Dense IoT Environments Need Secure and Power-Efficient Connectivity

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Published August 26, 2025

Innovative Internet of Things (IoT) applications continue to expand across industries, along with the demand for compact, secure, and power-efficient wireless solutions to accommodate the diverse connectivity requirements. From smart homes to industrial automation, engineers need modules that can handle multiple wireless protocols without compromising performance or reliability. This week’s New Tech Tuesdays explores how tri-radio modules meet these demands with a versatile design built for the future of connectivity in environments with a high density of wireless devices.

Designing IoT systems often means juggling multiple device types, managing power usage, and ensuring secure, reliable connectivity, all within tight space and cost constraints. In building automation, multi-radio connectivity enables devices to interact across multiple protocols that enhance responsiveness and reliability. In healthcare, secure and power-efficient wireless modules help ensure real-time monitoring and data transmission in critical environments.

Industrial tools benefit from high-speed Wi-Fi 6 for rapid data exchange, while Bluetooth^® Low Energy supports low-power sensors and control systems. Additionally, energy management platforms leverage the 802.15.4 standard for robust, low-latency communication across distributed networks. Across these applications, the need for compact, secure, and interoperable wireless solutions is driving innovation. To meet this demand and support further IoT innovation, u-blox offers cost-efficient wireless connectivity modules that deliver reliability in industrial, medical, and commercial applications.

u-blox MAYA-W4 tri-radio modules address IoT design challenges head-on by integrating dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth Low Energy 5.4, and 802.15.4 connectivity into a single, compact module. The MAYA-W4 is an NXP IW610 host-based product, allowing designers flexible host processor connections through interfaces such as SDIO, UART, SPI, or USB.

This tri-radio integration reduces design complexity and PCB footprint while enabling seamless communication across diverse network types. Whether it's a smart thermostat, an industrial sensor, or a healthcare device, MAYA-W4 modules deliver the connectivity backbone needed to support real-time data exchange and secure device operation. Additionally, the NXP IW610-based modules offer flexible antenna solutions, including integrated PCB antennas, while being pre-certified for major global regions to streamline the certification process.

Built for industrial-grade reliability, the MAYA-W4 modules are engineered to function across an extended temperature range of -40°C to +85°C. Their robust construction meets stringent industrial standards, making them suitable for harsh environments and critical applications. The tri-radio architecture effectively alleviates network congestion, enhances power efficiency, and ensures consistent performance across diverse conditions.

To streamline testing and evaluating connectivity options supported by the MAYA-W476 module, u-blox offers designers the EVK-MAYA-W476 evaluation kit, featuring external connectors or pin headers for GPIO and all host interfaces (Figure 1). Designers can also get started using the NXP FRDM i.MX 91 development board, which has the MAYA-W476 on board and is supported by extensive resources and tutorials.

Figure 1: The u-blox EVK-MAYA-W476 evaluation kit includes a dual-band SMA dipole antenna, SD, Micro-SD, and M.2 adapters and cables. (Source: Mouser Electronics)

Whether designed into networks for automation or deploying high-speed wireless tools in industrial settings, the MAYA-W4 series delivers the flexibility and performance needed to accelerate innovation in connected designs.

IoT ecosystems continue to become more complex and interconnected, increasing the need for more compact, secure, and versatile wireless modules. The u-blox MAYA-W4 series meets these demands, solving key design challenges while aligning with the latest market trends.