Z-Wave’s Long Range Technology Gains Momentum as Competition for Sub-GHz Spectrum Intensifies

At CES 2026, the Z-Wave Alliance announced that there are now over 100 Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR)-certified devices that are commercially available. In addition to traditional Z-Wave stronghold categories, such as smart locks, sensors, and security devices (e.g., 2GIG’s GC Touch Panel, Aeotec’s SmokeShield, ULTRALOQ’s Bolt Z-Wave, etc.), ZWLR technology is also making in-roads into other device form factors such as lighting controls and smart plugs. Some of the key device vendors leading this include Jasco, Shelly, and Zooz with solutions such as Jasco’s ZWLR (800LR) In-Wall Smart Dimmer, Shelly’s Wave Series, and Zooz’s RGBW Dimmer, respectively.

However, this technology is not new. The Z-Wave Alliance first announced its new ZWLR specification in September 2020, with North America being the first key target market for technology implementation. Thereafter, in February 2024, the specification for ZWLR was extended to the European market. While it may have taken several years for this technology to catch on, the Z-Wave Alliance is now seeing strong demand for ZWLR, reporting that 80% of the products currently going through certification are for ZWLR compatibility.

This announcement is exciting as it reflects the recent shift of general market sentiment toward long range communication protocols. As covered in another recent ABI Insight, “The Latest Release of Zigbee 4.0 and Suzi Looks to Drive the Smart Home Market by Simplifying Smart Home Implementations,” the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) announced the release of its latest Zigbee 4.0 and Suzi specifications in November 2025, with Suzi adding long range sub-Gigahertz (GHz) mesh networking capabilities to the Zigbee protocol. Other sub-GHz Internet-of-Things (IoT) connectivity protocols also include Wi-Fi HaLow, Wi-SUN, and Amazon Sidewalk.

While the addition of long range capabilities enables a wide range of new use cases, such as whole property and multi-dwelling compound coverage, this home connectivity technology also faces impending challenges regarding spectrum availability, especially in the United States. First, because the long range component of most smart home connectivity protocols operates in the sub-GHz license-exempt radio frequency bands, interference is a potential concern, particularly in outdoor environments. Second, there is also increasing competition for the use of sub-GHz frequency bands. This is most apparent in the United States, where geolocation services company NextNav has put in a proposal to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to utilize the 902–928 MHz band for licensed 5G-based, next-generation Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) applications.

While the FCC is still considering the proposal put forward by NextNav, it is critical that smart home connectivity protocol organizations ramp up the adoption of long range-compatible devices quickly to put forward a compelling argument that the 902–928 MHz band should be reserved for unlicensed use. As opposed to other communications protocols (e.g., Zigbee, Wi-Fi, etc.) that can also utilize the 2.4 GHz spectrum, the problem is more pronounced for Z-Wave technology, which relies on the 908.42 MHz frequency.

In view of the above, ABI Research recommends that standards organizations consider the following:

• Simplifying Certification Processes: Certification has been a cornerstone strategy for many wireless protocol organizations to ensure interoperability and maintain the baseline performance standard for its technology. However, this process could also turn out to be a bottleneck if implemented too stringently, leading to adoption challenges. Standard bodies need to consider how they can streamline the process. While there has already been some progress on this front (e.g., Bluetooth® and Thread certification can be inherited), the extension of such process simplifications to other protocols would be needed to drive adoption growth.
• Expand Beyond Consumer Homes: While many of these connectivity protocols were initially developed for short-range smart home applications, the addition of long range capabilities now makes them also suitable for industrial and/or commercial property deployments. Standards bodies will need to consider and formulate strategies to expand beyond the home into other industrial and/or commercial segments.
• Expanding the Ecosystem: One of the challenges that may be more pertinent to Z-Wave is that the technology is still limited by a small number of Integrated Circuit (IC) suppliers when compared to other competing wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi or Zigbee. While Z-Wave has made inroads by moving toward an open-source model, further expanding its IC supplier ecosystem through stronger engagements and collaborations will be beneficial to drive higher adoption of the protocol among smart home device vendors.

The smart home industry is evolving quickly, with new standards being released at a rapid pace. However, new competition for spectrum has also appeared as a potential stumbling block that may impede the ambitions of smart home connectivity technology to extend beyond the indoor boundaries of the home. It is pertinent that smart home vendors quickly ramp up adoption of smart home technologies to cement their solutions as critical components of the national infrastructure.