The wireless infrastructure in homes and cities

The infrastructure in homes and cities continues to evolve, potentially impacting how we live and interact with our environment in the future.

The wireless landscape around us is being reshaped from homes with connected devices capable of Machine Learning capabilities to cities implementing advanced technologies for more efficient device management.

Smart infrastructure encompasses a wide range of applications in residential and urban environments. Devices like thermostats, security cameras, and lighting systems have gone from proprietary systems to adopting globally accepted standards like Matter. Matter is a global, open-source standard aiming to minimize the need for multiple apps or hubs to streamline the setup and operation of smart home devices from different manufacturers. Google, Samsung, Amazon and Apple are responsible for making their offerings work together across their respective ecosystems. Amazon also provides a shared network in the US, the Sidewalk technology, to keep devices connected if your home Wi-Fi goes down. Outside our home walls, integrating wireless technologies makes traffic lights, waste management systems, and buildings more intelligent and energy-efficient. Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) use sensors and data analytics to manage traffic flow and reduce congestion. Examples include smart parking solutions and real-time public transportation updates.

The backbone of this infrastructure is a variety of wireless technologies. Vendors provide products with wireless capabilities out of the box today, and it can even be retrofitted to existing infrastructure, like street lighting, to enable seamless communication between devices. The most used technology is probably Wi-Fi. You can find it "everywhere" because it's widely used for high-speed internet access in homes and public spaces. Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) is an ideal standard for short-range communication and low-power consumption. It's commonly used in wearable and health devices and for most home automation commissioning. Zigbee and Z-Wave provide reliable and secure communication, and Thread is a secure and scalable mesh networking protocol developed specifically for smart home applications. Finally, by adding NB-IoT, LTE-M, 5G communication and the possibility of local, private networks like DECT NR+ to the mix, decision-makers and developers have a solid technology toolbox for designing mobile networks, high-speed connectivity, low latency, and close to real-time applications. Cellular IoT is now widespread and makes long-range monitoring and measuring possible by using existing cellular network infrastructure. Improving animal and asset tracking and optimizing agriculture are standard use cases for NB-IoT and LTE-M.

Integrating wireless technology into products and devices we surround ourselves with brings both challenges and advantages, as well as convenience and efficiency opportunities. The energy grid and management systems can optimize and balance network loads and help reduce homeowners' electricity usage. Monitoring waste management and improving efficiency in commercial buildings will also contribute to overall energy reduction. As AI and machine learning (ML) models improve, the wireless hardware requirements to run these models go down. Many of the edge devices mentioned can be enhanced by ML and make informed and optimal decisions without the need for any wireless communication. Edge AI saves energy by eliminating the need for costly and energy consuming transmissions to and from cloud services. IoT-enabled applications are projected to save up to eight times the energy they consume by 2030.

Developing and implementing wireless infrastructure also suggests specific economic benefits and business opportunities that can improve productivity and automate routine tasks. Better traffic management systems use real-time data to adjust traffic signals, reducing congestion and travel times. As a result, commute times can be reduced while enhancing the efficiency of goods transportation. Automated waste management systems use sensors to monitor trash levels and optimize collection routes, reducing fuel consumption and labor costs, freeing up resources for other municipal services.

Implementing solutions with robust security protocols is essential to protect any wireless infrastructure. Developers should use the expertise of the hardware vendors and follow the standardized PSA Certified IoT Security Framework approach to security to guides the design process.

Nordic Semiconductor's wireless offerings play a crucial role in supporting smart infrastructure. Their Wireless MCU and SoC offering covers Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) System on Chips (SoCs) used in smart lighting and home control systems, Wi-Fi 6 certified companion ICs used for Thread and Matter applications, to cellular IoT (NB-IoT and LTE-M) utilized in smart grid applications to monitor and manage energy flow, ensuring grid reliability and efficiency. Nordic Semiconductors nRF53, nRF54, nRF70, and nRF91 Series support multiple wireless technologies and Edge AI with minimal power consumption and reliable communication.

Conclusion

Enhance your wireless infrastructure in homes and cities with Nordic’s nRF54H series, designed for seamless connectivity and reliable performance. For detailed product insights and to explore our complete range of innovative solutions that empower your wireless applications. Click Here