Thread networking solution for multi-protocol SoC supporting BLE and IEEE 802.15.4

Nordic Semiconductor has launched its first Thread networking solution with the release of its nRF5 SDK for Thread that is designed to utilize the IEEE 802.15.4 PHY support introduced on their latest nRF52840 multi-protocol Bluetooth low energy SoC. In addition, the Nordic nRF5 SDK for Thread also adds a unique Device-Firmware-Update (DFU)-over-Thread network feature like the Over-The-Air (OTA) DFU feature employed in other existing Nordic SDKs and chips. The device’s class-leading amounts of RAM (256kB) and Flash (1MB) memory also enable the SoC to run both the Thread and Bluetooth low energy protocol stacks from the same single chip. Not only this, the device is able to run the Thread protocol at accelerated processing speeds by using its built-in ARM CryptoCell-310 cryptographic accelerator - which offers best-in-class security for Cortex-M based Bluetooth low energy SoCs - to run the Thread security algorithms. "We are delighted that Nordic Semiconductor recognizes the developer and consumer value of the Thread specification," says Grant Erickson, president, Thread Group. "With Thread, product developers and consumers can easily and securely connect more than 250 devices into a low-power wireless network that includes direct Internet and cloud access for every device. We're pleased to see Thread Group member products hitting the market." As well as the unique support for DFU-over-Thread, the SDK for Thread includes: a pre-built OpenThread stack for the Nordic nRF52840 SoC; examples of all the different Thread roles; support for an OpenThread network co-processor; a CoAP application layer example; border router and cloud connectivity example; and a range of PC tools including a Thread topology monitor. "Nordic Semiconductor has been a valuable contributor to OpenThread," adds Jonathan Beri, product manager, Platform, Nest. "The Nordic nRF5 SDK for Thread fully leverages the highly portable nature of OpenThread. It's a great example of how OpenThread can significantly accelerate the deployment of Thread in wireless devices to bring customers secure and reliable connected products." "We see Thread as one of the leading wireless technologies currently emerging in the home IoT space," comments Geir Langeland, Nordic Semiconductor's director of sales and marketing. "This is why we have decided to strategically invest our world-leading R&D ultra-low power wireless expertise into contributing towards the ongoing development and evolution of the OpenThread software stack."