Set-top boxes and related products can be enhanced with leading AI-native Edge processors, contextual awareness, and reliable wireless connectivity to create enriched viewing experiences.
AMSTERDAM, Sept. 08, 2025 — Synaptics® Incorporated (Nasdaq: SYNA) will be at IBC 2025 from September 12-15 with a full program of demonstrations showcasing how embedding artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-native processing in set-top boxes (STBs) and over-the-top (OTT) streaming devices creates a vast opportunity for video service providers to enrich the viewing experience for their customers. Visitors to Hall 1, Stand 1. F72 will see firsthand how AI running on Synaptics’ ICs can be used to enhance picture quality, audio quality, parental controls, subtitling, personalized shopping options, and more.
All these capabilities and features are enabled by Synaptics’ Astra™ line of AI-native, high-performance, low-power, Arm®-based MPUs and MCUs, along with other devices in our broad portfolio, similarly designed specifically for Edge AI applications.
Synaptics designed its Astra portfolio for the internet of things (IoT). OTT/STB companies that base their equipment on Synaptics’ Edge AI technology can offer viewers not only expanded control over content curation, but enhanced TV experiences that include personalized shopping, travel planning, and gaming. Further, thanks to the built-in security features, all these features can be offered without compromising data privacy and security.
The AI capabilities of the Astra Edge AI solutions were developed to support all input modalities—vision, audio, voice, and touch—expanding the options for viewer interaction with OTT/STB applications. Astra offers system designers an unprecedented combination of ultra-low-power (ULP), multimodal capabilities, contextually-aware AI, and excellent wireless rate-over-range with reliable interoperability, all at affordable system cost.
Technical subject matter experts from Synaptics will be on hand throughout IBC to demonstrate the latest products, capabilities, and features. The presentations will include:
Join Synaptics at IBC 2025 in Hall 1, Stand 1.F72 from September 12-15 for an exclusive look at the technologies driving the future of the IoT. Engage with expert engineers and discover how Edge AI is transforming the TV viewing experience.
For further information, please contact:
Media Contact
Neeta Shenoy
Synaptics Incorporated
[email protected]
Danielle Smith
Account Director
Publitek Ltd.
[email protected]
With the growing adoption of IoT devices and increasing demand for video surveillance, enterprises expect more from remote monitoring. The standard is no longer just “connectivity” or “low power consumption,” but a combination of long-range coverage, stability, low latency, and high reliability. Built on the IEEE 802.11ah standard, Wi-Fi HaLow is designed for long-range, low-power applications and is quickly emerging as a strong choice for remote video monitoring.
Core Challenges in Remote Video Monitoring
Traditionally, remote monitoring required a trade-off between high-bandwidth Wi-Fi and highly power-efficient LPWAN technologies. Conventional Wi-Fi is widespread and convenient, but its high power consumption and limited coverage make it less effective for large-scale monitoring scenarios. As coverage areas expand, equipment and cabling costs rise significantly, along with the burden of ongoing maintenance.
On the other hand, LPWAN technologies offer excellent long-range and low-power capabilities, but their narrow bandwidth restricts usage to low-data-rate sensor applications, falling short of supporting high-definition video transmission.
When both high bandwidth and low power are required, enterprises have typically relied on complex hybrid solutions. Wi-Fi HaLow changes this equation by delivering long-range communication, low-power operation, and higher throughput in a single technology, enabling the seamless integration of sensor data with real-time video for efficient and reliable wide-area monitoring.
Key Features of HaLow in Remote Video Monitoring
Extended range and penetration: Operating in the sub-1GHz spectrum, HaLow signals penetrate walls more effectively and maintain stable coverage in open outdoor spaces or environments with heavy metal structures.
Low-power operation: Energy-efficient modes allow cameras and IoT devices to run for extended periods, reducing power consumption and maintenance costs.
Scalable network architecture: HaLow supports MESH networking, enabling large-scale device deployments with dynamic routing to ensure stable video transmission.
Cost and traffic efficiency: Wi-Fi HaLow requires no additional subscription fees. Its MESH architecture enables the creation of large-scale private networks, minimizing cloud dependency, reducing communication costs, and enhancing data security.
