News update: LitePoint validates ST's UWB chip, Morse Micro's USB designs, AFC for UK, Cambium passes 50k 6 GHz PtMP radios. August 21, 2026 | WEEKLY NEWS BRIEF | by Claus Hetting, Wi-Fi NOW CEO & Chairman By Claus Hetting, WiFi NOW CEO & Chairman Next-gen UWB gets real as LitePoint validates ST's first IEEE 802.15.4ab silicon. This week test and measurement leader (and WiFi NOW Partner) LitePoint says it has successfully validated physical layer (PHY) performance for STMicroelectronics' ST64UWB chip family using LitePoint's next-generation UWB test system, IQgig-UWB+(TM). The successful test confirms that ST's silicon meets the requirements of the IEEE 802.15.4ab draft specification, giving UWB developers and ecosystem partners "confidence to accelerate development of their next-generation UWB products," LitePoint says. The new IEEE 802.15.4ab amendment introduces extended range and precision through multi-millisecond ranging (MMS) and narrowband assistance (NBA). It also strengthens radar-based sensing, LitePoint says. Read more here. Morse Micro announces two Wi-Fi HaLow USB Dongle Reference Designs. Wi-Fi HaLow leader Morse Micro this week announced two Wi-Fi HaLow USB Dongle Reference Designs that bring long-range Wi-Fi HaLow connectivity to existing devices via a simple USB connection. Morse Micro says the MM8108-RD09 Reference Design provides native Wi-Fi HaLow connectivity to a range of devices including access points (AP) and station (STA) products. OpenWrt drivers are available to enable Wi-Fi HaLow functionality on existing routers and APs with a USB interface. The MM8108-RD17 Reference Design allows for Wi-Fi HaLow integration into a wider range of client products without the need for drivers to be installed on the host. Read more here. WInnForum launches Ofcom AFC task group. The Wireless Innovation Forum (WInnForum) has announced the formation of its Ofcom AFC Task Group, a collaborative industry initiative dedicated to supporting the implementation of Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) systems for standard-power operation in the United Kingdom's 6 GHz band, WInnForum said in a press release here. "The newly established task group brings together AFC providers, device manufacturers, network operators, technology suppliers, regulators, and industry experts to develop a common framework that supports Ofcom's recently published AFC requirements," the organisation said. Cambium Networks passes 50,000 6 ghz-capable ePMP radios in North america. Cambium says it has now shipped more than 220,000 ePMP 4000 radios globally, including more than 50,000 6 GHz radios to North American service providers. The 50,000 figure is particularly important in that it should put any claim that AFC-enabled standard-power 6 GHz would never produce meaningful commercial deployments to rest. Cambium Networks has delivered the hard evidence that fixed wireless operators are actually deploying the 6 GHz band at scale. Cambium's new ePMP(TM) Software Release 5.12 also adds performance gains and a lower-cost path to expand coverage by turning subscriber modules into access points, the company says. Read more here.

Morse Micro brings kilometer-range Wi-Fi to existing devices. Morse Micro has announced two Wi-Fi HaLow USB dongle reference designs aimed at bringing long-range wireless connectivity to existing devices through a standard USB connection, potentially widening the technology's use across industrial, enterprise and edge computing applications. The designs, MM8108-RD09 and MM8108-RD17, are built around the company's MM8108 system-on-chip (SoC). Morse Micro said the reference designs can enable Wi-Fi HaLow connectivity on existing hardware without requiring manufacturers to develop entirely new platforms. Wi-Fi HaLow, based on the IEEE 802.11ah standard, is designed for longer-range and lower-power wireless connectivity than conventional Wi-Fi. Morse Micro said its networks can provide native IP connectivity across distances of up to one kilometre, depending on deployment conditions. The MM8108-RD09 is designed to add Wi-Fi HaLow connectivity to access points and client devices. OpenWRT drivers are available for routers and access points equipped with USB interfaces. For client hardware, Morse Micro is providing native Windows and Linux drivers alongside a macOS application, allowing users to connect to Wi-Fi HaLow networks through familiar networking interfaces. The second design, MM8108-RD17, takes a different approach by reducing dependence on host-device drivers. When connected, the dongle appears to the host as a standard CDC-NCM Ethernet interface. This allows it to add Wi-Fi HaLow connectivity to a broader range of products, including industrial computers, robotics platforms, point-of-sale terminals, tablets and smartphones running Android or iOS. The RD17 design also supports device authentication through Wi-Fi Easy Connect, or Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP), using a pairing button. This could simplify deployment in environments where numerous connected devices need to be provisioned. The reference designs target applications where conventional wireless connectivity may face range or deployment constraints. Industrial facilities, large properties and distributed edge systems are among the potential use cases for longer-range IP connectivity. Michael De Nil, co-founder and CEO of Morse Micro, said the USB designs are intended to accelerate Wi-Fi HaLow adoption by allowing existing equipment to gain long-range connectivity without major hardware changes. According to De Nil, the RD09 could allow internet service providers to upgrade existing wireless routers with kilometre-range Wi-Fi capabilities, while the RD17 could connect existing laptops, phones and tablets across larger properties without requiring additional software updates. Morse Micro said schematics and software for both reference designs are available to tier-one customers through its sales representatives.

Morse Micro has unveiled two Wi-Fi HaLow USB dongle reference designs to enable long-range connectivity for existing devices. The MM8108-RD09 adds native Wi-Fi HaLow to routers, access points, and computers running Windows, Linux, or macOS. The MM8108-RD17 is a driverless dongle for industrial computers, robotics, point-of-sale terminals, tablets, and smartphones. Both designs are based on Morse Micro's MM8108 system-on-chip and provide connectivity at ranges up to one kilometre. The MM8108-RD09 includes OpenWRT drivers for routers and native drivers for client devices. The MM8108-RD17 appears as a standard Ethernet interface, requiring no additional drivers. CEO Michael De Nil said the dongles will accelerate Wi-Fi HaLow adoption by enabling internet service providers to upgrade existing routers and connecting devices across large properties without software updates.