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The Communications Standards Alliance has released Zigbee 4.0, an updated version of the wireless mesh networking standard with better security, improved battery life, and a batch of new devices like smart lights, switches, and plugs. It also announces a new feature called Susiewhich is an abbreviation for Sub-GHZ and Zigbee.
While Zigbee smart home devices typically operate on the 2.4GHz band, which can experience signal loss due to obstacles such as thick walls, the Suzi-branded devices will be able to operate on the European 800MHz and North American 900MHz frequency bands. In this way, the group says it will provide coverage for smart devices installed outside and far from the home, without the need for additional devices to extend networks.
Suzi is similar to other branded features that have been added to the 802.15.4-based specification over the years, such as Zigbee Smart Energy usage monitoring equipment, and low-power/low-maintenance Zigbee Green Power devices that harvest energy from sources like light or heat instead of using batteries.
like Companies like IKEA We’ve moved to Matter over Thread, which also operates on the 2.4GHz band, the advantages of Suzi will help keep the Zigbee protocol competitive, and not just in the home. “Suzi is well-suited for commercial and industrial use cases, which present challenging environments such as thick walls, multiple levels, and large deployments,” explained Jenny Peshkova, head of Zigbee’s product marketing group, to . Edge In an email message.
The list of improvements coming with Zigbee 4.0 includes a simplified certification process, increased information exchange between devices, improved security, and improved battery life for devices with connections that can be limited to specific schedules.
A new feature called Batch Commissioning simplifies large-scale installations by allowing multiple smart devices to be set up simultaneously. An electrician can install Zigbee-compatible light bulbs throughout the new home long before power is available, and when the hub is later installed and commissioned, it can be activated all at once instead of having to add them to the network individually.
ZigBee Directan optional feature added two years ago, is now standard in version 4.0. It allows smartphones to directly connect, control, and even add nearby Zigbee devices to the network using Bluetooth Low Energy without a hub.
Zigbee 4.0 is fully compatible with Zigbee 3.0 and Smart Energy devices, and devices with “sufficient operational resources” can be upgraded over the air once they are certified, according to Peshkova. But which devices will be eligible to take full advantage of the improvements is not yet known. Suzi’s certification program is scheduled to begin sometime in the first half of 2026.