Transformations with Wi-Fi HaLow
The adoption of Wi-Fi HaLow brings tangible improvements to remote monitoring scenarios. First, HaLow unifies network requirements across different communication devices, eliminating the need for complex gateways or multi-protocol endpoints, which simplifies deployment and increases efficiency.
Second, HaLow strikes a balance between traditional Wi-Fi and LPWAN strengths, reducing the cost and complexity of deploying and maintaining large-scale networks. With fewer devices, users can cover larger areas while still benefiting from higher bandwidth to ensure stable video and data transmission.
Additionally, HaLow supports up to 8,191 client connections per access point, moving beyond traditional point-to-point limitations. This scalability allows thousands of IoT devices to connect simultaneously, making it ideal for high-density environments such as smart factories, industrial parks, or city-wide surveillance systems.
Finally, Wi-Fi HaLow eliminates ongoing data subscription fees. Combined with MESH networking, it enables large-scale private networks where information does not need to be routed entirely through the cloud, improving security while further cutting communication costs.
Conclusion
Wi-Fi HaLow not only extends IoT device communication range but also upgrades remote monitoring from simple data collection to comprehensive, visualized, intelligent surveillance systems. From remote farms to industrial parks, from city safety to large-scale warehouses, HaLow enables reliable transmission of both high-definition video and sensor data, setting a new standard for remote monitoring.
AsiaRF provides a complete portfolio of HaLow solutions, including some of the market’s rare HaLow MESH networking devices and the world’s first plug-and-play USB HaLow dongle, which significantly lowers deployment costs and technical barriers. This allows enterprises and developers to easily adopt HaLow and benefit from long-range, low-power, and reliable remote monitoring at scale.
Wi-Fi Offloading, How? – Chapter 2.1
IEEE 802.1x is a key standard in network security. It provides port-based Network Access Control (PNAC) that serves as the first line of defense against unauthorized access in both wired and wireless networks. By enforcing authentication at the network port level, 802.1x ensures that only authorized devices can access the network, thereby mitigating risks associated with rogue devices and unauthorized users.
White Paper: Wi-Fi Offloading, How?
This is an excerpt from our white paper, Wi-Fi Offloading, How?, a technical deep dive into deploying Wi-Fi offloading solutions. If you like what you read, download the full white paper. As a bonus, you’ll also gain access to Wi-Fi Offloading, Why?, outlining the business benefits for mobile operators.
The 802.1x Architecture
At the heart of 802.1x is a triad of entities that work together to enforce access control:
The communication among these entities follows a defined process that leverages the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). The communication between the Supplicant and the Authentication Server is secured end-to-end by only allowing EAP over LAN (EAPOL) between the Supplicant and the Authenticator, and EAP encapsulated in RADIUS between the Authenticator and Authentication Server.
The 802.1x authentication process is orchestrated through a series of EAP messages. In the Seamless Access with SIM Authentication chapter, we will cover this in more depth in the context of Wi-Fi Offloading.
Depending on the EAP method used, a series of challenge-response exchanges occurs between the supplicant and the authentication server. These exchanges can involve using certificates, username/password combinations, or other authentication credentials.
If the authentication server validates the credentials successfully, it sends an EAP-Success message to the authenticator, which then authorizes the port, granting the supplicant full network access. If authentication fails, an EAP-Failure message is sent, and the port remains unauthorized.
Once authenticated, data transmitted over the network can be encrypted by the Authenticator with WPA2/WPA3 to ensure confidentiality and integrity. Many, including Enea, refer to 802.1x as secure and encrypted Wi-Fi. However, the 802.1x authentication scheme only enables the WPA2/WPA3 encryption.
802.1x Security Considerations
802.1x significantly enhances network security, but it is not without vulnerabilities.
Some EAP methods, such as EAP-MD5, are considered weak because they do not support encryption or mutual authentication. Without mutual authentication between the Supplicant and Authentication Server, attackers can insert themselves between the supplicant and the authenticator, potentially intercepting or altering communication.
It’s crucial to use stronger methods like EAP-TLS, which offers certificate-based mutual authentication. The EAP methods (EAP-AKA/AKA′/5G-AKA) for Wi-Fi Offloading using the device’s SIM credentials are also at the same security level as EAP-TLS. The legacy EAP-SIM protocol used for 2G/3G has weaker encryption than its successors. We recommend that EAP-SIM is not used.
