Latest Press Releases from ABI Research

Global Grid Digitalization Investment to Hit US$150 Billion by 2030 Amid Growing Demand for Energy Capacity and Flexibility

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 12:22:03 +0000

Investments in energy grid modernization and digitalization have not kept pace with energy demands and requirements over the past years. Given rapid electrification and the ongoing energy transition toward net zero, spending on grid digital transformation needs to accelerate. According to a new report from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, aggregated worldwide investments in grid digitalization will grow from US$81 billion in 2024 to US$152 billion in 2030.

“The benefits of the digital transformation of energy grids are huge and wide-ranging,” explains Dominique Bonte, VP End Markets and Verticals at ABI Research. “Most importantly, it enables the real-time management, orchestration, and continuous reconfiguration of increasingly complex and distributed energy networks and assets while unlocking much-needed additional generation and transmission capacity. It also reduces costs in terms of both grid expansion and operational management, improves grid resilience in terms of reduced downtime and faster fault recovery, and enhances overall energy quality and efficiency.”

Examples of key grid digitalization technologies and their use cases and benefits are listed below.

Digital and Virtual Energy Substations - With the energy sector facing the new reality of both distributed and intermittent energy resources and systems, the need for higher flexibility is huge, especially at the edge of the energy grid, which experiences the highest friction between static energy supply and dynamic energy demand in a rapidly electrifying environment. This is where software-defined low and medium-voltage energy substations come into play in terms of facilitating flexible over-the-air functionality upgrades and configuration changes as well as managing and coordinating the 2-way flow of energy, thereby ensuring grid stability in real-time. Key suppliers of virtual substation solutions include Schneider Electric and ABB.
Energy digital twins – Digital twins developed by companies such as Siemens are critical to design, model, simulate, plan, and operate energy infrastructure.
(Generative) AI - AI and Gen AI are increasingly becoming general purpose technologies (“Swiss army knife”) addressing use cases such a preventive maintenance, demand-response orchestration, amplification of customer service and maintenance personnel, and compliance reporting.
Energy Grid Management Software – Companies such as GE Vernova and Hitachi Energy offer a portfolio of energy grid software, including Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS), Distributed Energy Resources Management System (DERMS), and Energy Management Systems (EMS).
Connectivity and Cloud – Smart metering use cases go beyond traditional end user energy usage monitoring to provide granular edge and cloud intelligence needed to regulate and stabilize the upstream grid in real-time and the use of metering data for billing purposes by resellers in an increasingly competitive environment. Honeywell is key actor in this space.

However, grid digitalization faces multiple barriers and inhibiting factors ranging from a lack of financing, rigid regulation, conservative and protectionist attitudes, aging workforces lacking “digital” expertise, limited competition, long infrastructure lifecycles, and cybersecurity concerns. Bonte concludes, “Going forward, it will be critical for energy utilities and technology providers to develop agile design and deployment practices, tap into innovative funding mechanisms, leverage open platforms and ecosystem cooperation, and address the human factor of embedding technology into company processes and culture. There is no room for failure. Others will be ready to invest in and take control of energy assets if needed.”

These findings are from ABI Research’s Digitalization Challenges in Smart Energy Grids report. This report is part of the company’s Smart Energy for Enterprises and Industries research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights.

No-Display AI Smart Glasses Redefine the Future of Wearables with 15 Million Shipments in 2030

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:00:11 +0000

Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses have spurred interest in Augmented Reality (AR) over the past year, potentially becoming a stepping stone to the adoption of more robust and visually capable AR devices. ABI Research, a global technology intelligence firm, has noted this shift in interest and forecasts no-display smart glasses shipments will grow from 679,004 in 2024 to 15 million in 2030 – a CAGR of almost 68%. No-display smart glasses will be impactful not just for consumer use, which will be the largest vertical to adopt the tech, but also for enterprise verticals. The latest published market data forecasts from ABI Research now include No-Display smart glasses to quantify this new device category and track expansion in the broader Extended Reality (XR) ecosystem.

“It became quite clear that the Meta Ray-Ban collaboration was going to create a big wave of interest for Extended Reality (XR) when we noticed them sold in local sunglass stores. Conversations with industry leaders, and from our experience, made it clear this device type was a critical piece of the market,” says Matilda Beinat, Research Analyst at ABI Research. “We expect these glasses to be a consumer-first device, but their value can be expanded into the enterprise, especially considering training and guidance for the workforce. Having an Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent on one’s person, able to understand surroundings and aid in day-to-day work spatially will cause a significant shift in productivity.”

