Telecommunications

Wi-Fi Alliance announces 802.11ah HaLow technology for connected cars

Wi-Fi Alliance announces 802.11ah HaLow technology for connected cars
The new Wi-Fi HaLow frequency is designed for applications such as the connected urban environment
The new Wi-Fi HaLow frequency is designed for applications such as the connected urban environment
View 1 Image
The new Wi-Fi HaLow frequency is designed for applications such as the connected urban environment
1/1
The new Wi-Fi HaLow frequency is designed for applications such as the connected urban environment

The Wi-Fi Alliance has introduced a designation for the IEEE 802.11ah frequency called HaLow. HaLow operates in frequency bands below one gigahertz to offer longer range and lower power usage. This certification is meant for power-efficient use needs with longer-range capability such as smart home, digital healthcare, retail and connected car applications.

Wi-Fi HaLow extends into the 900 MHz band and was originally designed for wearables and low-power sensors. With a range nearly twice that of standard Wi-Fi, connections with HaLow are generally more robust in challenging environments where physical and electronic impediments such as walls and other electronics are obstacles. This would include building walls, car and truck bodies, thick clothing (including kevlar and other advanced fibers), and multiples of the same. It also operates well in dense-device environments where multiple devices communicate to a single access point.

The Wi-Fi Alliance expects that most devices incorporating HaLow will also operate in the standard Wi-Fi frequencies of 2.4-5 GHz as well as this lower 900 MHz range. Standard IP-based connectivity and other native connections will be supported.

Source: Wi-Fi Alliance

2 comments
2 comments
Daishi
Attenuation generally scales with frequency: http://www.wirevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Frequency-and-attenuation-of-various-materials.png
This does mean 900MHz is suitable for long range, low power, and penetrating materials but it also means it's not as well suited to dense environments as 5Ghz or other generally shorter range frequencies.
There is some more data on the spectrum/standard here http://www.dailywireless.org/2013/08/30/802-11ah-wifi-standard-for-900mhz/
Based on that source it will use 902-928 MHz (with some restrictions) for ~26MHz of total available bandwidth so it definitely won't support very high throughputs compared to other WiFi standards (or even LTE).
It's more about enabling communication with minimal infrastructure than it is about streaming HD video or anything.
Mr. Hensley Garlington
I think you're right, Dalshl.
I think antonymous cars, and many other ideas that could help prevent wrecks, traffic jams, and/or at least get even more help for drivers is Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi like communication abilities for all vehicles. Cars being able to communicate with one another in a seamless fashion is paramount to advancing the technology.