It is suited for building automation, sensor networks and other IoT solutions where tens, hundreds, or thousands of devices need to securely communicate with one another.

“By adding support for mesh networking, that can help new, up-and-coming markets flourish,” said Mark Powell, executive director for Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

“In the same way the connected device market experienced rapid growth after the introduction of Bluetooth Low Energy, we believe Bluetooth mesh networking can play a vital role in helping early stage markets, such as building automation and wireless sensor networks.”

Commercial building and factory automation represent major market opportunities for wireless mesh networking technologies. Because it enables inherently self-healing networks with no single points of failure. Support thousands of nodes with industrial-level performance. And provide industrial-grade security for protection against all known attacks.

Time and time again it has been shown that markets flourish when multi-vendor interoperability exists.

“Multi-vendor interoperability is a major factor in determining how fast markets develop,” said Russ Sharer, VP Global Marketing and Business Development, Fulham. “Fulham is excited to finally see a wireless, multi-vendor, interoperable standard for lighting controls and we believe Bluetooth mesh networking will greatly expand the size and functionality of the market.”

Selection of a mesh networking technology is a critical decision for any developer, and it is a make or break factor in the success of a solution.

“Within the building automation market, there is a growing focus on connected lighting and the role it can play as a platform for providing automation services throughout a facility,” said Szymon Slupik, president and CTO of Silvair and chairman of the mesh working group within the Bluetooth SIG.

“A smart lighting platform built on top of Bluetooth mesh networking can also support asset tracking, point of interest, and way-finding services. These value-added capabilities are part of why we believe Bluetooth is an ideal technology for enabling a mesh network.”