Interesting development. 900 MHz unlicensed use works in USA but in Europe 900 MHz band is heavily used in cellular networks (GSM and 3G).
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Interesting development. 900 MHz unlicensed use works in USA but in Europe 900 MHz band is heavily used in cellular networks (GSM and 3G).
Posted from WordPress for Android
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Tomi Engdahl says:
WiFi Alliance has announced a new WLAN standard. IEEE Journal at 802.11ah developed technology alliances received a brand name halow. The technique uses 900 MHz frequencies and extends up to a mile in the head, but the web-enabled homes, it does not have a major impact.
The system has maximum of 26 channels with practical data rate is one hundred kilo bits per channel.
IEEE will ratify the new technology later this year. Halow addition to having to find their own place in the market. Probably it is available as an option for connecting IoT devices to the Internet.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3810:uusi-wifi-ei-auta-kotona&catid=13&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
IoT Gets Its Own Wi-Fi
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/eye-on-iot-/4441131/IoT-Gets-Its-Own-Wi-Fi?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160105&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160105&elq=42d3499d125d4358be09e17a2e5c3c96&elqCampaignId=26343&elqaid=30107&elqat=1&elqTrackId=019a829bd9434f78b9137cb0bf59bd67
For many, wireless Internet connectivity is synonymous with Wi-Fi. But for many, if not most, Internet of Things (IoT) use cases, Wi-Fi does not offer the required range and its implementation often costs more in complexity and power than such applications can tolerate. The WIFi Alliance aims to change that situation, though, with a variation of Wi-Fi specifically for the IoT.
The Wi-Fi variant in question is IEEE 802.11ah, to be known as Wi-Fi HaLow (pronounced like halo) according to a recent release from the Wi-Fi Alliance. Despite reports circulating on the Internet, however, the standard is not yet finalized. So far, the only thing cast in stone is the name. The IEEE standard itself is still in the IEEE-SA Sponsor Ballot stage. The first ballot is complete, and a second ballot is scheduled to go out in March, 2016.
Wi-Fi HaLow will follow most of the standard Wi-Fi protocols, which will help simplify the creation of router/hub devices that handle both HaLow and conventional Wi-Fi in a single unit. The protocol commonality also means that IoT developers will find it easier to create HaLow devices, leveraging their knowledge of conventional Wi-Fi. And there will be little, if any, manipulation required to convert a HaLow data stream for Internet Protocol (IP) backhaul.
The aim of the new Wi-Fi variant is also to reduce the power requirement and extend the range of Wi-Fi connectivity compared to conventional 802.11 connectivity.
When the IEEE 802.11ah standard finally becomes official later this year, though, it will be only one of numerous low-power wireless connectivity options available to IoT designers.
Some pundits are saying that Wi-Fi HaLow will be too little, too late. I, however, feel that its family connections will pay off in the long run.
Low power wide-area networking alternatives for the IoT
http://www.edn.com/design/systems-design/4440343/Low-power-wide-area-networking-alternatives-for-the-IoT
Tomi Engdahl says:
New WiFi HaLow Protocol May Bring Old Security Issues With It
http://it.slashdot.org/story/16/01/11/0632216/new-wifi-halow-protocol-may-bring-old-security-issues-with-it
Perhaps because smart lightbulbs that refuse firmware updates and refrigerators with blue screens of death aren’t enough fun on their own, a new WiFi protocol designed specifically for IoT devices and appliances is on the horizon, bringing with it all of the potential security challenges you’ve come to know and love in WiFi classic. The new protocol is based on the 802.11ah standard from the IEEE and is being billed as Wi-Fi HaLow by the Wi-Fi Alliance.
as with any new protocol or system, Wi-Fi HaLow will carry with it new security considerations to face. And one of the main challenges will be securing all of the various implementations of the protocol.
New WiFi HaLow Protocol Could Bring Old Security Issues
https://www.onthewire.io/new-wifi-halow-protocol-could-bring-old-security-issues/
The new protocol is based on the 802.11ah standard from the IEEE and is being billed as Wi-Fi HaLow by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Wi-Fi HaLow differs from the wireless signal that most current devices uses in a couple of key ways. First, it’s designed as a low-powered protocol and will operate in the range below one gigahertz. Second, the protocol will have a much longer range than traditional Wi-Fi, a feature that will make it attractive for use in applications such as connecting traffic lights and cameras in smart cities.
The new version of Wi-Fi also could be useful for connections among smaller, lower-powered devices such as smart watches, fitness bands, and other pieces of wearable technology. The Wi-Fi Alliance, which certifies Wi-Fi compatible devices and is overseeing usage of the proposed new protocol, is touting it as an extension and improvement of the existing protocol.
“Wi-Fi HaLow is well suited to meet the unique needs of the Smart Home, Smart City, and industrial markets because of its ability to operate using very low power, penetrate through walls, and operate at significantly longer ranges than Wi-Fi today,” said Edgar Figueroa, president and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance.
But, as with any new protocol or system, Wi-Fi HaLow will carry with it new security considerations to face. And one of the main challenges will be securing all of the various implementations of the protocol. Device manufacturers all implement things in their own way and in their own time, a practice that has led to untold security vulnerabilities and innumerable billable hours for security consultants. Security experts don’t expect Wi-Fi HaLow to be the exception.
“While the standard could be good and secure, implementations by different vendors can have weaknesses and security issues. This is common to all protocols,” said Cesar Cerrudo, CTO of IOActive Labs, who has done extensive research on the security of a wide range of smart devices and smart city environments.
Many of the devices that may use the new protocol–which isn’t due for release for a couple of years–are being manufactured by companies that aren’t necessarily accustomed to thinking about threat modeling, potential attacks, and other issues that computer hardware and software makers have had to face for decades. That could lead to simple implementation problems that attackers can take advantage of.
“Having a longer range also means that attackers can launch attacks from longer distances, your neighbor’s devices three or more houses away will be able to talk to (hack) your devices. What’s more scary is that if this new standard goes mainstream and it’s adopted by smart home, smart city, smart phones technologies then hackers will get in a golden age being able to hack everything from miles away,” Cerrudo said.
“For instance, an attacker in China wants to hack smart homes and cities in the US he will just need to hack some smart phones in the US and from there launch attacks that will affect homes and cities technologies.”
“This is nothing new but until now we have different technologies (protocols) used for communications on smart home and smart cities devices, etc. When all these converge and use the same technology then the attack surface grows significantly and opens the door for attacks,”