802.11bi – the one that barely wakes up

802.11bi is designed for **devices that mostly sleep**. think sensors, trackers, wearables – anything that doesn’t need to stream video but does need to survive for **years on a battery**. this standard is all about **Wake-Up Radio (WUR)** – and doing it in the cleanest, quietest way possible.

standardization kicked off officially around 2021. it’s still in development, but very close to completion. when it lands, it’ll plug directly into Wi-Fi networks while sipping power like it's 1999.

task group: yup, this one has a name: Task Group bi. its sole purpose: bring true ultra-low-power operation to 802.11 devices using a second, tiny radio that just listens for a wake-up signal.

so how does it work?

• Dual-radio approach: device has a low-power **Wake-Up Receiver (WURx)** that listens for special frames while the main Wi-Fi radio stays off
• Wake-Up frames: access points send tiny, optimized wake-up packets (outside normal traffic) to trigger the main radio
• Power savings: since the WURx draws microwatts of power, the device can stay in deep sleep **most of the time**
• Standard-compliant: fully integrated with 802.11 networks – it’s Wi-Fi, just sleepy
• Low latency wake-up: device wakes fast when needed – not polling, just passively waiting

it’s not for your laptop. it’s for your door sensor, pet tracker, smart light switch, and soil monitor – the stuff that lives forever in the background.

when finalized, 802.11bi will be rolled into the next full 802.11 standard revision – likely after 802.11-2023. but expect early adoption in smart home and industrial use cases sooner.

802.11bi is Wi-Fi for the sleepy ones. they don’t need bandwidth – just **a polite wake-up knock and a quick hello**.