Feature: Wireless design
Wi-Fi HaLow, or IEEE 802.11ah, is a long-range, ultra-
low-power version of standard Wi-Fi that has been designed specifically for the IoT. Operating in the sub-1GHz radio band (Figure 1), it easily penetrates walls and can connect thousands of devices up to a kilometre away. Since it is very low power, it allows devices to run on small batteries for years.
The evolving needs of IoT networks Whether it’s asset tracking or anything “smart”, such as agricultural sensing, lighting or metering, wireless IoT workloads have one thing in common: the individual end nodes send raw data to cloud platforms for analysis and control. While useful for gathering insights across large networks, the devices themselves are often relatively simple. With limited on-board resources, it’s the cloud that does most of the processing in these applications. Let’s contrast this with emerging wireless edge applications
Extending range and reliability for IoT data streams
By Rolf Horn, Applications Engineer, DigiKey
I
n a rapidly evolving and highly competitive environment, Internet of Things (IoT) developers must answer some important questions: How much data will my device need to send and receive? How long should the battery last? How far from a gateway can it reside? How many devices can I get on a single network? How easy is it to
set up and secure? The answers to these questions determine the connectivity
protocol and, in cases where range and moderate data throughput are important, Wi-Fi HaLow offers a balanced solution.
40 September 2026
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
that offer local data analysis and on-device decision making. Industrial predictive maintenance is a good example. Here, a sensor node detects a change in machine characteristics or performance outside a pre-defined range and sends a notification to the cloud, rather than continuously transmitting data for in-cloud analysis. Understandably, this saves limited network bandwidth for more important insights. Nevertheless, sometimes raw or compressed data is best
streamed in real time, such as for low-bit-rate security camera networks or smart building infrastructure, where control is as important as reporting. Here, long-range, low-power wide- area network (LPWAN) protocols might not be suitable, since they were primarily designed for small data packets and sparse reporting. Standard Wi-Fi offers high data rates, but its range and power requirements can limit deployment options for battery-powered devices. Developers, therefore, benefit from wireless protocols that offer a compromise between the two. This is where Wi-Fi HaLow fits in.
Wi-Fi HaLow for reliable long-range data streams The underlying IEEE 802.11ah open standard for Wi-Fi HaLow offers higher data rates than LPWAN technologies and an extended range compared to standard Wi-Fi. This allows developers to implement more demanding wireless workloads, like compressed video streaming or high-frequency data bursts in next-generation devices. In addition to its sub-1GHz carrier, the narrowband OFDM
channels allow it to be deployed in large-scale settings such as smart cities. The standard defines a theoretical capacity above 8,000 devices per access point. Equally, this standard’s native IP support usually does
not require proprietary middleware layers, which simplifies deployment. This contrasts many other wireless standards. Critics might say Wi-Fi HaLow requires its own access
points, but the benefits it provides outweigh any negatives. For example, it supports a direct interface with LAN technology. Wi-Fi HaLow is also compatible with power-saving
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