Ultra-Low Power Wireless Connectivity: Nordic Semiconductor’s Smart Path to Smarter Devices

If you’re designing embedded systems for smart homes, asset tracking, or wearables, chances are you’re locked in a never-ending battle with power budgets. At Embedded World 2025, Nordic Semiconductor showed us exactly how they’re winning the war with ultra-low power wireless connectivity—one clever demo at a time.

From Wi-Fi that sips power like Bluetooth, to satellite-enabled IoT devices and broadcast Bluetooth audio, Nordic’s engineering team pulled back the curtain on how to save every microamp possible—without compromising on functionality.

Talking to Satellites? Still Ultra-Low Power

Let’s start with something interstellar: Nordic’s latest cellular chipsets don’t just talk to terrestrial masts—they ping satellites. Yes, real ones. Whether you’re tracking cargo in a forest or a fishing vessel at sea, Nordic’s NTN (non-terrestrial network) support ensures you stay connected and frugal with power.

The trick? Smart release timers and software-controlled eSIM options let you control when and how your device communicates. No more being held hostage by cell towers that want to chat all day.

Low Power Wi-Fi Is Actually a Thing Now

Wi-Fi has long been the power-hungry cousin of Bluetooth. But with Wi-Fi 6 and Nordic’s clever use of Target Wake Time (TWT), your devices can sip power at rates once exclusive to BLE.

In a live demo, Nordic compared legacy Wi-Fi power consumption (~10 mA) to their optimised setup (~500 µA). The secret sauce? Letting devices decide when to check in—every 10 seconds, every hour—it’s up to you. Wi-Fi off batteries? Now totally viable.

Bluetooth That Knows Where You Left Your Keys

Nordic’s channel sounding demo stole the show for its ingenuity. By measuring the phase shift between two BLE chips, you can pinpoint the distance between devices with impressive accuracy—perfect for asset tracking or smarter key fobs.

Unlike old-school RSSI methods, this system actually tells you if you’re getting warmer. Think “Bluetooth hot-and-cold” with real-world metrics.

Smart Home, Smarter Start: Matter and Thread Demos

Getting a smart home up and running shouldn’t require a network engineer. Nordic’s Matter-over-Thread demos highlighted how newer smartphones with built-in Thread radios can connect directly to devices like smart blinds—no border router required. One-to-one setup is now a breeze, making first-time installs seamless.

BLE Audio Broadcasting: One Button to Speak to All

Finally, the Bluetooth Auracast demo showed off audio broadcasting to multiple headsets—plus a high-priority “push-to-talk” mode that overrides music with voice. It’s not just a fun feature; it’s a glimpse into accessible public audio, conference announcements, and shared media moments, all powered by Nordic chips.

The Real Takeaway: Control Is Everything

Power savings at Nordic aren’t accidental—they’re engineered. The golden thread across every demo? You control when devices talk, sleep, and wake. This philosophy drives every product line, from their ubiquitous nRF52 chips to the next-gen nRF54, which doubles the speed while halving power.

So next time you design for IoT, ask yourself not just how much power your device uses—but when. Because with Nordic, ultra-low power wireless connectivity is all about smart timing.