Wi-Fi HaLow: Low Power, Long Range

Wi-Fi HaLow is a sub-GHz extension of the Wi-Fi family. It operates in unlicensed bands below 1 GHz (typically 868 MHz in Europe and 915 MHz in North America) — frequencies known for longer propagation, better wall penetration, and reduced interference in industrial environments.

Unlike protocols such as LoRaWAN or Zigbee, Wi-Fi HaLow supports native IP (TCP/IP) communication, making it inherently compatible with existing internet infrastructure. At the same time, it brings substantial benefits:

• Long Range: Up to 1 kilometer (urban), more in rural open-field scenarios
• Low Power: Multi-year operation with battery-powered nodes
• Scalability: Up to 8,000+ devices per access point
• Throughput: 150 kbps to 15 Mbps, depending on modulation and range
• Security: WPA3-level encryption and authentication
• Latency: Low enough for many industrial and control applications

It combines the range and power profile of LPWAN technologies (like LoRaWAN or NB-IoT) with the flexibility and IP stack of Wi-Fi, making it a uniquely balanced protocol in the IoT landscape.

HaLow is ideal for wide-area deployments where power and coverage are critical. Farms, vineyards, and irrigation systems are using Wi-Fi HaLow for:

• Soil condition sensors
• Weather stations
• Crop monitoring systems
• Water usage management

These sensors often operate in the middle of fields or greenhouses — well outside the reach of traditional Wi-Fi, and with limited power sources. HaLow’s long range and energy efficiency make it possible to collect environmental data with minimal infrastructure.

Read also: 

• AgriLink in Morocco: Smart Irrigation Tackles Water Scarcity (Limits of LoRaWAN for Automation)

In factories, warehouses, and utilities, Wi-Fi HaLow enables:

• Predictive maintenance through vibration and temperature sensors
• Mobile robot communication in metal-dense environments
• Condition monitoring for pumps, compressors, and conveyors
• Wireless connection of distributed PLCs or SCADA subsystems

Thanks to sub-GHz propagation, HaLow performs better than 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi in steel-heavy structures and underground tunnels. And since it's IP-native, it integrates directly with existing enterprise networks.

HaLow is a strong candidate for:

• Parking sensors
• Smart street lighting
• Waste bin monitoring
• Public safety systems (e.g. emergency call stations)
• HVAC and energy management in smart buildings

With fewer access points needed to cover large buildings or outdoor areas, Wi-Fi HaLow reduces network density, installation complexity, and maintenance costs.

In smart homes and medical facilities, Wi-Fi HaLow can be used for:

• Patient monitoring (vital signs, fall detection)
• Wireless medical devices
• Home automation (locks, thermostats, leak detectors)

Unlike BLE or Zigbee, HaLow provides direct cloud connectivity without a proprietary gateway.

While the HaLow standard was ratified in 2016, hardware maturity has picked up in recent years, with increasing availability of commercial-grade chipsets, modules, and developer platforms.

Notable Hardware Providers

• Morse Micro (Australia) – Market leader in Wi-Fi HaLow chipsets, including MM6108 and MM6104, with ultra-long range and sub-1 GHz radio
• Newracom – Offers Wi-Fi HaLow SoCs and reference designs
• Silex Technology – Produces HaLow development kits and modules based on Newracom chipsets
• Edgecore – Developing industrial-grade HaLow APs and gateways

Device Types Emerging

• Wi-Fi HaLow USB dongles and development boards
• Industrial sensor nodes with embedded HaLow modules
• Access points for indoor and outdoor long-range coverage
• Gateways that bridge HaLow IoT networks to Ethernet or cloud

Antenna Design Considerations

Sub-GHz communication requires larger antennas compared to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. That means integrating HaLow into compact consumer products requires careful design — especially when balancing performance with form factor.

However, in industrial and agricultural use cases, where space is less of a constraint, HaLow modules and antennas fit well into enclosures and sensor housings.

Read also: 

• Wi-Fi HaLow Revolutionizes Long-Range IoT Across Europe in 2025 (16 km of Real-World Connectivity)
• World's First Wi-Fi CERTIFIED HaLow Chip with Integrated Edge AI (A Leap Forward for Edge-Centric IoT)

Wi‑Fi HaLow operates in license-exempt sub‑1 GHz ISM bands, which vary by region due to local spectrum regulations. Below is a summary of frequency availability across major global markets:

