In a significant collaboration, Laird Connectivity, a prominent player in wireless technology, and Wirepas, a leading mesh connectivity provider, have announced a partnership aimed at delivering integrated hardware and software solutions for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) modules, targeting large-scale Internet of Things (IoT) deployments.
By combining their expertise, Wirepas and Laird Connectivity aim to empower their customers and partners to leverage the distinctive features of the Wirepas Mesh 2.4GHz profile. These features include network scalability, reliability, ease of implementation, and robust RF performance. Laird Connectivity’s Bluetooth LE Module portfolio, known for its world-class technical support and international wireless certifications, complements these attributes. Importantly, this partnership offers module options compatible with Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF52 series and Silicon Labs’ EFR32BG22, with EFR32BG24 compatibility anticipated in Q4-2023.
Bluetooth Low Energy is recognized as an optimal physical layer for various low-power or low-latency mesh applications, particularly within sectors such as industrial and medical. When paired with Wirepas’ unique Mesh 2.4GHz software implementation, customers gain access to a comprehensive toolkit for deploying cost-effective, large-scale, high-density, short-range IoT applications with unmatched performance.
Teppo Hemiä, CEO of Wirepas, highlighted the partnership’s significance, stating, “Together, Wirepas and Laird Connectivity solve a pressing problem for industrial-grade IoT: how to wirelessly connect billions of devices with diverse and evolving network requirements. The combination of a high-performance mesh network and 2.4GHz technology provides a powerful approach to meeting our partners’ and customers’ connectivity needs.”
Jonathan Kaye, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at Laird Connectivity, emphasized the newfound simplicity this collaboration brings to IoT application developers. Kaye noted, “The combination of Wirepas and Laird Connectivity frees application developers from the complexities of long development paths to connect to 2.4GHz mesh networks. Our mutual customers can now focus on creating unique value-added mesh networking applications in areas such as predictive maintenance, industrial automation, warehousing, and asset tracking.”
Wirepas Mesh 2.4GHz is compatible with a range of 2.4 GHz modules, including the Lyra Series 2.4GHz Module using Silicon Labs’ EFR32BG22, and soon to be available on the Lyra 24 Series utilizing Silicon Labs’ EFR32BG24 SoC. Additionally, the partnership encompasses compatibility with Bluetooth LE Series modules like BL652, BL653, BL653μ, and BL654, using Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF52840, nRF52833, and nRF52832 silicon.
To facilitate seamless integration, Laird Connectivity offers Wirepas evaluation versions of the standard development kits (DVK) for each module, pre-programmed with licensed Wirepas keys. These resources are designed to streamline the process for developers seeking to connect to the Wirepas Massive Mesh Network.
This strategic collaboration between Laird Connectivity and Wirepas signifies a notable advancement in IoT connectivity solutions, promising to enhance the deployment of large-scale IoT applications across various industries.
