Wi-SUN
A sub-GHz IPv6 mesh standard based on IEEE 802.15.4g, used by utilities and cities for smart meters, streetlights and other large outdoor networks.
Wi-SUN, short for Wireless Smart Ubiquitous Network, is an alliance-certified profile that stacks 6LoWPAN, IPv6 and standard routing over IEEE 802.15.4 radios in sub-GHz bands. The Field Area Network profile defines how mains-powered nodes such as smart meters and streetlight controllers form a self-organizing mesh that can span a whole city, with frequency hopping for resilience.
Utilities favor it because it offers higher throughput and lower latency than LPWAN options, enough for firmware updates and frequent interval reads, while remaining open and multi-vendor. The trade-off is power: Wi-SUN nodes are expected to be always on and relaying, so it does not suit battery sensors. It competes with cellular NB-IoT and LoRaWAN for smart grid deployments, usually winning where the utility wants to own its network.
Part of the IoT Glossary. Spotted an error or a missing term? Tell us.