While the Meta Ray-Ban is the first product to enter the market as an AI-first smart glass, other companies are noticing the usability of these glasses can reach wider than current XR devices. Amazon Echo Frames, Xiaomi concept smart glasses, Solos, Rokid, and rumors of many other companies releasing glasses with similar scope to Meta Ray-Ban are slated for the next year. These no-display glasses are both a tech product and often a fashion statement, as they are the thinnest frames available that allow someone to interact with AI and Augmented Reality (AR) without being too noticeable.

“All in all, these AI-first, no-display smart glasses are a clear signal that we’re stepping into a new era of everyday augmented experiences,” concludes Beinat. “This combination of AR and AI represents a genuine turning point in how we engage with our surroundings, enhance productivity across countless industries, and reset our expectations for wearable technology. Early adopters will still be the pack's leaders but expect to see even more compelling updates and next-level innovations showcased at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).”

These findings are from ABI Research’s Augmented Reality Forecasts by Vertical, Augmented Reality Software and Services, and Augmented Reality Hardware market data reports. This report is part of the company’s Extended Reality (XR) Technologies research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights.

Rapid Growth in Multiple Dwelling Units, Education, and Large Public Venues Drive 93% Revenue Growth for Campus WLAN Equipment Between 2024 and 2030

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 13:01:43 +0000

The demands and complexity of campus networks are continuously rising. The increased volume and density of client devices, emerging applications requiring higher throughput and lower latency, and the extension of campus networking into new and unserved environments are accelerating WLAN innovation. This is resulting in the development of cutting-edge technologies such as Wi-Fi 7, Standard Power 6 GHz, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for WLAN networking. At the same time, new business and service models are being introduced to assist organizations in overcoming their campus networking challenges, helping further expand the Total Addressable Market (TAM) for WLAN equipment. ABI Research, a global technology intelligence firm, forecasts that these trends will rapidly expand annual global shipments of campus WLAN access points (APs), up from 22.2 million in 2024 to 41.8 million in 2030.

“Multi Dwelling Units (MDUs) are projected to be the fastest growing vertical over the period, with shipments of WLAN APs increasing more than 220% between 2024 and 2030,” says Andrew Spivey, Industry Analyst at ABI Research. “This growth is underpinned by the rapid expansion of the MDU market itself, which is being accelerated by the rise of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) that buy, sell, manage, and develop MDUs. Managed Wi-Fi services are increasingly being seen as an indispensable component of the core value proposition of MDUs, particularly for rentals, centralizing their entrenchment in the sector. Furthermore, an industry-wide refresh of MDU WLAN networks is expected to follow the introduction of Wi-Fi 7 briskly, as its new features, such as 6 GHz compatibility and Multi-Link Operation (MLO), are optimized for addressing the spectrum challenges that MDU networks currently face.”

Forecasts predict swift adoption of Wi-Fi 7 and 6 GHz across the Campus WLAN industry, and the same is expected for Wi-Fi 8 upon its introduction later in the decade. Yet traction for the WiGig standard (802.11ad/ay), another innovative WLAN technology that leverages the 60 GHz spectrum for long-range, high-gigabit Point-to-Point (PtP) and Point-to-Multi-Point (PtMP) Fixed Wireless, is unfortunately being held back from achieving its true potential. WiGig (FW), primarily deployed in campus environments as a fiber alternative or backup, for building-to-building connectivity, or for the connecting of remote locations, WiGighas many distinct benefits, including being quicker, more cost-efficient, and more versatile to install than alternative backhaul technologies like fiber.

Yet despite these advantages, adoption has been slow due to a small vendor ecosystem, the existence of more reliable alternatives, and a lack of market education. The future for the technology is now unclear, with hopes resting on the shoulders of a recently established Integrated Millimeter Wave (IMMW) Study Group, which aims to extend existing mainstream 802.11 standards into 60 GHz. However, with no official standardization from the IMMW Study Group expected to arrive before the tail-end of this decade, 60 GHz equipment shipments are expected to achieve only a 3% CAGR between 2024 and 2030.

