CSA Announces Zigbee 4.0, with New "Suzi" Sub-Gigahertz Long-Range Support
New sub-brand offers improved range and penetration at low power, while the main standard enjoys improved security.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has announced a new brand, Suzi — which will be the face of the freshly-launched Zigbee 4.0 wireless connectivity specification and its newly-introduced support for sub-gigahertz connectivity.
"Zigbee 4.0 lays the groundwork for harmonizing traditional Zigbee and Smart Energy devices," the Alliance says of the new specification, "delivering greater interoperability across universal networks. Comprehensive and proactive security updates aligned with evolving international security standards implement cryptographic agility and additional mechanisms to protect the network."
Zigbee 4.0 isn't just about security — though it certainly ticks a lot of boxes on that front, featuring authentication control for Smart Energy devices, device interview functionality, a new "restricted mode," secured channel feature, advanced frame counter synchronization to block replay attacks, and more. Arguably bigger news is in the move beyond the 2.4GHz spectrum, with Zigbee 4.0 introducing support for 900MHz North American and 800MHz European sub-gigahertz bands — which should, in theory, boost penetration and signal range, further enhanced by mesh networking capabilities.
Other new features include Zigbee Direct, which allows for the onboarding and control of compatible devices via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) without the need for a hub, batch commissioning of multiple devices, and a "sleepy-to-sleepy" communication system based on coordinated sample listening (CSL) that allows for direct energy-efficient communication between devices to boost battery life.
Devices compatible with the sub-gigahertz side of the new standard will stand out from existing 2.4GHz Zigbee devices thanks to a new brand: Suzi. "Built on the proven Zigbee network layer," the Alliance says, "Suzi combines long-range performance, low power consumption, and multi-vendor interoperability to unlock new opportunities in residential, commercial, and industrial applications. From connecting outdoor living spaces to enabling large-scale networks in buildings and cities, Suzi delivers robust, efficient communication in environments demanding extended coverage and minimal interference."
All of this will be covered by a new, simplified certification program, the Alliance promises, with Suzi certification due to open in the first half of 2026 — after which manufacturers will be able to launch fully-certified Suzi devices onto the market.
More information is available on the Connectivity Standards Alliance website.
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