The Bluetooth standard is on the verge of one of its most important transformation periods, and according to Bluetooth SIG’s plans, changes in data transfer speed, used frequencies, internet connectivity and audio quality will be made to this technology over the coming years.
Bluetooth SIG, the organization responsible for developing and managing the Bluetooth standard, has stated that the next generation of this technology may add capabilities to smart devices that until now have mostly been available to technologies such as Wi‑Fi and UWB.
Damon Barnes, Technical Marketing Director at Bluetooth SIG, in an interview about the organization’s plans for the coming years, spoke of four important changes; changes that are intended to make Bluetooth faster, more reliable and more useful.
Bluetooth will get faster
One of the most important upcoming changes is a significant increase in Bluetooth throughput. The final specification is expected to be published in November, and the maximum data transfer rate will increase from about 2 Mbps to 7.5 Mbps.
This speed increase will be almost fourfold and could pave the way for transferring larger data and streaming high-resolution, lossless audio over Bluetooth.
In test samples, transferring a file that currently takes about 16 seconds can be done in about 4 seconds with the new technology.
Increased bandwidth will not be limited to file transfer. Wearables will be able to transmit more sensor data and audio equipment will be able to carry more audio channels simultaneously and with higher reliability.
This capability could be very important for the next generation of wearables, AI‑equipped devices, headphones and advanced audio systems.
Of course, bringing these capabilities to market depends on the official release of the new specifications and then on chip, smartphone, computer and accessory manufacturers supporting the new standard. Therefore there may be a significant gap between the specification’s introduction and its widespread presence in consumer products.
Bluetooth moves to 5 and 6 GHz frequencies
Another important change is Bluetooth moving beyond the traditional 2.4 GHz band. With the increasing number of Bluetooth‑equipped devices, the 2.4 GHz band has been facing congestion and interference more than before. Bluetooth SIG has announced that more than 5 billion Bluetooth products enter the market annually, and this issue has increased the need to use new frequency spectrums.
According to the announced plan, Bluetooth SIG intends to enable use of the 5 GHz frequency by 2027 and support for the 6 GHz band by 2028.
Using these frequencies can reduce interference, increase speed and lower latency of Bluetooth communications. Such capability will be especially important for applications like gaming equipment, augmented and virtual reality, location tracking and interactive audio systems.
On the other hand, moving some traffic to higher frequencies can also reduce the load on the 2.4 GHz band and ultimately help improve the overall performance of wireless networks.
Bluetooth gets closer to the Internet with IP Link
The third important change is the IP Link technology, which could change how Bluetooth is used in smart homes.
This technology is intended to enable more direct communication of Bluetooth devices with IP‑based networks. In such a scenario, each peripheral can have its own IP address and commands can be sent to it via network devices such as a Wi‑Fi router, smart display or home hub.
For example, imagine a smart door lock that uses Bluetooth. Currently, some features depend on the user being close to the lock. But with IP Link, some commands can be sent remotely over the Internet.
As a result, if a family member is at the door and the homeowner is elsewhere, it will be possible to send a command to unlock the door. Scenarios like remotely sharing a digital key can also be imagined.
Bluetooth SIG will use 6LoWPAN technology for unicast and multicast communications for this purpose. This approach can reduce the need for some intermediary devices and dedicated dongles.
IP Link can also create greater coordination between Bluetooth and new smart‑home architectures, including Matter and Thread.
LE Audio and Auracast will become more advanced
The fourth major transformation relates to Bluetooth audio. Bluetooth SIG intends to expand Bluetooth LE Audio capabilities and introduce new standards for spatial audio, wireless calls and high‑quality audio streaming.
If these plans are realized, headphones and audio systems will be able to deliver higher‑quality, lower‑latency experiences and support for high‑resolution, lossless audio will become more widespread.
The Auracast technology is also set to benefit from these advancements. Auracast allows a single audio source to broadcast content simultaneously to multiple Bluetooth receivers.
This capability can be useful in large venues such as concert halls, museums, airports and trade shows. For example, at an international event multiple audio streams in different languages could be created so visitors can choose their preferred language.
Bluetooth SIG is also pursuing standardization of using multiple Auracast transmitters to cover larger areas. This approach could enable delivering multiple simultaneous audio streams; a capability that will be very useful for museum tours, large events and public spaces.
Another goal of Bluetooth SIG is to simplify connecting hearing aids, AirPods and other wireless headphones to Auracast broadcasts so users will need their smartphone less to manage these connections in the future.
Bluetooth on the path to a major transformation
Bluetooth SIG’s plans show that this technology is no longer being developed solely for connecting headphones, mice, keyboards or smartwatches to other devices. Increased speed, use of higher frequencies, more direct connectivity with IP networks and audio advancements can significantly expand Bluetooth’s scope of applications.
However, the speed at which these capabilities enter real products depends on the timing of standards publication and, more importantly, the decisions of companies like Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft and chip and accessory manufacturers to provide hardware support for them.
Still, if Bluetooth SIG’s timeline proceeds as planned, 2027 could be one of the most important milestones in Bluetooth’s history; a year when this technology not only becomes faster and lower‑latency, but also plays a more prominent role in smart homes, wireless audio, gaming, augmented reality and future smart devices.