802.1x Deployment and Configuration
Deploying 802.1x requires careful planning and configuration:
Optimizing AI performance on Synaptics’ Astra™ platform with extreme low-bit quantization.
As AI continues to move from the cloud into everyday devices, the ability to run models efficiently on the Edge is becoming increasingly important. Whether it’s voice interfaces or real-time data processing, Edge AI promises a wide range of capabilities. Delivering those capabilities within the constraints of embedded systems, however, remains a challenge.
ENERZAi has partnered with Synaptics to address these challenges. Known for their advanced Edge processing platforms, Synaptics provides a foundation for deploying optimized AI models. Together, we’re focused on making high-performance AI more practical for real-world Edge applications.
Making AI Inference Lighter and More Efficient
ENERZAi is focused on improving inference performance through model compression and optimization. Our software engine, Optimium, is designed to run trained models on devices with limited compute, memory, and power. A key part of this approach is extreme low-bit quantization. While many AI systems use 8-bit or 4-bit quantization to reduce model size, our method reduces to just 1.58 bits. This allows for significantly smaller models and faster inference.
In our work with Synaptics, we applied 1.58-bit quantization to OpenAI’s Whisper small model and deployed it on the Astra SL1680 processor. With its quad-core 2.1GHz Arm® Cortex®-A73, Astra provides the right balance of compute and efficiency for Edge AI applications.
The results highlighted how optimized inference and advanced quantization can work together:
These gains are significant for real-world Edge applications, enhancing system stability and user experience, especially in environments where multiple AI workloads need to run in parallel.
Partnering to Advance AI at the Edge
Synaptics and ENERZAi’s partnership advances Edge AI, combining compression technology with the robust capabilities of the Optimium engine. The versatile CPU, GPU, and NPU subsystems within the Astra SL1680 make Edge AI more responsive, efficient, and deployable across a range of applications.
For more details, read the full solutions brief on Running Extreme Low-Bit Models on IoT Edge Devices here: Running_Extreme_Low-Bit_Models_on_IoT_Edge_Devices_4.pdf
World’s first fully integrated RAIN RFID reader in an enterprise mobile processor offers compact form factor, low BOM cost, smaller footprint, end-to-end commercial readiness and superior performance.
RAIN Radio frequency identification (RFID) readers offer the advantages of speed, accuracy and efficiency in tracking and managing assets. They enhance decision making and operational insight by using radio waves to find and read multiple tags simultaneously — even tags that are out of the line of sight. That reduces labor requirements while capturing real-time data efficiently.
RAIN RFID reader capabilities in enterprise mobile devices such as handhelds and tablets can be a big differentiator in verticals like retail, transportation and logistics, public safety, and energy and utilities. As a product differentiator, RAIN RFID technology holds promise for most original design manufacturers (ODMs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of handheld devices for asset tracking and management. The technology enables the design of sleeker, more compact devices that are easier to carry and operate, which ultimately drives efficiency and usability.
Challenges of adding RAIN RFID reader capabilities on a mobile form-factor device
Manufacturers have found that integrating RAIN RFID reader capabilities into a mobile device presents several challenges:
Ultimately, those factors combine to create a challenging environment where technical complexity and escalating expenses undermine competitiveness and innovation.
Solution: Dragonwing Q-6690 with on-chip RFID reader
The Dragonwing Q-6690 processor is engineered to solve this industry challenge by enabling fully integrated RAIN RFID reader capability directly on the processor. The Dragonwing family of processors is engineered as the flagship offering of our IoT business unit. The processors deliver advanced intelligence and enable smarter decision-making across verticals such as enterprise mobile computing, retail, point of sales, transport and logistics, utility, energy and safety.
The Dragonwing Q-6690 processor fully integrates RAIN RFID reader capabilities for ultra-high frequency (UHF), radio-based identification without the need for external RFID reader modules. OEMs and ODMs can now offer their customers the benefits of RFID in a small footprint without expensive redesign.
