The Wi-SUN alliance has added a new level of certifications for Field Area Networking (FAN) IoT devices worldwide. FAN provides a communication infrastructure for very large-scale outdoor networks. The FAN 1.1 Low Energy (LE) Certification enables operation alongside high-performance applications within the same standards-based network. The certification helps simplify deployment, management, and long-term scalability across connected infrastructure by providing a common level of quality across an estate of ultra-low-power, battery-operated and energy-harvesting devices.
Phil Beecher, President and CEO of the Wi-SUN Alliance. “With the introduction of Low Energy, Wi-SUN FAN 1.1 enables infrastructure operators to support a wider range of device types within a single network architecture.
“Cities, municipalities, and solution providers can now operate long-life, low-power endpoints and higher-performance applications together, reducing complexity while maintaining the reliability, security, and interoperability required for large-scale deployments.”
What is FAN 1.1 Low Energy?
FAN 1.1 Low Energy supersedes FAN 1.0 Low Energy, but what are the differences? Beecher explained, “While some FAN 1.0 devices supported Low Energy, this functionality was not specified and not tested as part of the certification program. Wi-SUN FAN Low Energy is specified in FAN 1.1, and we have introduced Low Energy certification as part of the FAN 1.1 certification program.
In addition, this certification adds to the FAN 1.1 certification already in place. This applies to High Performance criteria, and 39 products have already been registered as certified. Some of these might also become certified for the low-energy criteria in time.
Beecher added, “FAN 1.1 introduces 2 new features beyond FAN 1.0. High performance, which provides higher data rates and lower latency, and LE (Low Energy) which is suitable for battery devices. HP and LE are NOT mutually exclusive, but they target different device applications; HP is good for electric metering and AMI 2.0, and LE is good for gas metering, methane sensors and other battery/solar powered sensors and applications.
“We introduced the HP certification earlier than LE to enable Utilities to start deploying HP devices. HP and LE devices can use a single Wi-SUN network to benefit from multi-service applications.”
By introducing a new certification for low-energy devices, organisations can ensure that the devices they roll out are compatible with their Wi-SUN FAN mesh network. Low-energy devices are designed for long operational life, with minimal power consumption or the ability to recharge batteries using sustainable energy sources such as solar.
They can also use energy harvesting by scavenging energy from their environment, known as ambient IoT. Devices can operate for as long as 10-20 years using primary cells. The certified devices will be able to operate securely and reliably along side high-through put devices without the need to implement parallel networks with the same protocols.
Where these matter
Organisations can now choose to roll out a mix of devices, some high-performance, some low-energy, selecting the right sensor for the right situation. The range of devices can include meters, sensors, and city-scale infrastructure endpoints, including:
- Smart Waste Management
- Smart Lighting and Infrastructure
- Environmental Monitoring
- Smart Utilities and Metering
- Smart Parking and Mobility
- Public Safety
It allows organisations to create a single network architecture optimised for scale, reliability, and longevity.
LE extends the existing High-Performance (HP) features of FAN 1.1. Certified devices will support high data rates and low-latency applications such as energy metering. By running HP and LE together, Wi-SUN FAN 1.1 supports more device types and data profiles without needing multiple network technologies or splitting Sub-GHz deployments to meet different power and data needs.
Connected infrastructures are experiencing exponential growth. The challenge for organisations is to select devices that will work with the backend systems. For those organisations, certification offers a procurement requirement. That means organisations can ensure their network will operate without headaches associated with different sensor protocols.
FAN 1.1 LE enables a single, standards-based network to support diverse performance requirements across a range of applications.
Deployments can include:
- Smart cities, including street lighting, traffic systems, smart parking, signage, and waste management
- Utility, municipal and regional infrastructure monitoring
- Industrial and commercial sensing applications
- Campus- and city-scale IoT networks requiring long device life and predictable performance
Certified Interoperability at Scale
Importantly, version 1.1 is fully compatible with existing Wi-SUN FAN 1.0 networks. You can continue to rely on Wi-SUN FAN’s robust interoperability, scalability, and security while enhancing and extending your existing field mesh networking investment.
FAN 1.1 Low Energy certification from the Wi-SUN Alliance guarantees that products from different vendors are interoperable and ready for real-world use. Building on secure, large-scale mesh networking, FAN 1.1 LE extends these features to long-lasting, low-energy devices. The program is now available, with certified products and vendors to be announced as certification progresses.
Enterprise Times: What does this mean
IoT Analytics estimates that the number of connected IoT devices would grow by 14% in 2025 and reach 39 billion in 2030, and>50 billion by 2035.
However, such growth must be measured. Without certifications such as industry standards and certifications Wi-SUN FAN 1.1, those building networks risk incompatibility between devices. Or extensive rework in the future to ensure systems remain compatible. By creating this new low energy certification, organisations get a measure of comfort when they purchase devices that they will remain compatible long into the future.
This is especially important where sensors need to work for 20 years, while backhaul applications will evolve around them.
