UWB Integration Rising in Mobile Amid Challenges: ABI

The mobile device and wearables markets are having a “massive uptake” of ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, said ABI Research Thursday, forecasting shipments will reach 1.3 billion by 2026, from 143 million last year. UWB is a “secure, fine ranging technology” that can enable location-based user experiences that other wireless connectivity technologies haven’t been able to support effectively, said ABI. It's also interoperable with Bluetooth Low Energy, near field communication and Wi-Fi. Apple was one of the first to adopt UWB in the iPhone 11 and Watch 6, and UWB is also now in products from Samsung, Xiaomi and Honor, with “many more” vendors set to follow, said analyst Filomena Iovino. ABI forecasts 14% of smartphones will have UWB by the end of this year, expanding to 40% by 2026. UWB will also grow in other sectors, including smart home fans, lamps, and smart speakers, along with automotive. Challenges to UWB growth include the large size of the UWB antenna, making it difficult to integrate in tags, wearables and sensors, Iovino said, plus the higher costs of UWB components and infrastructure versus that for alternative short-range technologies. Regional variations and restrictions could also complicate the development and deployment of a standardized UWB ecosystem, she said.