“North America’s position as the largest market for Campus WLAN equipment is projected to remain unchanged through 2030, as the region benefits from favorable policies towards WLAN alongside a robust and mature Managed Service Provider landscape,” adds Spivey. “That said, the regions with the fastest growth rates are emerging economies in Asia and the Rest of the World, which are set to experience CAGRs between 2024 and 2030 of 25.9% and 25.1%, respectively.”

These findings are from ABI Research’s WLAN Infrastructure for Campus Networking report. This report is part of the company’s Wi-Fi & WLAN Technologies & Markets research service, which includes research, data, and analyst insights.

2025 Will See the First-Stage Commercial Rollout of D2C Satellite Services, But High-Speed D2C Broadband Won’t Reach Standard Smartphones

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 13:13:27 +0000

As 2025 kicks off, predictions abound on the technology innovations expected in the year ahead. In its new whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025, analysts from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research. ABI Research analysts identify 54 trends that will shape the technology market and 47 others that, although attracting vast amounts of speculation and commentary, are less likely to move the needle over the next twelve months. In the Space Technologies market, 2025 will see the first-stage commercial rollout of D2C satellite services, but high-speed D2C broadband won’t reach standard smartphones.

“2024 has been marked by challenges, from global conflicts and inflationary pressures to political uncertainty. These factors have strained enterprise and consumer spending, leading to market inertia, short-term technology investments, sidelined capital, and the exposure of vulnerable suppliers,” says Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer at ABI Research. “From a technology perspective, many industries and end markets are in that awkward stage of technology adoption where they are formulating implementation strategies, assessing solutions and partners, and trying to see if they have the resources needed to roll out solutions at scale. This is a particularly sensitive time, which tends to suggest 2025 will have tech implementers and end users on the brink of a period of a massive technology shift as they work through these issues.”

What Will Happen in 2025:

The first-stage commercial rollout of D2C satellite services
In 2025, D2C satellite services will transition from Proof of Concept (PoC) and pilot projects to initial first-stage commercial deployment. This technology will revolutionize connectivity in emergencies, as well as remote and underserved areas.

What Won’t Happen in 2025:

High-speed D2C broadband won’t reach standard smartphones
While D2C services are advancing rapidly, achieving high-speed broadband directly to standard smartphones faces several critical technological and operational hurdles.

For more trends that will and won’t happen in 2025, download the whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025.

2025 Will See AI PCs become the New Normal, but ARM-Based PCs Will Not Grow Out of Its Minority Segment

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 13:00:37 +0000

As 2025 kicks off, predictions abound on the technology innovations expected in the year ahead. In its new whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025, analysts from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research. ABI Research analysts identify 54 trends that will shape the technology market and 47 others that, although attracting vast amounts of speculation and commentary, are less likely to move the needle over the next twelve months. In the 5G Devices, Smartphones, and Wearables space, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Personal Computers (PCs) will become the new normal, but ARM-Based PCs will remain a minority segment.

What Will Happen in 2025:

AI PCs will become the new normal in 2025, moving from premium to standard market feature
The year 2025 will mark when AI-enabled PCs transition quickly from a “nice to have” feature to one of necessity, capturing approximately 60% of total PC shipments, according to ABI Research forecasts. The convergence of several key factors will drive this dramatic shift: the proliferation of Neural Processing Units (NPUs) across different price tiers, the mainstream adoption of Large Language Models (LLMs) for everyday computing tasks, and the strategic launch of Microsoft’s Windows 12 in 2H 2025. Microsoft’s new Operating System (OS), optimized for AI workloads and deeper Copilot integration, will trigger a significant enterprise replacement cycle. The compelling proposition of AI PCs will be strengthened further by their superior power efficiency during AI workloads, offering extended battery life while running increasingly sophisticated on-device AI applications.

What Won’t Happen in 2025:

Arm-based PCs will not be more than a minority segment in 2025
ABI Research forecasts that Arm-based PCs will represent only 13% of total PC shipments in 2025, despite this being a pivotal year for Arm’s PC market expansion. While Qualcomm’s latest PC processors offer enhanced performance and AI capabilities, its market impact depends heavily on resolving ongoing Arm licensing disputes. x86 incumbents Intel and AMD will continue to rule the mass market and maintain their significant software compatibility advantage.

For more trends that will and won’t happen in 2025, download the whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025.