From the perspectives of design and manufacturing, having the RFID reader capabilities fully integrated with the Dragonwing Q-6690 processor means a compact form factor, low BOM cost and small footprint. It helps reduce complexity in engineering effort, device certification and BOM. OEMs and ODMs reap the benefits of end-to-end commercial readiness not only in hardware but also in software, allowing them to enable new features more quickly and at low cost.
Beyond the clear advantages of reduced size and cost, the fully integrated RAIN RFID architecture of the Dragonwing Q-6690 offers system-level efficiencies that set it apart:
Those benefits, combined with a software-configurable, scalable platform, make the Dragonwing Q-6690 a compelling choice for OEMs and ODMs seeking to streamline design, shorten time to market and future-proof their product lines.
Dragonwing supports leading RFID standards and enhancements
As the first enterprise mobile processor to feature an integrated RAIN RFID reader, the Dragonwing Q-6690 fully supports the RAIN radio protocol, which is standardized as ISO/IEC 18000-63.
Furthermore, the Dragonwing Q-6690 processor is Gen2X-capable. Gen2X is an enhancement to the RAIN radio protocol that delivers a toolbox of innovations to address enterprise needs. RAIN member company Impinj released Gen2X to the industry with the goal of accelerating RAIN adoption.
“Qualcomm Technologies has taken a big step toward accelerating the adoption of RAIN RFID,” says Chris Diorio, the CEO, vice chair and co-founder at Impinj. “For the past two decades, Impinj has focused on developing innovations and partnerships to realize our mission to connect everything. RAIN RFID-enabled mobile devices are a critical next step to realizing this mission and we are thrilled to partner with Qualcomm. We’re pleased that the Dragonwing Q-6690 processor is Gen2X-capable, allowing it to leverage advanced features and capabilities in our M700 and M800 series endpoint ICs. This processor will streamline device design, reduce costs and open up new possibilities for enterprise and industrial devices that will help connect every item in our everyday world.”
Ideal edge applications for on-chip RFID
With fully integrated RFID, edge devices built on the Dragonwing Q-6690 processor can read commercial tags including those that incorporate the M700 and M800 series from Impinj as well as the full range of UCODE products from NXP to identify, locate, and protect every thing an enterprise tracks, manages, and sells.
“NXP’s UCODE portfolio is designed to deliver high-performance, standards-compliant RFID solutions for global supply chains,” says Philippe Dubois, Senior Vice President, Secure Transactions & Identification – BL Secure Connected Edge at NXP. “We’re excited to see the Dragonwing Q-6690 processor integrate UHF RFID capabilities that are compatible with UCODE-based tags , enabling scalable, efficient, secure item-level tracking across various industries.”
The processor can be a differentiator for OEMs and ODMs of handheld devices in a wide range of edge applications, including these:
While Ultra-Wideband might sound like Ultra-Weird-band to some, UWB continues to gain traction in automotive circles. This ultra-precise, low-power radio technology is making your car smarter, safer and possibly more judgmental about how loudly you sing in traffic.
UWB in Cars: Not Just a One-Key Wonder
UWB first popped up in cars to enable Digital Key systems, giving drivers the futuristic ability to unlock their car without touching a thing. Unlike traditional key fobs that yell “I’m nearby!” to anything that’ll listen (including hackers), UWB precisely tells your car not just that you’re there, but where you are within a few centimeters, in fact. That’s close enough to unlock the door, but not close enough to judge your fast food choices.
Qorvo’s new automotive-qualified UWB SoC, the QPF5100Q, is a slick piece of silicon packed with security, configurability and enough swagger to impress German car engineers. It’s currently going through design verification with top automotive OEMs and no, you can’t install it in your 2002 minivan just yet, but we admire your enthusiasm.
One of the most important new UWB applications is Child Presence Detection (CPD). With high-precision sensing, the car can now detect tiny movements like breathing or the heartbeat of a sleeping child to alert parents if someone’s left behind.
This goes way beyond motion sensors. UWB-powered CPD (as demoed at CES 2024 with Qorvo tech inside) can distinguish between a child, a gym bag or the burrito that rolled under your seat months ago.
