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 series 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 the growing demand for low-power wireless connectivity that is easier to integrate without the complexity of a chip-down design.
The ALMA-W1 family is intended for global industrial and consumer markets, offering developers a compact, cost-efficient path to Wi-Fi 6/6E while retaining flexibility in antenna selection, memory, frequency bands, software architecture, and end-product design. It also extends the u-blox short-range portfolio into the Nordic Wi-Fi ecosystem, merging Nordic's technology and software with u-blox's module, integration, and certification expertise. According to ALMA-W1 documentation, the module is engineered for applications where battery life, compact size, reliable wireless connectivity, and fast integration are critical.
The embedded-antenna variants measure 10.4 x 14.3 mm, while external-antenna variants are listed at 10.4 x 11.2 x 1.9 mm. Variants include dual-band and tri-band Wi-Fi, internal or external antenna options, wireless MCU and network processor versions, and optional additional flash memory. Applicable applications include healthcare and medical equipment requiring low power and strong security; smart home and access control products; industrial automation, asset tracking, aftermarket telematics, and smart city applications; and UAVs, robotics, and high-precision agriculture requiring responsive local processing.
Key capabilities include dual-band or tri-band Wi-Fi with internal PCB trace or external antenna options, wireless MCU operation for advanced customization or network processor operation with u-connectXpress for accelerated time to market, optional extended flash memory, 63 configurable GPIOs, multiple peripheral interfaces, next-generation security, and a dedicated Axon Neural Processing Unit on relevant versions for low-latency Edge AI. For network processor operation, u-connectXpress provides pre-flashed, AT-command-based wireless connectivity software including the Wi-Fi driver, Bluetooth stack, communication protocols, and security libraries, reducing integration effort and shortening time-to-market.
The ALMA-W1 is globally certified, supporting faster and less complex worldwide deployments. Relevant versions feature a dedicated NPU for Edge AI use cases potentially delivering speed gains of up to 15 times faster and more energy efficient than running the same workloads on the CPU. 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."
The u-blox ALMA-W1 series will be showcased at electronica 2026. Initial samples are available to selected customers, with the sampling program set to expand shortly. For further information, including technical documentation, visit ubx.io/alma-w1. This announcement matters because it lowers the barrier for developers to integrate Wi-Fi 6/6E into battery-powered IoT devices, potentially accelerating innovation in healthcare, smart homes, industrial automation, and agriculture while extending battery life and enabling local Edge AI processing.