2025 Will See Significant Growth in AI Spending, But Gen AI Will Not Create Expected Value

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 13:07:32 +0000

As 2025 kicks off, predictions abound on the technology innovations expected in the year ahead. In its new whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025, analysts from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research. ABI Research analysts identify 54 trends that will shape the technology market and 47 others that, although attracting vast amounts of speculation and commentary, are less likely to move the needle over the next twelve months. In the Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning space, AI growth will continue, but it won’t create the anticipated value in 2025.

“2024 has been marked by challenges, from global conflicts and inflationary pressures to political uncertainty. These factors have strained enterprise and consumer spending, leading to market inertia, short-term technology investments, sidelined capital, and the exposure of vulnerable suppliers,” says Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer at ABI Research. “From a technology perspective, many industries and end markets are in that awkward stage of technology adoption. They are formulating implementation strategies, assessing solutions and partners, and trying to see if they have the resources needed to roll out solutions at scale. This is a particularly sensitive time, which tends to suggest 2025 will have tech implementers and end users on the brink of a period of a massive technology shift as they work through these issues.”

What Will Happen in 2025:

Traditional AI spending will grow as enterprises search for pragmatic, ROI-driven solutions
The hype around Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) is quickly dying down, with companies recognizing the cost, risk, and operational implications of Proofs of Concept (PoCs) with an 80% to 90% failure rate. This will create greater pragmatism in the enterprise market with many turning to “traditional” AI as a strategic alternative that can solve business problems and deliver a much clearer Return on Investment (ROW). Amazon Web Services (AWS) has shown that over 85% of projects in 2024 were not based on Gen AI—and this trend is likely to continue. Vendors should change their approach to Gen AI and view it as a solution that can be sold on top of traditional AI models with a synergistic value proposition.

What Won’t Happen in 2025:

Gen AI will STILL not create expected value

By 2025, many enterprises, large and small, will have implemented Gen AI-related products and tools across various business processes. These will still not meet the high expectations for this supposedly revolutionary technology. Value creation will be constrained by technology and business challenges, and implementation costs will be higher than expected. Many enterprises have faced significant upfront costs, including data organization, fine-tuning, cloud storage, and strategic overhauls. Due to risk aversion and other factors, most enterprise implementations have been constrained to low-risk, low-value use cases. With Gen AI not living up to expectations, expect projects to be abandoned, with many enterprises focusing on quick and easy wins.

For more trends that will and won’t happen in 2025, download the whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025.

2025 Will See Increased QR Code Payments but Payment Card IC ASPs Will Not Return to Pre-Covid Levels

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:00:52 +0000

As 2025 kicks off, predictions abound on the technology innovations expected in the year ahead. In its new whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025, analysts from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research. ABI Research analysts identify 54 trends that will shape the technology market and 47 others that, although attracting vast amounts of speculation and commentary, are less likely to move the needle over the next twelve months. In the Digital Payment Technologies space, 2025 will see increased QR code payment acceptance but little growth for payment card IC ASPs.

What Will Happen in 2025:

QR code payment acceptance will continue to increase with use cases expanding
Although QR code payment acceptance is prevalent in countries such as China and growing in emerging digital payment markets, including in India, use cases and potential growth areas are not limited to these countries. Significant and continued investments by vendors, including PayPal, Stripe, and SumUp, are setting the foundation for increased adoption in other mature and established economies with use cases expanding. Although QR codes are already being used by many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and pop-up retail businesses, 2025 will mark the year when the technology begins to shift from one niche to partial mainstream.

What Won’t Happen in 2025:

Payment card IC ASPs will not return to pre-COVID-19 levels
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, chipset pricing has been on a continual rise, driven by increased pricing in myriad manufacturing areas, including energy, raw material, transit pricing, and inflation, driving up wages. The chip shortage further compounded this, and according to ABI Research, the Average Selling Price (ASP) for a payment card Integrated Circuit (IC) increased by approximately +30% between 2020 and 2023. However, despite pricing pressures returning, the cost of payment ICs is some years away from matching pre-COVID-19 levels. Although 2025 will mark another year of pricing deprecation, it will not be until around 2028 when pricing is expected to drop to levels similar to those achieved in 2019 steadily.

For more trends that will and won’t happen in 2025, download the whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025.

