus and Smart Home. A range of benefits were evaluated 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.
Smart Industrial Complex: The Wi-Fi HaLow deployment trial at a large industrial complex in Tampa, Florida, showcased wireless coverage across both indoor and outdoor environments, overcoming the challenges posed by heavy machinery and metal structures. The trial, conducted by Morse Micro, Nexcomm Systems, and Newracom, achieved high data throughput rates, with UDP traffic peaking at 21.3 Mbps and reliable connectivity extending up to 425 feet in high-density areas. This demonstration highlighted Wi-Fi HaLow’s ability to support critical industrial applications, such as real-time asset tracking and extensive video surveillance, in complex RF environments typical of large-scale industrial settings.
Warehousing: In a comprehensive trial at a 110,000 sq ft warehouse near Chicago, Wi-Fi HaLow demonstrated its effectiveness in providing robust wireless connectivity across complex industrial environments. The technology achieved extensive coverage with a single access point, delivering varying data rates from 1 Mbps in peripheral zones to 22 Mbps in central areas, while supporting a wide range of operational needs from high-definition video streaming to basic sensor communications. The system handled high throughput demands and supported numerous device types seamlessly, proving its versatility and reliability. Wi-Fi HaLow managed outdoor connectivity up to 1,500 feet with the strong signal strength essential for logistics and fleet management. Redundancy tests underscored the network’s reliability, with devices swiftly reassociating to alternative access points, ensuring operational continuity. The trial looked to validate Wi-Fi HaLow’s potential as a scalable, efficient solution for modernizing warehouse operations, highlighting its capability to enhance network performance while reducing infrastructure costs.
Smart Farm: In a trial at Scott Farm Market and Greenhouse in Kent, Ohio, Wi-Fi HaLow technology was applied to a 14-acre agricultural site, addressing challenges such as extensive area coverage and penetration through various structures. The setup included a single Wi-Fi HaLow AP and multiple IoT devices, achieving data rates from 1.3 Mbps at the most challenging points to 22 Mbps near the AP. The technology effectively supported a multi-camera security system, maintaining consistent video streaming across various locations and resolutions, and facilitated robust connectivity for 24 IoT devices simulating typical farm sensors and actuators.
Smart City: In a smart city trial conducted in Irvine, California, the technology achieved coverage over a 1 km radius and up to 1.5 miles along Irvine Center Drive. The trial showed strong signal strength capable of supporting high Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS) with PHY rates up to 3.34 Mbps. Even in areas with lower signal strength, connectivity remained robust, facilitating smart city applications such as safety monitoring and asset tracking across diverse urban landscapes including retail plazas and business parks.
Smart Office Building: The Wi-Fi HaLow trial in the Smart Office Building use case at the Newracom Office Park in Irvine, California, demonstrated the technology’s effective deployment for smart building services with minimal infrastructural enhancements. This setup enabled Wi-Fi HaLow to offer extensive and reliable coverage across multiple floors and diverse building materials, efficiently overcoming challenges like metal thermal energy-blocking films on glass. The trial emphasized Wi-Fi HaLow’s utility in supporting a variety of services, including HVAC, energy management, and security systems, with significant signal penetration and adaptable coverage. Different bandwidth tests also showcased the system’s flexibility to meet varying operational demands.
Smart School Campus: In a trial at Red Hill Lutheran School, Wi-Fi HaLow was deployed across a 5-acre campus encompassing multiple buildings. Despite challenges from thick concrete walls and audio equipment interference, Wi-Fi HaLow provided extensive indoor and outdoor coverage, managed interference without adjacent channel disruptions, and supported the potential to scale up to 32,764 IoT devices efficiently.
Smart Home: In Denver, Colorado Wi-Fi HaLow was deployed within a 5,000 sq ft home and across a 3-acre lot. The trial utilized a single access point to deliver robust and secure Wi-Fi coverage throughout the property, eliminating the need for additional repeaters.
ARC is currently updating our coverage of the industrial Wireless LAN (WLAN) infrastructure market. Find out more about our industrial network infrastructure coverage here.