Bluetooth SIG representative Damon Barnes revealed in an interview with BGR how this technology will change in the near future.
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Higher data transfer bandwidth
It is predicted that data transfer speed will increase from 2 Mb/s to 7.5 Mb/s. The pace of changes will depend on when Bluetooth SIG officially approves the new standard (for example, the Bluetooth 6.X version).
To take advantage of this technology, companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Samsung will need to update the components of their manufactured equipment. Innovations promise tangible changes: for example, wireless file transfer time could shorten from the current 16 seconds to about 4 seconds.
Moreover, the new standard will allow surpassing the current Bluetooth LE 2 Mb/s speed limit, which will soon become a thing of the past.
Increased bandwidth will open up much broader possibilities: for example, it will allow more accurate data transmission from wearable device sensors or ensure more reliable multi-channel audio transmission simultaneously, without increasing energy consumption or reducing system performance.
This will help smoothly integrate future devices with artificial intelligence and ensure rich sound – this is exactly where the greatest attention is focused today, implementing Dolby Atmos and other immersive audio codecs.
Higher frequency bands
D. Barnes revealed to BGR that the current 2.4 GHz frequency band is becoming too crowded (more than 5 billion new devices are introduced to the market annually), so the organization aims for the technology to start operating at 5 GHz and 6 GHz frequencies.
“We plan to implement 5 GHz frequency support by 2027, and 6 GHz by 2028,” he said.
Transitioning to wider frequency bands will increase Bluetooth speed, reduce interference, and improve the operation of specific functions. For example, the distance measurement technology Channel Sounding will become much more similar in accuracy to UWB (ultra-wideband communication).
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In practice, this means that the Bluetooth signal will be moved to a spectrum with less interference. This will ensure multi-gigabit speed and ultra-low latency, so wireless game controllers, spatial tracking in augmented and virtual reality, and interactive sound will become as smooth as using a physical wired connection.
Over time, Bluetooth will free up the 2.4 GHz frequency: owners of high-end devices will be the first to appreciate the benefits of a more stable connection, and after a few years, even simpler devices will operate more reliably. After all, not every accessory needs the 6 GHz frequency – the 2.4 GHz band will remain focused on specialized Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
IP Link: Bluetooth will work similarly to Wi-Fi
D. Barnes explained that the IP Link technology will not be necessary for all products, but for those that support it, it will be a real breakthrough.
With the IP Link feature, debuting this year, Bluetooth connection will operate on a principle similar to Wi-Fi. For example, to unlock smart doors via Bluetooth now, you must be very close to them. IP Link will allow such actions to be performed remotely.
For instance, if a family member is standing at the house door and you are not home, you will be able to open it remotely or share a digital key even while traveling. This will be possible because Bluetooth will connect devices directly to internet servers for the first time, using the 6LoWPAN protocol.
Each device will receive a unique IP address, so internet servers will be able to send commands directly through Wi-Fi routers, smart displays, or home hubs. Users will no longer need any additional intermediate stations – local security actions will be coordinated with remote control. This will also improve Bluetooth compatibility with modern smart home architectures such as Matter and Thread.
LE Audio sound improvements
The fourth innovation, most focused on the end user, is the improved Bluetooth LE standard.
It is expected that Bluetooth SIG, whose development phase is planned for 2027, will improve wireless communication and media playback by updating the LE Audio technology. Standardized spatial audio requirements will be set for headphones and surround sound systems. This will finally ensure high-resolution (Hi-Res) audio streaming wirelessly without any compromises.
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Source: BGR / Phone Arena
