Field trials demonstrate the benefits of Wi-Fi HaLow

The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) — the global industry body dedicated to improving Wi-Fi standards and services — has announced the successful completion of its phase two field trials of IEEE 802.11ah Wi-Fi HaLow, which offers reliable, long-range, low-power connectivity that should make it ideal 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, the 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 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 new field trials have proven the scalability and efficiency of Wi-Fi HaLow in challenging environments such as dense urban settings and large industrial complexes. The trials were conducted in North America by WBA and its members including key partners like Morse Micro, Newracom and Methods2Business, alongside participants such as AT&T, Charter Communications, Nextcomm Systems and Qualcomm, which focused on larger-scale implementations and testing Wi-Fi HaLow in more challenging environments.

The phase two field trial use cases were Smart Home, Warehousing, Smart Farm, Smart City, Smart Office Building, Smart School Campus and Smart Industrial Complex. A range of benefits were proven in each of these use cases, including extended range, 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 Home

In Denver, Colorado, CableLabs’ Kyrio conducted a trial demonstrating Wi-Fi HaLow’s capabilities within a 465 m² home and across a 1.21 ha lot, in a collaboration involving Methods2Business, Morse Micro and Newracom. The trial successfully utilised a single access point to deliver robust and secure Wi-Fi coverage throughout the property, eliminating the need for additional repeaters. Over 140 indoor locations were tested, achieving data throughputs exceeding 8 Mbps in high-demand areas and over 2 Mbps in typical usage scenarios.

The system efficiently managed 23 simultaneous device connections at MCS7 PHY rates (32 Mbps) and extended its range over 430 metres, showcasing potential for neighbourhood-wide connectivity. Additionally, the trial highlighted efficient network utilisation with OTA firmware updates completing in just 30 seconds for a 25 MB file at approximately 20 Mbps, affirming Wi-Fi HaLow’s suitability as a scalable solution for future smart homes and residential networking applications.

Warehousing

In a comprehensive trial at a 10,219 m² 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, thereby 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.

Notably, Wi-Fi HaLow managed outdoor connectivity up to 457 metres with strong signal strength, essential for logistics and fleet management. Redundancy tests further underscored the network’s reliability, with devices swiftly reassociating to alternative access points, ensuring operational continuity. The trial underscored Wi-Fi HaLow’s potential as a scalable, efficient solution for modernising 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, supported by Newracom and Morse Micro, Wi-Fi HaLow technology demonstrated impressive coverage and performance over a 5.67 ha agricultural site, addressing challenges such as extensive area coverage and penetration through various structures. The set-up 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. The trial underscored Wi-Fi HaLow’s potential to provide reliable, expansive connectivity for smart farming applications with minimal infrastructure.

Smart City

In a smart city trial conducted in Irvine, California, Wi-Fi HaLow demonstrated its potential for extensive urban connectivity. Utilising equipment from Newracom, Morse Micro and Methods2Business, the technology achieved coverage over a 1 km radius and up to 2.41 km along Irvine Center Drive. The trial showed strong signal strength capable of supporting high 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

A Wi-Fi HaLow trial at the Newracom Office Park in Irvine, California, demonstrated the technology’s effective deployment for smart building services with minimal infrastructural enhancements. Companies such as Morse Micro and Methods2Business provided crucial hardware like the MM6108-EKH01 access points and station evaluation kits. This set-up 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 emphasised 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, affirming Wi-Fi HaLow as an ideal solution for contemporary smart building ecosystems within the Newracom Office Park.

Smart School Campus

In a trial at Red Hill Lutheran School, Newracom, Morse Micro and Methods2Business demonstrated the efficacy of Wi-Fi HaLow, achieving exceptional network performance across a 2.02 ha 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. These results underline Wi-Fi HaLow’s capabilities as a cost-effective and robust network solution for educational settings, highlighting its advantages over traditional Wi-Fi systems with fewer infrastructural demands.

Smart Industrial Complex

The Wi-Fi HaLow deployment trial at a large industrial complex in Tampa, Florida, showcased robust and extensive 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 130 metres in high-density areas. This demonstration highlighted Wi-Fi HaLow’s capability to support critical industrial applications such as real-time asset tracking and extensive video surveillance, proving its effectiveness in complex RF environments typical of large-scale industrial settings.

“Each of these real-world field trials has been a huge success demonstrating the readiness and the benefits Wi-Fi HaLow standard can bring to a vast range of industries and use cases, improving performance and reducing complexity,” said WBA CEO Tiago Rodrigues. “We now move to the next phase, and are inviting industry players interested in participating in trials across EMEA and APAC to reach out.”

The trials’ findings have been documented in the Wi-Fi HaLow for IoT: Field Trials Report, which contains actionable insights that can help drive innovation and strategic decisions across the Wi-Fi industry. For businesses, it lays down a roadmap to harnessing Wi-Fi HaLow for developing new products and entering new markets. For network planners and operators, it offers evidence-based strategies for enhancing network capabilities and service offerings. Additionally, the report serves as a valuable educational tool, deepening understanding of Wi-Fi HaLow’s operational dynamics and advantages.

“Wi-Fi HaLow’s shines across a wide range of industries as a preferred connectivity technology, with its long range, signal penetration and data throughput,” said Zac Freeman, Vice President of Marketing & Sales of Newracom. “From open fields to industrial factories, Wi-Fi HaLow provides reliable, fast connectivity with simple architecture that can’t be replicated by any other technology, ticking all the boxes for requirements for IoT deployments.

“We could not be more pleased with our involvement and results of the WBA Wi-Fi HaLow IoT Field Trials Report, confirming Wi-Fi HaLow’s capabilities in rigorous real-world environments — from homes to warehouses, farms to factories — to consistently deliver the next generation of IoT devices.”

For more details on the report and how to get involved in the upcoming phase 3 trials, visit https://wballiance.com/resource/wi-fi-halow-for-iot-field-trials-report/ or email pmo@wballiance.com.

Image credit: iStock.com/Iaremenko