Following official adoption of channel sounding as part of Bluetooth 6.0 by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), Nordic Semiconductor announces its support for the technology in the forthcoming nRF54L and nRF54H series systems-on-chip (SoCs). Channel sounding is a technique that evaluates a radio environment for wireless communication. It enhances how Bluetooth low-energy (Bluetooth LE) devices measure distance and detect presence, extending the technology’s flexibility and promising a new range of applications.
As a global leader in low-power wireless IoT connectivity and the market-share leading supplier of Bluetooth LE solutions, Nordic is well positioned to integrate channel sounding into its new nRF54 series. This plan highlights the company’s commitment to adopting advanced technologies that improve how devices connect and interact. The forthcoming nRF54L and nRF54H series will take full advantage of the capabilities offered by channel sounding, enabling developers and manufacturers to create more advanced, secure and efficient wireless products.
“The Bluetooth SIG’s adoption of channel sounding significantly enhances the precision of previous Bluetooth distance measuring techniques and encourages innovation across the Bluetooth device ecosystem. Nordic is excited by the possibilities the technology opens,” says Øyvind Strøm, executive vice president of Nordic Semiconductor’s Short Range business unit. “Nordic’s plan to support channel sounding in its latest generation SoCs will enable developers to build a range of innovative distance and presence detection applications and get them quickly to market.”
Channel sounding brings improved accuracy and reliability
Traditionally, while Bluetooth LE has been favoured for its low power consumption and cost-effectiveness, it has not always been the optimum solution for reliable and accurate ranging. Channel sounding addresses these shortcomings by offering greatly improved reliability and accuracy in distance measurement capabilities that were previously unachievable with Bluetooth.
Channel sounding significantly enhances Bluetooth LE's capabilities, particularly in high-volume applications like personal item tags or key fobs, where presence detection and proximity sensing are crucial. It can be seamlessly integrated into devices using a single antenna without requiring significant hardware modifications – all while maintaining the energy efficiency of Bluetooth LE. This compatibility ensures upgrades are straightforward and cost-effective.
In addition, channel sounding incorporates robust security features to protect against tampering and “man-in-the-middle” attacks. This makes it ideal for critical applications such as smart door locks, home appliances and Find My solutions, ensuring robust performance where reliable ranging and enhanced security are paramount.
A significant step forward for Bluetooth
Channel sounding is expected to be widely adopted in mobile phones and a broad range of other battery-powered Bluetooth LE products, providing standardisation and interoperability for use cases that previously required more complex solutions or proprietary devices on both ends of the wireless link.
Inclusion of channel sounding in Bluetooth 6.0 marks a significant step forward for the wireless technology. As channel sounding becomes more accessible, it will power a wave of new applications that fully leverage improved proximity sensing and distance measurement.
