STMicroelectronics joins the ZETA Alliance

Semiconductor company STMicroelectronics has joined the ZETA Alliance, the industry body promoting ZETA low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technology for low-cost, long-range IoT connectivity.

ZETA leverages an advanced M-FSK modulation and coding scheme, created by ZiFiSense, that allows the system to detect and demodulate signals from transmitters of extremely low power. M-FSK receiver sensitivity can get as low as -150 dBm; hence, ZETA can achieve extremely long wireless-communication range with low transmitter output power.

ZETA technology is quickly becoming established throughout China, Japan and beyond, bringing together innovative wireless technologies that enable low-power, low-cost devices to rely on robust connections over extended distances. In addition, native support for mesh networking, which allows peer-to-peer communication among the network nodes, boosts network coverage and resilience.

Joining the Alliance as a Promoter member, ST expects ZETA technology to further accelerate the spread of IoT in all territories worldwide. The standard lets developers create high-value, IoT-based solutions to challenges that face extreme cost constraints.

“ZETA has a strong value proposition and is taking its place among established LPWAN technologies, boosting choice and flexibility for solution developers and enabling the IoT to deliver even greater benefits to more end users,” said Hakim Jaafar, STM32 Wireless Marketing Director, STMicroelectronics. “ST is actively engaged with the industry bodies for all leading LPWAN standards for IoT connectivity and offers a portfolio of solutions that help developers bring their innovations to market quickly and cost-effectively.”

Dr Zhuoqun Li, the CEO of ZiFiSense (a founding member of the ZETA Alliance), said, “We believe ST will greatly strengthen the ZETA developer ecosystem chain and promote further evolution and deployment of ZETA technology. We look forward to working with ST to create a broader LPWAN 2.0 global IoT ecosystem.”

ST is currently working with ZiFiSense to port the technology to its highly integrated STM32WL wireless system-on-chip (SoC) devices, which combine ultralow-power microcontroller functionality with a wireless stage certified to international radio-equipment regulations on the same chip. The SoC provides a convenient, power-efficient and secure platform on which to develop IoT devices to leverage LPWAN connectivity.

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