Nordic Semiconductor announces the ability to build Amazon Sidewalk devices using nRF Connect SDK and nRF52840 multi-protocol SoC

Nordic Semiconductor announces the ability to build Amazon Sidewalk devices using existing nRF Connect SDK and nRF52840 multi-protocol SoC

Amazon Sidewalk is a zero-connectivity-cost "community" wireless IoT network that leverages popular Amazon Echo and Ring smart home devices as gateways (called Sidewalk Bridges) to provide short-range Bluetooth and long-range "neighborhood range" sub-1GHz wireless connect.

Oslo, Norway – March 29, 2023 – Nordic Semiconductor’s Bluetooth wireless technology is once again leading the way and participating in a huge industry development opportunity in the wireless Internet of Things: Amazon Sidewalk.

Starting today, developers can start building best-in-class Amazon Sidewalk products using Nordic’s award-winning nRF52840 Bluetooth Low Energy system-on-chip (SoC) and nRF Connect SDK.

Amazon Sidewalk has two main models: the shorter-range model is targeted at home product applications and is based on the license-free 2.4GHz Bluetooth Low Energy; the longer-range model is targeted at applications outside the home and is based on the license-free industrial, scientific and sub-1 GHz Medical (ISM) band.

Amazon Sidewalk over Bluetooth LE models for shorter ranges will simplify connecting Bluetooth Low Energy devices to the cloud, with special emphasis on data privacy and security. This model is suitable for use in homes and buildings. The Nordic solution uses just one Nordic nRF52840 SoC device.

Amazon Sidewalk for longer distances is a wireless IoT network with lower data rates, positioned for home Wi-Fi and cellular IoT network connections. It provides greater "neighborhood-wide" coverage than in-home Wi-Fi without paying for a cellular connection.

In the United States, this longer-range Sidewalk model will use the 900MHz ISM band. The Nordic solution provides these capabilities via the Semtech SX1262 transceiver, which includes two other options: Sidewalk over LoRa and Sidewalk over FSK (using a proven digital data modulation called Frequency-Shift Keying, or FSK scheme, has higher data throughput than LoRa, but has a smaller transmission range).

The longer-range sub-GHz Amazon Sidewalk model also uses the Nordic nRF52840 device, with the SoC acting as the applications processor and providing Bluetooth low energy connectivity for device network registration and authentication, or to provide important over-the-air device firmware update capabilities.

Examples of applications include smart outdoor lighting, environmental sensors, utility meters, asset trackers and home appliances such as washers and tumble dryers often found in basements or garages, as well as healthcare and commercial equipment.

With Amazon Sidewalk opening up to developers, now developers and device manufacturers can focus on designing their products without worrying about how to connect them to the internet. Amazon Sidewalk already has an installed base of millions of devices. Moreover, all participating Sidewalk Bridges will allocate a small portion of the Internet bandwidth for sharing to serve all Amazon Sidewalk terminal devices. This will enable additional use cases such as asset tracking and finding misplaced items.

Finn Boetius, product marketing engineer at Nordic Semiconductor, said: "Amazon Sidewalk is a truly promising business opportunity in the consumer wireless IoT market. The existing infrastructure that has deployed Amazon Echo and Ring devices is almost ubiquitous in the United States, and Amazon will This upgrade further captures valuable opportunities to expand the scope and market potential of wireless IoT. This includes using Bluetooth technology to allow consumers to add Amazon Sidewalk devices to the network with their smartphones in a super easy way.”

Amazon Sidewalk will launch in the United States first.