Over 480 Orbital Launches and 43,000 Active Satellites Expected by 2032

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:04:54 +0000

The space industry is transforming rapidly as new reusable rockets and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mega-constellations (1000+ satellites) enter the commercial space market. These LEO systems are quickly becoming the mainstay satellite option for their ability to support low-latency and high throughput network applications and extend terrestrial network coverage. As of 2024, there are over 14,000 satellites in orbit, with more than 10,400 actively functioning. Of these active satellites, over 93% are in LEO. The rise of the mega-constellations from the United States, China, and Europe have become significant drivers in the expansion of satellite connectivity for the global telecommunications sector, which, according to a new report from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, will culminate in an annual orbital launch cadence of over 480 launches to support over 43,000 active satellites in orbit by 2032.

“Satellite networks are gaining much more attention in recent times, and their deployment to support terrestrial networks looking to extend past their zones of coverage and help bridge the digital divide in emerging regions is critical,” says Andrew Cavalier, Space Tech Senior Analyst at ABI Research.

SpaceX and its Starlink network have deployed more than 6,791 satellites in LEO, roughly 300 more expected by the end of 2024. It is the largest mega-constellation, followed by Eutelsat Oneweb and emerging LEO operators such as Amazon Project Kuiper and Telesat Lightspeed. China is quickly on the rise as a new space tech superpower, with the announcement and launch of several LEO mega-constellations by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST)/ Spacesail (14,000 satellites), Shanghai Lanjian Hongqing Technology (10,000 satellites), and China Satellite Network Group Ltd. (Guowang - 13,000 satellites).

“The market is seeing an increased focus on deployments in LEO particularly for communications and emerging markets. While satellites with communication payloads will continue to be dominant in satellite networks up to 2032 (at 88% of the market), Earth Observation (EO) satellites, signals intelligence, and technology & training satellites are expected to grow significantly throughout the forecast period (at an average Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)) of 15%, driven by demand for greater Earth and space situational awareness and synergies with Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) machine vision. Therefore, we anticipate that satellite design will continue to support more edge computing, software-defined, and regenerative architectures as customers seek a total space solution that can handle more diverse and complex applications,” Cavalier explains.

The market is evolving quickly, and many satellite operators are beginning to realize the benefit of vertically integrated business models. “Growing mega-constellation leaders SpaceX and Amazon have proven that some critical aspects for success are not only manufacturing and operating their satellites and leveraging direct-to-customer (D2C) business models which lower barriers for access. It will be crucial to observe how these players and the market continue to innovate, particularly with the rise of emerging Chinese mega-constellations. Lessons from adjacent markets—such as terrestrial networks, automotive, and consumer electronics, could offer valuable insights. The entry of these new, potentially lower-cost competitors will likely drive industry transformation and increased consolidation,” Cavalier concludes.

These findings are from ABI Research’s Satellite Constellations and Launch 2024 report. This report is part of the company’s Space Technologies & Innovation research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights.

Manufacturing to Generate 4.4 ZB of Data by 2030: Bridging the Data Fabric Expertise Gap is Critical for Proper Data Utilization

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 13:00:50 +0000

By 2030, according to forecasts by global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, the manufacturing industry is projected to generate 4.4 zettabytes of data worldwide. This massive data stream, originating from IoT sensors, CNC systems, ERP platforms, automated identification readers, and MES systems, represents a transformative opportunity for enterprises to sustain competitiveness, drive innovation, and enable AI-driven solutions. However, many enterprises and digitalization providers lack the expertise to leverage this data fully, resulting in inefficiencies and revenue losses of hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

“Generating a lot of data is one thing – being able to analyze and prepare this data for Large Language Models and AI algorithm training is another,” states Leo Gergs, Principal Analyst at ABI Research. “Data fabrics hold immense promise in transforming enterprise operations through seamless integration, enhanced governance, and automated data management. To unlock their full potential, it’s imperative to address a spectrum of challenges spanning technology, governance, operations, and organizational readiness.”

Integrating legacy systems, on-premises platforms, and cloud-native solutions into a cohesive data fabric is a major hurdle. Vendors like Databricks, IBM, and NetApp are developing platforms that unify these environments, enabling real-time data processing and seamless compatibility. Gergs explains, “The ability to bridge diverse systems is critical to unlocking the true value of data fabrics. Enterprises manage sensitive and regulated data that require strict compliance frameworks.”

Solutions like Informatica’s Intelligent Data Management Cloud, Palantir Foundry, Cloudera’s Data Platform, and AWS Industrial Data Fabric enable enterprises to enforce governance with automated lineage tracking, access control, and encryption. Data fabrics must ensure trust and compliance, particularly in healthcare, manufacturing, and government sectors.

