By Claus Hetting, WiFi NOW CEO & Chairman
MikroTik enters Wi-Fi HaLow market with $139 Morse Micro-powered outdoor gateway
MikroTik – the Latvian networking equipment manufacturer – has launched its first Wi-Fi HaLow product, the KNOT Gateway HL9, powered by the MM6108 chipset from Morse Micro. Announced November 5, the outdoor gateway combines sub-1 GHz Wi-Fi HaLow connectivity with LTE backhaul, conventional 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, GPS, and Ethernet. The IP66-rated device is designed for industrial IoT, agricultural monitoring, smart infrastructure, and other applications requiring long-range wireless connectivity. Priced at $139, the KNOT Gateway HL9 is available through MikroTik’s established global distribution network.
The launch expands Wi-Fi HaLow’s commercial ecosystem by introducing the technology into MikroTik’s widely deployed networking portfolio. Wi-Fi HaLow, based on IEEE 802.11ah, offers extended range, improved penetration through obstacles, and low-power operation compared with conventional Wi-Fi. The new gateway could help accelerate Wi-Fi HaLow adoption in industrial and outdoor IoT applications.
Bluetooth takes major leap forward as HDT delivers speeds up to 7.5 Mbps
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has formally adopted Bluetooth High Data Throughput (HDT) as part of the new Bluetooth Core 7.0 specification, increasing maximum physical-layer data rates from 2 Mbps to 7.5 Mbps, nearly four times faster than conventional Bluetooth LE. Announced November 4, the new technology introduces advanced modulation, improved error correction, and more efficient packet transmission, enabling higher throughput, improved reliability, and greater energy efficiency.
Applications include lossless and high-resolution wireless audio, smart glasses, wearables, industrial devices, and AI-enabled peripherals. Standardised premium wireless audio using HDT is expected to emerge in 2027. Semiconductor companies are already preparing for commercial adoption. Nordic Semiconductor recently demonstrated HDT in working silicon, while Ceva reports that more than ten customers have licensed its Bluetooth HDT IP.
Plume and Google dismantle botnet hidden in 1.3 million home broadband devices
Plume and Google – together with other industry partners – have disrupted a global botnet operating through more than 1.3 million Android-based TV set-top boxes across over 200 countries. Announced November 2, the operation targeted X.CPE, malicious software embedded in device firmware before the equipment reached consumers. The botnet secretly exploited home broadband connections for advertising fraud, residential proxy services, data collection, and other unauthorised activities.
Plume Security Labs initially detected suspicious network traffic and helped trace the threat to compromised devices. Google subsequently coordinated legal and technical measures to dismantle the botnet’s infrastructure. Google estimates that the operation also disrupted attackers’ access to at least 10 million additional compromised devices. The incident highlights the growing importance of network-level security monitoring for broadband service providers, particularly as compromised connected devices can operate normally while secretly exploiting subscribers’ home networks.
FCC moves to modernise UWB regulations to accelerate innovation and commercial adoption
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched a proceeding to modernise its regulations governing ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, potentially removing longstanding restrictions on emerging UWB applications. Published in the Federal Register on November 2, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ET Docket 26-245) seeks to update technical requirements originally established in 2002, which the FCC says have failed to keep pace with technological developments.
The proposals include creating a new regulatory category for UWB location-sensing devices, reducing the need for individual regulatory waivers, and exploring specific provisions for AI-enabled UWB sensing applications. The changes could accelerate innovation in precise indoor positioning, automotive systems, industrial automation, healthcare, and consumer electronics while protecting existing spectrum users. The FCC is inviting industry comments until December 2, 2026, with replies due January 4, 2027. The proposals remain subject to the regulatory review process.
/Claus.