Wave Hello to Gesture Control
UWB’s talents also extend to gesture control. Want to skip a track or adjust the stereo without hunting for a touchscreen? Just wave. Wave left to skip the track. Wave right to pump the bass. Wave up to adjust the volume. Qorvo’s QM35825 SoC makes these midair interactions feel like sc-ifiI sense the music is strong in you, Luke. I am your fader.”
This same tech can monitor movement, improve cabin personalization and—perhaps someday soon—detect when you’ve nodded off mid-podcast.
What’s Next for UWB?
Want to Geek Out?
For more on how Qorvo is driving the future of automotive UWB (with actual engineers, not just blog posters), check out:
So yes, UWB might have started as the misunderstood, oddly named member of the wireless tech family, but today it’s the hero that quietly makes your car safer, smarter and a whole lot cooler. And no, it’s not Ultra-Weirdband. It’s more like Ultra-Wowband!
This article first appeared in Brent’s Musings in Microwave Journal
COSTA MESA, Calif., August 28, 2025 — EnGenius Technologies, Inc., a global leader in advanced connectivity and cloud-managed networking solutions, today announced the official launch and immediate availability of the ECW510 Wi-Fi 7 indoor access point. Expanding the company’s line of affordable Wi-Fi 7 access points, the ECW510 makes next-generation wireless networking even more accessible for small businesses. Ideal for deployments in small offices, retail shops, motels, apartments, and cafés or small restaurants, the ECW510 delivers enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 7 performance in everyday business environments.EnGenius ECW510: Reliable Wi-Fi 7 Made Simple for Small Businesses
Powered by the Qualcomm® Networking Pro 1220 platform, the ECW510 delivers dual band 2×2 Wi-Fi 7 performance with aggregated speeds up to 5 Gbps. At an MSRP of just $129, the ECW510 redefines value in professional-grade networking—empowering IT professionals, managed service providers (MSPs), and integrators to deliver reliable, future-ready connectivity at a disruptive price point.
The ECW510 is equipped with essential features including:
Affordable Wi-Fi 7: High-speed tri-band performance (up to 5 Gbps) for less than the cost of many Wi-Fi 6 access points.
Easy to Set Up: Use the free EnGenius Cloud To-Go app—most networks are running in under 5 minutes.
No Hidden Fees: Centralized cloud management comes license-free, saving ongoing costs.
Coverage & Capacity: Delivers strong Wi-Fi across up to 1,000 sq. ft. and supports up to 400 connected devices at once.
Built for Growth: Supports multiple access points, making it easy to expand as the business grows.
Secure and Reliable: WPA3 Enterprise-grade security and a 5-year warranty for peace of mind.
Strategic Affordability Meets Technical Excellence
ECW510 incorporates the latest Wi-Fi 7 innovations, including:
Lowering the Barrier to Wi-Fi 7
“With the ECW510, EnGenius is expanding our affordable Wi-Fi 7 lineup and delivering advanced connectivity at a price point SMBs can act on immediately. With its 1,000 square foot coverage, support for 400 users, and intuitive cloud management, the ECW510 is a simple, powerful way for businesses to modernize their networks.” — Roger Liu, Executive Vice President at EnGenius Technologies
From small offices and retail shops to motels, apartments, and cafés, the ECW510 ensures businesses of all sizes can finally upgrade to Wi-Fi 7—without the enterprise price tag.
Availability
The ECW510 is now shipping through authorized EnGenius resellers and distribution partners.
Picture this: A robotic inspection vehicle speeds along the production line. Its cameras scan every component, transmitting high-definition video in real time. Suddenly, it detects a microscopic crack in a crucial part—something invisible to the human eye. Instantly, its onboard AI flags the defect and alerts the central control system to halt the process, preventing a costly recall and ensuring only perfect products leave the factory.
Now, imagine if that robot’s wireless connection dropped for just a split second as it crossed the factory floor. The video feed freezes, the defect goes undetected, and a faulty part slips through. The cost? Potential downtime, rework, or even reputational damage.
In modern manufacturing, this isn’t science fiction. Companies like BMW and Samsung Electronics are already deploying vision-enabled mobile robots and AI-powered inspection systems to automate quality assurance on the move. For these systems, connectivity is as critical as electricity—any interruption can mean missed defects, lost productivity, or compromised safety.
