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World's first certification for the Wi-SUN FAN 1.1 international wireless communication standard
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A research team led by Professor Hiroshi Harada at the Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, in collaboration with Nissin Systems Co., Ltd. and Nagano Japan Radio Co., Ltd., has jointly developed a wireless device incorporating Wi-SUN FAN (Field Area Network), a next-generation international wireless communication standard for the Internet of Things (IoT). The team's research results successfully passed the Wi-SUN FAN 1.1 high performance (HP) certification test conducted by the Wi-SUN Alliance, making it the first in the world to achieve this certification.
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Points
- Achieved the world's first Wi-SUN FAN 1.1 certification under the newly launched certification system.
- Supports long-distance and high-speed transmission, with speeds of up to 2.4 Mbps.
- Enables the construction of a wide-area IoT communication network through multihop communication between up to 24 wireless devices.
Background
Large-scale IoT systems, consisting of several hundred units and spanning areas of several kilometers or more, are being considered for applications such as smart cities and smart metering. These systems integrate sensors, meters, and monitors with communication functions to address various urban challenges. To implement such systems effectively, a robust wireless communication network is requiredone that ensures high-quality outdoor performance and strong fault tolerance against signal obstructions caused by buildings and other structures.
Wi-SUN FAN is a key standard within the Wi-SUN family, designed as an international wireless communication standard for IoT applications. It is being actively considered for deployment as an interoperable wireless network technology, enabling seamless connectivity among vendors in diverse infrastructures and applications. These include smart cities, smart grids, advanced road traffic systems, and essential utilities such as electricity, gas, and water metering. However, existing Wi-SUN standards offer transmission speeds of only a few 100 kbps, which is insufficient for data-intensive applications such as video transmission. In response to the growing demand for higher speeds, the Wi-SUN Alliance, responsible for certifying Wi-SUN system standards, has been developing the Wi-SUN FAN 1.1 technical specifications and interoperability test standards to enhance performance and expand capabilities.
Wi-SUN FAN is an international wireless communication standard for IoT that meets these requirements. It has already been considered for introduction as an interoperable wireless communication network technology between vendors in various infrastructures and applications that use sensors, meters, and monitors for smart cities, smart grids, and advanced road traffic systems, as well as for electricity, gas, and water metering.
Despite its advantages, the current Wi-SUN FAN standard only supports transmission speeds of a few hundred kbps, making it insufficient for applications requiring higher data throughput, such as video transmission. This has driven demand for further speed improvements. In response, the Wi-SUN Alliance has been refining the Wi-SUN FAN 1.1 specifications, enhancing both transmission speed and interoperability to better support next-generation IoT applications.
Results
We have developed a radio that complies with the Wi-SUN FAN 1.1 technical specifications and certification program, delivering transmission speeds up to 20 times faster than the current Wi-SUN FAN standard. Consequently, this radio has successfully passed certification tests, demonstrating interoperability with radios from multiple companies through multihop communication, frequency hopping, and IP-based transmissions with advanced authentication security. The radio incorporates the following features as specified in the Wi-SUN FAN 1.1 technical specification:
- Physical and MAC layers supporting IEEE 802.15.4/4g/4e
- Adaptation layer, network layer, and transport layer as defined by IETF and represented by 6LowPAN, IPv6
- Multihop communication method using RPL
- Frequency hopping
- Authentication security support
- Multivendor interconnectivity
- High-speed communication support (supports OFDM modulation method and has a maximum transmission rate of 2.4 Mbps)
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*Part of this research includes results conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' “Research and Development for Expansion of Radio Resources (JPJ000254)” (Research and Development for Advancement of Radio Simulation System Technology in Virtual Space) (Research and Development for Deployment of Mobile Communication Systems in Millimeter Wave Bands, etc.).
Certification Overview
Date of Certification: February 20, 2025
Certification Organization: Wi-SUN Alliance
Certification Test Organization: Telecom Engineering Center
Certification Name: Wi-SUN FAN 1.1 Conformance: Router (Core + HP)
Certification Number: WSA 0387
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Future prospects
We will continue to participate in interoperability specification verification events hosted by the Wi-SUN Alliance, contributing to the technical conformance and interoperability certification testing of the Wi-SUN FAN 1.1 standard. Additionally, we will actively promote efforts toward the social implementation of this radio device. The results will be showcased at the Wi-SUN open house 2025 on March 3 at the Ochanomizu Sola city conference center and at the Wi-SUN alliance booth at DistribuTECH 2025, one of the largest power industry events in the United States, taking place from March 25 in Dallas, Texas.
Overview of Wi-SUN FAN (Field Area Network)
The Wi-SUN FAN standard, established by the Wi-SUN Alliance, enables IPv6 and multihop communication for sensors and meters, supporting wireless smart metering, power distribution automation in smart grids, and smart city applications such as infrastructure management, intelligent transportation systems, and smart lighting. Version 1.0 was introduced by the Wi-SUN FAN working group on May 16, 2016, while version 1.1, which enhances high-speed communication and reduces power consumption, is currently undergoing standardization and certification. The standard defines the physical layer using IEEE 802.15.4g, the data link layer with IEEE 802.15.4/4e, and the adaptation layer with IETF 6LoWPAN. For networking, it employs IPv6 and ICMPv6, while UDP serves as the transport layer protocol, and IEEE 802.1x is used for authentication. Additionally, the standard includes test specifications to ensure interoperability across different vendors.
Digital Communications Laboratory (Hiroshi Harada lab), Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University
The Hiroshi Harada Laboratory at the Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, is part of the Department of Communications and Computer Engineering at the Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, and specializes in research and development in digital communications. Notably, Professor Hiroshi Harada played a key role in the standardization of IEEE 802.15.4g, the international standard that serves as the foundation for the Wi-SUN system, during his tenure at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology. In 2012, he cofounded the Wi-SUN alliance and has since been actively involved as chair or vice chair of the board. As the chair of the Wi-SUN Alliance HAN working group (WG), he has contributed to the development of technical specifications and the promotion of Wi-SUN systems for smart meter applications in residential power systems. Additionally, he has played a significant role in the international standardization of Wi-SUN FAN (IEEE 2857) as vice-chair. The Hiroshi Harada Laboratory conducts comprehensive research and development on Wi-SUN systems, with a particular focus on communication methods, radio propagation and transmission, system optimization, and applied system development.
Nissin Systems Co., Ltd.
Nissin Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nissin Electric Co., is committed to shaping the future alongside its customers by realizing a valuable smart society across various fields, including energy.
Web site https://www.co-nss.co.jp/
Wi-SUN FAN Solution Page https://www.co-nss.co.jp/media/press/wsf/
Nagano Japan Radio Co., Ltd.
Nagano Japan Radio Co., Ltd. (Nagano, Japan, established in 1949) is a key player in wireless communications and a member of the Nisshinbo Group. The company focuses on developing short-range wireless solutions to enhance smart communities, making them more convenient and efficient. Its solutions support various sectors, including electricity and gas meter reading and monitoring, agriculture and environmental management, safety and disaster prevention, security, healthcare, medical care and welfare, and facility management.
Web site https://www.njrc.jp/
*The names of institutions and products in this document are registered trademarks or trademarks of the respective companies.
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