- At CES 2025, Morse Micro presented a working demonstration of a HaLow router capable of delivering data at up to 250 Mbps within a 10-mile radius.
- TechRadar first covered HaLow in 2016, but the technology is only just maturing
- HaLow’s long range without a repeater could be attractive for commercial setups
The future of Wi-Fi technology may have taken a big step forward at CES 2025 with the launch of Morse Micro’s HaLow Wi-Fi routers.
Its new prototype (via Yanko Design) offers a range of 16 km, potentially making a home Wi-Fi network available locally.
Unlike conventional routers that may struggle to penetrate walls when operating at 2.4GHz and 5GHz, HaLow’s sub-GHz frequency waves pass through obstacles, providing reliable connectivity over a distance.
The roots of HaLow: from concept to reality
Designed to operate on the 900 MHz band, HaLow was created for low-power, long-range connectivity. Potential use cases include industrial installations as well as remote connection to Internet of Things (IoT) devices and smart homes.
TechRadar reported in 2016 that HaLow’s initial speeds ranged from 150 KB/s to 18 Mbps; Decidedly unimpressive in hindsight, but nine years later, advancements showcased at CES 2025 demonstrated speeds of up to 250 Mbps, a significant improvement that expands its potential applications.
In February 2024, Morse Micro demonstrated the potential of HaLow Wi-Fi by setting a record for long-range connectivity using the 802.11ah standard. The company then made a 3 kilometer (1.8 mile) video call.
Even more impressive, in a test at Joshua Tree National Park in September 2024, a rural area with vast open spaces and minimal RF interference, Morse Micro achieved a range of 16 kilometers (10 miles).
While HaLow’s 250 Mbps speed isn’t as fast as 5 GHz Wi-Fi, it’s more than enough for everyday tasks like browsing, email, and IoT communications.
Morse Micro says it envisions a future in which HaLow routers coexist with current Wi-Fi bands, creating tri-band systems combining 2.4GHz, 5GHz and sub-GHz frequencies.
Currently, common devices such as smartphones and laptops are not yet equipped to support this technology. However, Morse Micro is working with engineers to integrate HaLow chipsets into future devices.
Nonetheless, HaLow’s long-distance coverage has notable commercial and industrial potential for environments such as warehouses, where robots and IoT devices could communicate without hubs or repeaters.
