The Wi-Fi Alliance (link) has introduced Wi-Fi for Matter, a new certification program (link). The goal is to accelerate the adoption of Matter in the smart home. The program ensures that Wi-Fi devices such as Access Points (APs) meet the technical requirements of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) that are necessary for Matter certification. It creates a unified foundation that allows manufacturers to bring their products to market faster and with greater reliability.
What Can Be Certified?
The program initially focuses on access points, which play a key role in Matter communication. Several elements are required for certification, including Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 with WPA3 security, proven interoperability, and power-saving features. Extended Sleep, ARP, and NDP functions are mandatory for so-called Matter Network Infrastructure Managers (NIMs). They allow battery-powered devices to save energy while maintaining a reliable connection to the access point.
Why this is matters
Due to the initial difficulties with Thread, many manufacturers have relied – and still rely – on Wi-Fi for Matter connectivity. This places particular demands on home networks: access points must operate reliably at all times, while also supporting low-power IoT devices that are not constantly active. Without such optimizations, especially battery-operated devices could face connection issues or significantly shorter operating times. The new certification addresses this by defining minimum standards for Wi-Fi infrastructure in the smart home.
What Are the Advantages for Manufacturers?
For manufacturers, the new certification primarily means planning security and faster time to market. Devices that carry the Wi-Fi for Matter seal guarantee compliance with all the essential requirements of the Matter specification. This reduces development effort and testing cycles. In addition, companies can demonstrate with the certification that their products are interoperable and future-proof – a strong argument for both consumers and retail partners.
Who Is the Wi-Fi Alliance?
The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global industry association with more than 900 member companies, including most major manufacturers of networking, mobile, and IoT technology. For over 20 years, it has awarded the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED seal. This certification covers a wide range of standards and features, including for example:
- Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7 for the latest Wi-Fi generations
- WPA2 and WPA3 for security
- Wi-Fi Easy Connect and Passpoint for simple and secure access
- Wi-Fi EasyMesh for multi-vendor mesh networking
- Wi-Fi Direct and Miracast for peer-to-peer and streaming applications
The Alliance aims to ensure that devices from different manufacturers work reliably together, support current security standards, and deliver a consistent user experience. With the new Wi-Fi for Matter certification, the program now extends to the cross-vendor smart home standard.
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