This isn’t just about productivity or product quality—safety is also at stake. If a robot or AGV loses its network connection, it will typically stop immediately to prevent accidents—a necessary safety measure, but one that can halt the entire production line. In environments where heavy AGVs and mobile robots operate alongside human workers, reliable network connections are crucial not only for smooth operations, but also to ensure that real-time safety systems—such as proximity alerts and emergency stop signals—continue to function as intended. If connectivity is lost, these alerts may be delayed or interrupted, increasing potential safety risks on the factory floor.
The Common Thread: Mobility and Data-Hungriness
What do today’s most advanced manufacturing devices have in common? They move—fast and unpredictably—and they generate and consume enormous amounts of data. For example:
Why Wi-Fi Alone Isn’t Enough
Traditional Wi-Fi has served factories well for general-purpose connectivity, but it wasn’t engineered for the demands of these new, highly mobile, mission-critical devices. The challenge isn’t just about speed—it’s about ultra-low latency, seamless handoffs, and rock-solid reliability. In many industrial environments, Wi-Fi can struggle with:
Enter Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (URWB): The Perfect Complement to Wi-Fi
To meet the needs of modern manufacturing, a new class of wireless—engineered specifically for mobility, low latency, and reliability—is required. URWB is designed for just this purpose. URWB provides:
URWB is integrated into many of Cisco’s Wi-Fi 7, 6E, and 6 wireless access points, allowing manufacturers to run Wi-Fi and URWB side-by-side on the same device. This means both general-purpose and mission-critical applications can be supported—without adding new infrastructure or complexity.
Cisco’s Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (URWB) is specifically designed to deliver deterministic, high-bandwidth connectivity in environments with heavy mobile assets and dense interference. By ensuring that safety-critical data and alerts flow instantly, URWB enables factories to enforce dynamic safety zones, trigger automatic slowdowns or stops, and provide workers with real-time warnings when machines approach. In real-world deployments, this level of reliability isn’t just a technical upgrade—it’s a foundational requirement for protecting both people and equipment.
Smarter Design for Modern Manufacturing: Introducing the Industrial Automation Wireless Design Guide
Deploying next-generation wireless for industrial automation isn’t just about choosing the right technology—it’s about designing your network for reliability, security, and performance from the ground up.
That’s where our new Industrial Automation Wireless Design Guide comes in, providing you with a comprehensive, practical resource developed by experts to help you plan, deploy, and optimize your wireless network for Industrial Automation Control Systems (IACS). Specifically created for manufacturing and industrial environments and distills best practices, real-world lessons, and detailed technical recommendations into an actionable blueprint you can follow. Inside you will find:
With this guide, you can move forward confidently—knowing you have a blueprint built on industry expertise and real-world deployments.
The Bottom Line
The future of manufacturing depends on the ability to connect a new generation of mobile, intelligent devices—securely, reliably, and with ultra-low latency. Wi-Fi remains essential, but it needs a specialized companion: URWB. Together, they unlock new applications, new efficiencies, and new possibilities for your factory.
Ready to see what uninterrupted motion and smarter wireless can do for your operations? Dive into our Industrial Automation Wireless Design Guide to get started, or explore our solution overview to learn more.
Protective DNS firm uncovers spikes in malicious traffic leading up to the start of every school year
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Aug. 26, 2025 – Malicious actors are making the most of the new school year with scams aimed at students, institutions, faculty and staff. Data from DNSFilter reveals spikes in specific threat types as students return to class.
Key statistics and insights from DNSFilter’s research find that educational institutions should be prepared to see the following:
Targeted Textbook Scams
Impersonating School Sites
Cell Phone Bans May Increase Filter Bypass Attempts
At the start of a new school year, students and staff are given new logins and devices, creating a new security risk for schools to consider. Protective DNS helps education institutions filter out malicious domains before connections are made, stopping threats like phishing, malware and and even filter bypass attempts at the source.
Ken Carnesi, CEO and co-founder, DNSFilter, said: “At a time that should be full of excitement, our data shows that schools and those they serve must be extra vigilant to avoid getting scammed by criminal opportunists. It’s our goal to make it as difficult as possible for scammers to succeed.”
