A Wifi HaLow M.2 module from California-based Gateworks delivers long-range connectivity, high throughput and wall penetration for global industrial IoT and edge AI deployments.

The US-made GW16167 uses the Morse Micro MM8108 chipset.

Engineers can integrate the module as a drop-in option with any single board computer (SBC) featuring a standard M.2 socket. It operates plug-and-play with Gateworks’ SBCs based on NXP’s i.MX 8M Mini, 8M Plus and i.MX 95 processors. Together, these platforms create a scalable foundation for long-range wireless connectivity and edge computing for industrial, autonomous and edge AI-driven systems.

Gatekeeper Systems, a provider of retail loss prevention products, is building its in-store infrastructure on IEEE 802.11ah HaLow wireless networking from Gateworks and Morse Micro.

“The reliability of the HaLow network under extremely demanding conditions exceeded our wildest expectations,” said Scott Carter, chief R&D engineer at Gatekeeper Systems (www.gatekeepersystems.com). “We have not been able to break it. We evaluated multiple HaLow technology partners, and it is clear that Gateworks was and remains the best choice for our requirements. Gateworks has exceeded our expectations across the board; it is rare to find a partner that delivers both top-tier technology and a genuine commitment to our success, but Gateworks does exactly that.”

Demand for Wifi HaLow has surged as industries seek to solve the problems of IoT connectivity at scale. The GW16167 addresses these needs while enabling global operation in the 850 to 950MHz range. Operating in the sub-GHz band delivers longer range and better wall and object penetration than standard 2.4/5GHz wifi.

This eliminates costly difficulties such as interference, congestion and coverage gaps, often replacing expensive cellular or legacy proprietary systems. By extending range and reducing the density of required infrastructure, this technology reduces costs for large-scale deployments by lowering the quantity of required access points and simplifying network architecture.

The module delivers data rates up to 43.3Mbit/s, maintains power efficiency and guarantees uninterrupted data flow for mission-critical applications.

For smart factories, it guarantees constant telemetry and fleet coordination for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) navigating dense metal structures, eliminating expensive coverage dead zones. In smart energy applications, it provides reliable, long-distance links for distributed asset monitoring, from grid infrastructure to remote pipeline sensors, eliminating the need for costly leased cellular services. And for security and access control, it supports robust, long-range connectivity for high-bandwidth IP security cameras and electronic locks across large campuses, leveraging the familiar WPA3 security framework.

“Our partnership with Morse Micro is critical,” said Kelly Peralta, vice president at Gateworks. “Together, we have accelerated the adoption of high-performance Wifi HaLow across the globe.”

Morse Micro showed the GW16167 (www.gateworks.com/products/wireless-options/gw16167-mm8108-802-11ah-halow-wifi-m2-card/) at last week’s CES in Las Vegas, highlighting the rise of Wifi HaLow adoption across industrial markets.

“The GW16167, powered by our MM8108 chipset, is a prime example of how Wifi HaLow is maturing into a critical technology for the industrial sector,” said Michael De Nil, CEO at Morse Micro. “Gateworks is ensuring system integrators have access to a reliable, long-range option for their most challenging robotics and edge deployments.”

Morse Micro (www.morsemicro.com) is headquartered in Sydney, with offices in the USA, Taiwan, China, India, Japan and UK.

Gateworks (www.gateworks.com) designs and manufactures NXP Arm-based SBCs and wireless products for industrial embedded applications. All its products are engineered and manufactured at its corporate headquarters in San Luis Obispo, California, established in 1998.