u-blox announces its first tri-radio stand-alone module featuring dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth LE and Thread

Thalwil, Switzerland – March 14, 2023 – u-blox (SIX:UBXN), a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies and services, has announced u-blox  IRIS-W1, the first compact stand-alone Wi-Fi module combining dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth® LE (Low Energy) 5.3, and Thread including support for Matter. IRIS-W1 comes in four variants, each enabling the user to select among various antennas and software environments.

Segments such as industrial automation, medical equipment, EV charging, smart building and smart home (including intelligent appliances), after-market telematics, and industrial power tools will find this module an excellent ally. Its dual-band Wi-Fi 6 is adequate for those segments searching for the latest Wi-Fi technology. Undoubtedly, the industrial market can obtain significant benefits such as less data congestion and more power efficiency. With its support for Matter over Thread, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet, this module provides the key technologies for intelligent buildings and smart homes, both current market trends.

u-blox first dual-band Wi-Fi 6 stand-alone module, built on the NXP RW612 chipset, is breaking new ground. Wi-Fi 6 reduces power consumption and increases network efficiency as well as the number of served clients, all of the above clear improvements for IoT devices. The module also enables users to select Wi-Fi channels from the 2.4 and 5 GHz spectrum. Some main benefits are higher availability of network and throughput, less data congestion in dense environments, and lower network deployment costs. Furthermore, its design makes it compatible with battery-operated devices.

The embedded powerful Arm® Cortex®-M33 MCU removes the need for an external processing unit, reducing costs and saving space in the design. With the available RAM and flash memory, users can leverage the processing capabilities for advanced applications. In addition, its wide range of peripheral interface enables more options for the designer. The new tri-radio module with NXP EdgeLock and Arm® TrustZone® enables secure end-product implementations with reliable authentication, confidentiality, and data integrity. By protecting sensitive data and preventing unauthorized access to the product, IRIS-W1 perfectly suits applications requiring high security.  

This tri-radio stand-alone module supports Thread (and Matter) in addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. With its three available radios, it adapts well to a wide range of use cases, providing integrated coexistence between radios and a powerful MCU. With this tri-radio feature, users can expect less radio interference, a lower bill of materials (BoM), and an easy integration design.  

“u-blox is a pioneering company in wireless connectivity, always searching to meet the demands of the Internet of Things engineers. With this new Wi-Fi 6 module, we will surely enhance current possibilities and reach unexplored market segments,” says Erik Carlberg, Senior Product Manager at u-blox.