About the company:
DNSFilter is a cybersecurity company that protects every click, leveraging AI-driven content filtering and threat protection to block threats 10 days earlier than competitors. DNSFilter’s solution secures workers anywhere they are, helping to boost productivity, minimize compliance risk, and protect corporate brands on public Wi-Fi networks. Unlike traditional filtering solutions, DNSFilter deploys in minutes instead of days and is trusted by more than 43,000 organizations worldwide. Learn more about how DNSFilter is the first and last line of defense for corporate and hybrid networks at dnsfilter.com.
Media Contact
Shannon Van Every
Force4 Technology Communications
As India accelerates its national smart metering initiative, which has the ambitious goal of targeting 250 million smart meters by 2027, utility providers are increasingly focused on ensuring infrastructure performance aligns with stringent service level agreements (SLAs).The SLA requirement for India’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) include that the system must ensure that 99.9% of the commands sent to the meters are successfully executed within a specified time frame. This timeframe is typically within 15 minutes of the initial request. Two operational benchmarks are especially critical: low-latency responsiveness for on-demand meter operations and timely network recovery following power outages.
At Silicon Labs, we have conducted extensive validation of our Wi-SUN solution within a 1,000-node internal testbed. These evaluations provide compelling evidence that our implementation not only satisfies key SLA criteria on paper but is also well-positioned for large-scale deployments in the Indian context.
Addressing AMI India’s SLA Expectations for Low-Latency Operations
One of the primary drivers of smart metering in India is support for prepaid energy models, where consumers recharge their meters through cloud-based platforms. In such scenarios, the system must ensure that remote reconnect commands are executed within three minutes for Individual meters, minimizing customer wait times and ensuring service continuity. Additionally, the network must support ping response times under 3 seconds and on-demand meter reads within 60 seconds.
Testing conducted on our Wi-SUN network testbed has shown that:
These performance metrics were sustained even after scaling the Wi-SUN network from 450 to 1,000 nodes in a single day, highlighting the system’s robustness and seamless scalability.
Enabling Resilient Wi-SUN Network Recovery Post-Outage
Frequent power interruptions in India mean that smart meter networks need to recover swiftly and autonomously. The “First Breath” SLA specifies that smart meters must resume communication with the head-end system (HES) shortly after power restoration. Silicon Labs has succeeded in meeting the stricter SLAs here, as well.
Some protocols rely on deterministic topologies with predefined parent-child relationships. Wi-SUN, however, leverages dynamic routing, which offers adaptability but may require time for neighbor discovery and path reformation. This introduces complexity in achieving rapid recovery across large mesh networks.
Despite these challenges, Silicon Labs’ Wi-SUN testbed demonstrated 99% network reformation within allowed timelines as per India SLA following a complete power cycle and Gradual and reliable reconnection of nodes without manual intervention.
While not all nodes meet the sub-three-minute threshold, the recovery profile aligns with practical expectations for mesh networks of this scale and complexity.
Wi-SUN Network Testing Demonstrated Stability and System-Level Readiness
Our internal testing has validated the long-term stability, scalability, and operational efficiency of the Wi-SUN network. Over several months, the network has operated continuously, handling traffic from 1,000 nodes while supporting dynamic additions and resets without service degradation.
This sustained performance is a strong indicator of the platform’s maturity and its readiness to support utility-scale deployments.
Certification and Ecosystem
Silicon Labs continues to play a leading role in the Wi-SUN Alliance and broader certification ecosystem with our FG25 SoC fully certified at the PHY level and our Wi-SUN stack is certified for FAN 1.1 (Core and High Performance), functioning as both a field function node (FFN) and a border router (BR). We are actively contributing to India-specific test beds, enabling localized certification pathways, reinforcing our commitment to interoperability, regulatory compliance, and global best practices.
Why Silicon Labs’ Wi-SUN Solution is Ideal for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in India
With proven performance in latency, recovery, scalability, and certification readiness, Silicon Labs’ Wi-SUN solution demonstrates clear alignment with India’s smart metering SLAs. Backed by robust engineering and a growing ecosystem of customers and partners, we are well-positioned to support next-generation energy networks — both in India and around the world.
