Silicon Labs has once again solidified its position as a leader in wireless technology with the announcement of the SiWx917Y, a new module that merges Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) 5.4 to meet the rising demands of the IoT landscape. Designed for energy efficiency, robust connectivity, and ease of development, the SiWx917Y modules address the growing complexity of IoT device design while maintaining a focus on reducing costs and accelerating time-to-market.
The SiWx917Y is an extension of Silicon Labs’ Series 2 platform and comes pre-certified for global regulatory standards. Its streamlined integration and certification process aim to remove one of the largest bottlenecks in device development. Built with an optimized antenna, this module eliminates the need for time-consuming RF optimization, allowing designers to concentrate on innovation and differentiation. According to Irvind Ghai, Vice President of Wi-Fi Solutions at Silicon Labs, this module enables manufacturers to integrate advanced wireless technology seamlessly while focusing on enhancing their unique product offerings.
The module’s compact dimensions—16 x 21 x 2.3 mm—belie its impressive capabilities. Key features include ultra-low power consumption, dual-core architecture, and support for the Matter protocol, making it versatile enough for a wide range of industries. Whether it’s in smart homes, industrial automation, or healthcare, the SiWx917Y’s intelligent power management ensures efficient operation, with current consumption as low as 20μA during connected sleep mode. This remarkable efficiency extends battery life for devices such as video doorbells, thermostats, and industrial sensors, enabling years of operation on a single battery charge.
One of the module’s standout aspects is its dual operational modes. In the SiWG917Y configuration, it functions as a standalone wireless microcontroller, executing application code directly on its ARM Cortex-M4 processor. In the SiWN917Y configuration, it operates as a network co-processor, allowing a separate MCU to handle application execution while the module manages communication tasks. This flexibility offers developers a range of options to tailor solutions to their specific needs.
The introduction of the SiWx917Y reflects Silicon Labs’ response to the rapid expansion of IoT devices, which now see an annual increase of up to one billion units. With the need for secure, energy-efficient connectivity at an all-time high, the module’s support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth LE 5.4 represents a critical step forward. It empowers IoT developers to overcome the challenges of power management, security, and cost-efficiency while enabling sophisticated edge processing and long-lasting battery performance.
The SiWx917Y module sets a new standard for IoT connectivity, bringing high performance and design simplicity to a range of applications. By eliminating many of the traditional obstacles in device development, Silicon Labs ensures that innovators can bring smarter, more connected products to market with unprecedented speed and reliability.
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