• United States: 902–928 MHz
  Supports wide channels (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 MHz); high throughput up to ~40 Mbps.
• Europe: 863–868 MHz
  Highly regulated with narrow 1–2 MHz channels; limited to ~5–7 MHz total spectrum.
  Subject to duty cycle limitations (typically 1% or up to 2.8% with LBT).
  Data rates are significantly lower than in other regions.
• Africa:
  Regulations vary by country, but many adopt ETSI-aligned rules similar to Europe.
  Most commonly allowed band is 863–870 MHz, with similar duty-cycle and channel constraints.
  Some North African countries (e.g., Morocco, Egypt) may follow CEPT/ITU recommendations.
• Australia & New Zealand: 915–928 MHz
  Similar to the U.S., with support for wide channels and higher throughput.
• China: 755–787 MHz
  Specific to local regulations; less common for Wi‑Fi HaLow devices today.
• Japan: 916.5–927.5 MHz
  1 MHz channels; up to 11 channels allowed.
• South Korea: 917.5–923.5 MHz
  Allows 1, 2, and 4 MHz channels.
• Singapore:
  Two authorized bands: 866–869 MHz (for 1–2 MHz channels) and 920–925 MHz (for 1–4 MHz channels).
  Supports low-power, narrowband applications.

IoT deployments today have no shortage of connectivity options — each with its own strengths and limitations. Let’s take a closer look at how Wi-Fi HaLow compares to other major technologies, not in isolation, but through use case alignment and technical fit.

Compared to Classic Wi-Fi (2.4/5 GHz)

Wi-Fi HaLow offers much longer range and significantly lower power consumption, making it far better suited for battery-powered or widely distributed sensors. While classic Wi-Fi shines in high-bandwidth use cases like video streaming or office networks, it is not ideal for industrial IoT where coverage and energy efficiency are critical. HaLow bridges that gap — with native IP compatibility, but optimized for IoT constraints.

Compared to LoRaWAN

LoRaWAN reaches further in rural or line-of-sight deployments, but sacrifices bandwidth and standardization. Its payload size is limited, its latency is higher, and it lacks native IP support, requiring gateways and translation layers. HaLow, by contrast, offers faster, more reliable communication and can support firmware updates, encryption, and real-time interaction — all natively over Wi-Fi architecture.

Read also: Wi-Fi HaLow Emerges as a Powerful Alternative to LoRaWAN

Compared to NB-IoT and LTE-M

Cellular LPWANs like NB-IoT are well-suited for applications with nationwide coverage, such as smart metering. However, they depend on carrier networks, involve SIM provisioning, and may incur recurring costs. HaLow gives companies full control over infrastructure, making it ideal for private industrial deployments, especially when edge computing and local networks are involved.

Compared to Bluetooth LE

Bluetooth LE (BLE) works well for short-range, high-efficiency consumer use cases like wearables or smart home gadgets. But in sprawling factory floors, farms, or smart cities, BLE quickly reaches its limits. HaLow steps in with hundredfold greater range, more robust security, and multi-device scalability — all without relying on a smartphone as a central hub.

Compared to Zigbee and Thread

Both Zigbee and Thread offer mesh-based local networks, great for lighting, HVAC, or smart home control. But they come with custom stacks and often require dedicated gateways. HaLow avoids this overhead by supporting direct IP communication, which means smoother integration with cloud platforms and no protocol translation.

• Real IP-native connectivity: no need for protocol bridges or translation layers
• No carrier dependency: unlike NB-IoT or LTE-M, HaLow runs on unlicensed spectrum
• Security and encryption: built on modern Wi-Fi frameworks like WPA3
• Better coexistence: less interference from 2.4 GHz congestion
• Fewer APs needed: longer range lowers total infrastructure cost

• Adoption Curve: HaLow is still building its ecosystem; device availability is limited compared to LoRa or BLE
• Certification: The Wi-Fi Alliance only began certifying HaLow devices in 2021
• Antenna size and form factor can limit use in very compact designs

However, momentum is growing — especially in regions like Europe, Asia, and North America, where smart infrastructure and edge intelligence are expanding rapidly.

Due to the narrow spectrum and regulatory limits, European Wi‑Fi HaLow systems face significant constraints:

• Low throughput (only up to ~8–10 Mbps achievable with 2 MHz channels) compared to tens of Mbps elsewhere
• Strict duty-cycle limits impede high-frequency packet transmissions.
• Competing technologies like LoRaWAN may outpace HaLow in Europe on cost and practicality for many IoT use cases.
• Vendors like Quectel and Morse Micro are actively adapting their modules (CE‐certified) and firmware to the European regulation environment

Wi-Fi HaLow fills a critical gap in the wireless connectivity stack. It’s long-range, low-power, secure, IP-native, and robust in challenging environments. Whether in agriculture, industry, smart buildings, or municipal infrastructure, HaLow is emerging as a strong contender to underpin the next wave of intelligent IoT deployments.

While other technologies may still dominate in niche applications, HaLow offers the versatility and scalability needed for projects that must balance cost-efficiency, security, interoperability, and coverage — especially where legacy Wi-Fi or short-range protocols fall short.

As hardware becomes more accessible and integration with cloud platforms grows easier, Wi-Fi HaLow is no longer a future technology — it’s ready for deployment now.