▲Kamel KHOLTI, ST Wireless Product Line Manager (left) and Junho Lee, ST Korea GPM Wireless Division Marketing Manager


Simultaneous communication using multiple wireless standards such as Bluetooth LE 5.4, Zigbee, Thread, and Matter is possible.
STM32WBA Series, Industry's First Wireless MCU to Obtain SESIP Level 3 Security Certification

STMicroelectronics (ST) has announced the next generation of all-in-one short-range wireless microcontrollers (MCUs) that integrate all components.

On the 19th, ST held a press conference at the Gangnam Novotel Ambassador and introduced new STM32 products and solutions.

At this event, Kamel KHOLTI, Wireless Product Line Manager at ST, and Junho Lee, Deputy Marketing Manager of GPM Wireless Division at ST Korea, introduced the STM32WBA5, a high-performance wireless MCU, and explained that it makes smart objects and wearable devices, such as smart home devices, health monitors, and smart appliances, smaller, easier to use, safer, and more economical.

 

Short-range wireless technologies such as Bluetooth® LE, Zigbee®, and Thread (commonly used in smart meters and smart buildings) are used to connect smart devices to controllers such as home bridges, gateways, and smartphones.

Suppliers can support solutions that make our lives more economical, sustainable and convenient by bringing high-performance, creative new solutions to market more quickly while maintaining strict cost controls.

The STM32WBA54 and STM32WBA55 feature the latest-generation Arm® Cortex®-M33 core with enhanced performance and the Arm TrustZone architecture with secure processing and storage isolation.

It provides ample code and data storage with up to 1MB of flash memory.

It also provides low power consumption through background autonomous mode, flexible power-saving modes, and integration of analog and digital peripherals proven in STM32U5 ultra-low-power MCUs.

ST’s latest 2.4GHz radio integrated with an MCU is the first to allow applications to control RF output power, with up to +10dB of adjustment, ensuring stable wireless connections even under difficult operating conditions.

The new wireless MCUs significantly expand the Zigbee core stack to support the latest Zigbee standards, including Release 22 and Release 23, which offer enhanced security, reliability, and usability.

Wireless MCUs such as ST’s new STM32WBA5 product line provide ultra-compact, single-chip solutions that reduce bill-of-materials (BoM) costs while simplifying wireless design and accelerating time to market.
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The flagship product in the new series, the STM32WBA55 MCU, can communicate simultaneously using multiple wireless standards including low energy Bluetooth LE 5.4, Zigbee, Thread, and Matter (Thread RCP).

The STM32WBA5 is fully compatible with Matter Border Router, a new open-source connectivity standard for smart home and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

This makes the STM32WBA55 easier for hardware and software engineers to develop, supports superior user experiences, and shortens time to market for new products in a cost-effective manner.

Additionally, the new line, which is compatible with development tools and software packs from the STM32 MCU development ecosystem, simplifies migration of existing products designed for wired connectivity.

With this next-generation solution, ST also supports the recently finalized Bluetooth LE Audio specification, enabling exciting and innovative new products that deliver richer listening experiences and hearing-aid features.

It also includes a new Bluetooth Auracast™ feature that opens up a new world of audio broadcasting applications.

Additionally, the STM32WBA series is the industry’s first wireless MCU to achieve the critical Security Evaluation Standard for IoT Platforms (SESIP) Level 3 security certification.

This enables smart devices containing the STM32WBA microcontroller to comply with the US Cyber Trust Mark and the EU Radio Equipment Directive (RED), which are scheduled to become mandatory in 2025.ve) can respond to regulatory compliance.

“Our leading customers are evaluating the enhanced wireless performance, flexibility, and security features of our latest STM32WBA wireless microcontrollers, and are already developing products including smart thermostats, trackers, smart chargers, headsets, power tools, and smart meters,” said Benoit Rodrigues, General Manager, Wireless MCU Division, STMicroelectronics. “Our extensive software ecosystem, which includes communication stacks, microcontroller-specific software packs, sample code, and tools, enables developers to bring new products based on these MCUs to market quickly and efficiently.”

The new STM32WBA5 family is available for purchase from ST’s website from March 12, with a ready-to-use module integrating the STM32WBA with power supply and antenna balancing circuitry following in June 2024.