u-blox, a global leader in positioning and short-range communication technologies, has announced the ALMA-W1 module series, a compact, ultra-low power Wi-Fi 6/6E solution designed for battery-driven and size-constrained IoT devices. The module is based on Nordic Semiconductor's nRF7120 and nRF7120E System-on-Chips and combines Wi-Fi 6/6E, Bluetooth LE, and 802.15.4 radios, addressing growing demand for low-power wireless connectivity that is easier to integrate without chip-down design complexity. The announcement was made via NEWMEDIAWIRE.
The ALMA-W1 series is significant for several reasons. First, it extends u-blox's short-range portfolio into the Nordic Wi-Fi ecosystem, merging Nordic's ultra-low power technology with u-blox's module, integration, and certification expertise. This collaboration could lower the barrier for developers to adopt Wi-Fi 6/6E in IoT applications, potentially accelerating innovation in healthcare, smart home, industrial automation, asset tracking, and smart city sectors. Second, the module's flexibility—offering dual-band or tri-band Wi-Fi, internal or external antennas, wireless MCU or network processor operation, and optional extended flash memory—allows developers to tailor designs to specific requirements, reducing development effort and time-to-market.
Kjetil Holstad, Executive Vice President Wi-Fi Business Unit at Nordic Semiconductor, said: “Battery life is the defining requirement for the next wave of Wi-Fi IoT, and ultra-low power is what we designed the nRF71 series around. With more than 20 times lower connected stand-by current than our previous generation, Nordic is making Wi-Fi 6 practical for devices that must run for years on a small battery. With ALMA-W1, u-blox brings that performance in a globally certified module, combining flexible antenna and memory options with u-connectXpress software to move faster from concept to product.”
For customers choosing network processor operation, u-connectXpress provides pre-flashed, AT-command-based software including Wi-Fi driver, Bluetooth stack, and security libraries, further simplifying integration. The module also features a dedicated Axon Neural Processing Unit on relevant versions, enabling low-latency Edge AI with potential speed gains of up to 15 times and greater energy efficiency compared to CPU-based processing. This could empower devices to perform local intelligence tasks without relying solely on cloud systems, enhancing responsiveness and privacy.
Global certification of the ALMA-W1 supports faster and less complex worldwide deployments, which is crucial for multinational product rollouts. Initial samples are available to selected customers, with a broader sampling program set to expand shortly. The series will be showcased at electronica 2026. For more information, technical documentation is available at ubx.io/alma-w1, and the original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com. More about u-blox is available at www.u-blox.com.
