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Bluetooth vs. WiFi HaLow (802.11ah) for IoT

iot bluetooth wifi wireless 802.11ah

IoT (Internet of Things) has become an essential part of our lives. IoT systems require long-range, higher capacity, and low-power devices. WiFi HaLow supports these requirements of IoT networks, unlike Bluetooth. Both technologies are used for wireless communication without the need for wires.

Let’s understand the basics of WiFi HaLow and Bluetooth technologies before comparing them.

What is WiFi HaLow?

WiFi HaLow is one of the latest in the 802.11 WiFi family of protocols. The specifications (PHY and MAC) of this technology are defined in the IEEE 802.11ah standard.

It operates in the sub-1 GHz frequency band, unlike traditional WiFi, which uses 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. The lower frequency used by WiFi HaLow allows signals to travel further and better penetrate obstacles. Hence, the signal emitted by a WiFi HaLow AP can cover devices located in remote areas or places with weak signal coverage.

It’s specifically designed to meet the requirements of IoT networks. It offers low power consumption, increased connectivity range, and support for thousands of devices per single access point (AP) or router. It can coexist with existing WiFi networks as per previous legacy WiFi standards.

What is Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is a popular wireless personal area network (WPAN) protocol. It allows devices to exchange data and communicate over short distances.

Bluetooth operates in the 2.4-GHz ISM band. It supports a range of 100 meters (maximum) in outdoor environments with no obstructions and 9-12 meters indoors. Bluetooth supports a range beyond 1 km outdoors without any obstructions, but at a low fixed 125-kb/s data rate.

It facilitates easy and seamless connections between electronic devices such as smartphones, headphones, speakers, laptops, smartwatches, tablets, and so on. There are various Bluetooth versions developed by Bluetooth SIG, which include Bluetooth Classic, Bluetooth Low Energy, and so on.

Difference between Bluetooth and WiFi HaLow

The following table compares Bluetooth and WiFi HaLow technologies, highlighting the differences in range, capacity, data rate, frequency of operation, and other parameters.

SpecificationsBluetoothWiFi HaLow
StandardBluetooth standard specifications are developed and managed by Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG).IEEE 802.11ah defines PHY and MAC layer specifications for WiFi HaLow.
Coverage Range50 meters (Classic version), Up to 100 meters (Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Bluetooth V4), Up to 400 meters (BLE 5)1 Km
Capacity of AP or Router4 to 5 devices (Bluetooth classic), 20 devices (BLE)8000 + devices
Data Rates3 Mbps (Classic), 1 Mbps (BLE), 125 kbps to 2 Mbps (BLE 5.0)150 kbps to 347 Mbps
Radio Frequency (RF) PenetrationFairExceptional
Energy EfficiencyFair (Classic version), High (BLE version)High
SecurityFair (Classic version), Good (BLE version), AES CCM cryptography and 128-bit encryptionExceptional, uses WPA3 for authentication and AES for over-the-air traffic
Operating RF Frequency2.4 GHz ISM band850 to 950 MHz
Channel BandwidthVaries from 1 to 16 MHz 1 MHz (Bluetooth classic), 2 MHz (BLE versions 4.0, 4.1, and 4.2)1 MHz
InterferenceProne to interference due to crowded 2.4 GHz spectrumLess interfered due to less crowded 900 MHz band
Device DensityCan handle multiple devices, but may experience congestion in high-density environmentsDesigned for handling a large number of IoT devices
CompatibilityWidely adopted and supported in a wide range of devicesLimited adoption mainly in specific IoT applications
Use CasesWireless peripherals, audio streaming, IoT remote sensingIoT devices, rural connectivity

Conclusion

Wi-Fi HaLow offers power-efficient, secure, and large-scale connectivity in IoT (Internet of Things) networks. Bluetooth is used in many consumer devices, such as smartphones, headphones, and portable speakers, for short-range communication, mainly for wireless audio applications.