Traditional methods like manual ETL and siloed systems hinder scalability. Vendors such as Qlik, Denodo, Databricks, and Microsoft Fabric are addressing these bottlenecks by automating workflows, enhancing real-time analytics, and streamlining operations. According to Gergs, “Enterprises are looking to data fabrics for faster, smarter, and more efficient data handling.” Balancing customization for unique enterprise needs with scalable solutions is essential. But in all of this, the right balance between customization and standardization is critical for widespread adoption and long-term success.”

To overcome these challenges, vendors must go beyond delivering technology and providing comprehensive integration support, education, and ongoing collaboration with enterprises. “The key to success is not just selling a product but enabling a partnership. Vendors must walk together with enterprises, guiding them through integration, building workforce capabilities, and ensuring long-term value. A proactive and supportive approach will transform obstacles into opportunities,” Gergs advises.

These findings are from ABI Research’s Overcoming Challenges in Bringing Data Fabrics to Industrial Enterprises report. This report is part of the company’s Hybrid Cloud & 5G Markets research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights.

Over 100 Million Wi-Fi HaLow Devices To Arrive On The Market by 2029 as The Need for Scalable, Robust, Extended Range Wireless Connectivity Accelerates

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 13:00:15 +0000

According to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, Wi-Fi HaLow technology, the sub-1 GHz extension of Wi-Fi, is poised to transform the Internet of Things (IoT) market, with its adoption expected to surge from several million Wi-Fi HaLow-enabled devices in 2024 to over 100 million by 2029. This dramatic growth is driven by its ability to address key connectivity challenges in various industries, including smart home automation, smart building management, connected agriculture, industrial IoT, and beyond.

“Wi-Fi HaLow offers robust, long-range connectivity with low power consumption, making it an ideal solution for whole home, building, facility, or neighborhood level IoT applications requiring reliable, scalable wireless deployments. By operating in the sub-1 GHz spectrum, Wi-Fi HaLow provides enhanced signal penetration, enabling operation of beyond 1 Kilometer (km) in certain configurations, an up to 10X longer range compared to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Meanwhile, it can support thousands of devices from a single Access Point (AP), reducing deployment complexity and total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to other IoT technologies,” explains Andrew Zignani, Senior Research Director at ABI Research.

Several other additional benefits are driving the adoption of Wi-Fi HaLow. With support for multiple channel bandwidths, Wi-Fi HaLow can enable both large-scale sensor networks with more limited throughput requirements and indoor and outdoor video surveillance applications, which require significantly higher data rates of up to tens of Mbps. With low power consumption, devices can operate for months or years without frequent battery replacements, which is essential for smart homes and industrial applications. Additionally, leveraging unlicensed spectrum like conventional Wi-Fi reduces the total cost of ownership by avoiding additional subscription, network operation, or traffic charges, which can be cost-prohibitive in deploying thousands of client devices. By supporting IP natively, Wi-Fi HaLow can reduce any potential network architecture, setup, and device management challenges. Finally, Wi-Fi HaLow can help reduce the burden on congested Wi-Fi frequency bands, enhancing network performance.

“With the growing availability of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED HaLow chipsets and modules, numerous devices are now hitting the market, proving the technology’s value,” Zignani says. “Wi-Fi HaLow is gaining significant traction in sectors such as smart home automation, industrial monitoring, and video applications, with its enormous potential now starting to be realized in other verticals such as smart retail, smart building, smart cities, and connected agriculture. The global ecosystem for Wi-Fi HaLow is expanding rapidly, bolstered by ongoing chipset innovations from leading vendors, including Morse Micro, and strategic partnerships in key verticals like agriculture, healthcare, and logistics.”

“As awareness grows, Wi-Fi HaLow will accelerate its integration into consumer and enterprise solutions, becoming a leading choice for next-gen IoT networks due to its seamless compatibility with existing Wi-Fi infrastructure. Therefore, different parts of the IoT ecosystem should look toward Wi-Fi HaLow to enable new use cases, help create valuable new services and experiences, and accelerate the digital transformation of their enterprises,” Zignani concludes.

These findings are from ABI Research’s whitepaper, How Wi-Fi HaLow is Poised to Transform the IoT Market. This whitepaper is part of the company’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth & Wireless Connectivity research service, which includes research, data, and analyst insights.