STMicroelectronics advances secure UWB technology with new leadership role in FiRa Consortium

STMicroelectronics advances secure UWB technology with new leadership role in FiRa Consortium

(IN BRIEF) STMicroelectronics announced that Rias Al-Kadi, General Manager of its Ranging and Connectivity Division, has joined the Board of Directors of the FiRa Consortium, strengthening the company’s leadership in advancing secure ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. ST is contributing to the IEEE 802.15.4ab amendment, which will deliver centimeter-level accuracy, higher security, and lower power use, supporting applications such as the CCC Digital Key, smart homes, and IoT. FiRa Chairman SK Yong welcomed ST as a Sponsor-level member, noting Al-Kadi’s industry expertise. ST is also engaged with major standards bodies, including IEEE, CCC, CSA, and the UWB Alliance, to foster a robust ecosystem. With broad adoption across smartphones, automotive, and IoT, UWB is poised to play a transformative role in access, safety, and connected device solutions.

(PRESS RELEASE) GENEVA, 23-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global leader in semiconductors across diverse electronics applications, has announced that Rias Al-Kadi, General Manager of its Ranging and Connectivity Division, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the FiRa® Consortium, the industry association dedicated to advancing secure fine-ranging and positioning ultra-wideband (UWB) technology.

This appointment strengthens ST’s long-standing involvement in UWB development and underscores its role in shaping industry standards. ST is actively contributing to the evolution of UWB through the IEEE 802.15.4ab amendment, which builds on prior enhancements to deliver improvements such as centimeter-level accuracy, enhanced security, and lower power consumption. These advancements are essential for next-generation applications in digital automotive access, smart home automation, and broader IoT innovations. The integration of IEEE 802.15.4ab into the CCC Digital Key ecosystem would mark a major milestone in addressing implementation challenges and accelerating adoption of UWB across consumer and automotive sectors.

“STMicroelectronics has long been a valued member of the FiRa Consortium, and we are thrilled to welcome them at the Sponsor level. This upgrade is a reflection of ST’s deepening commitment to the future of Ultra-Wideband technology and to FiRa’s mission,” said SK Yong, FiRa Consortium Board Chairman. “We are especially pleased to have Rias Al-Kadi join our Board of Directors. His experience and leadership will be instrumental as we continue to expand UWB’s global impact and shape the future of secure, interoperable solutions.”

Commenting on his appointment, Rias Al-Kadi stated: “Joining the FiRa board underlines our commitment to advancing the CCC Digital Key and other UWB-based applications. By deeply engaging in standardization and certification across all major UWB groups, we are helping to shape the future of UWB technology to deliver maximum value for consumers and industries alike.”

ST’s active participation extends across key standards organizations and industry alliances, including IEEE, the Connected Car Consortium (CCC), the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), and the UWB Alliance. This broad involvement highlights ST’s strategy to build a strong UWB ecosystem that delivers secure, interoperable, and cost-effective solutions while lowering system costs and enabling improved user experiences.

UWB technology, defined within the IEEE 802 wireless standards family, is already supported by leading smartphone brands and is increasingly adopted for applications such as digital car keys, secure access systems, smart device interaction, and indoor tracking. Its resistance to interference, precision ranging, and new safety applications — such as vehicle occupant detection for child and pet safety — position UWB as a critical enabler of future smart mobility and connected living.

For more details on STMicroelectronics’ UWB solutions, visit www.st.com/uwb.

Note to the editor
UWB is a precise ranging and radar technology within the IEEE 802 wireless standards group that also includes WiFi and Bluetooth. Supported by the latest smartphones from leading brands, UWB offers high resistance to interference and enhances diverse applications such as smart appliance interaction and device tracking. With security extensions, standardized under IEEE 802.15.4z, UWB addresses access control use cases, including digital car keys that localize the key in relation to the vehicle. Additional automotive applications include vehicle occupant detection to improve child and pet safety.

Key advancements in UWB specifications are overcoming critical scenarios such as reliability detecting a key or phone in a user’s back pocket to ensure seamless user experiences. Another significant improvement is the potential reduction in the number of anchors required in car access systems, enabling more cost-effective designs without compromising performance.

For more information on STMicroelectronics’ UWB solutions and ecosystem contributions, visit www.st.com/uwb.

About STMicroelectronics
At ST, we are 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are on track to be carbon neutral in all direct and indirect emissions (scopes 1 and 2), product transportation, business travel, and employee commuting emissions (our scope 3 focus), and to achieve our 100% renewable electricity sourcing goal by the end of 2027.

Further information can be found at www.st.com.

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OURCE: STMicroelectronics