Morse Micro, an Australian startup, has developed Wi-Fi technology with an impressive 3-kilometer range, addressing the common frustration of weak Wi-Fi signals experienced by many. This breakthrough is achieved through a wireless protocol called Wi-Fi HaLow, based on the IEEE 802.11ah standard. Unlike conventional Wi-Fi frequencies, Wi-Fi HaLow utilizes lower-frequency radio signals that propagate further, significantly extending the range of connectivity.
The system-on-chip (SoC) design developed by Morse Micro is specifically tailored for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, offering both extended range and low power consumption. In a recent demonstration conducted at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach neighborhood, Morse Micro showcased the remarkable capabilities of its Wi-Fi technology. During the test, two tablets connected over a HaLow network communicated at distances of up to 3 km while maintaining speeds of around 1 megabit per second. This speed is sufficient to support basic applications like video calls.
Prakash Guda, vice president of marketing and product management at Morse Micro, highlights the significance of this achievement, emphasizing that the range and data transmission capabilities of HaLow are unprecedented. Despite operating on a different frequency band—900 megahertz rather than the conventional 2.4 gigahertz—HaLow functions similarly to traditional Wi-Fi networks. The key advantage lies in its ability to penetrate solid objects more effectively, enabling robust connectivity even over long distances.
