The WiFi Alliance today announced WiFi HaLow (802.11ah), which it says is a low-power, long-range solution for a variety of use cases. WiFi HaLow drops into the 900 MHz spectrum band to help extend its range. Traditional WiFi gear uses the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The WiFi Alliance says adding 900 MHz will enable hardware manufacturers to create tri-band WiFi devices capable of connecting to myriad form factors and automatically adjust power and speed requirements as needed. Some of the benefits allow a single access point to support thousands of connected devices, government-grade security, and easy set-up/management. WiFi HaLow will most likely be used in connected cars, smart homes / internet of things, healthcare, and other verticals. The WiFi Alliance didn't explicitly say if WiFi HaLow will reach mobile devices such as smartphones, smartwatches, or tablets.


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