NearLink also known as SparkLink and formerly Greentooth is a short-range wireless technology standard, which was developed by the NearLink Alliance, led by Huawei to set up on September 22, 2020.
As of September 2023, the Alliance has more than 300 enterprises and institutions on board, which include automotive manufacturers, chip and module manufacturers, application developers, ICT companies, and research institutions.
NearLink employs the Cyclic Prefix-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (Cyclic Prefix-OFDM) waveform to address latency issues in various applications.
The waveform features an ultra-short frame structure and a flexible scheduling scheme of time-domain resources, reducing transmission latency to approximately 20 microseconds. In addition, NearLink applies polar codes and adopts Hybrid Automatic Repeat-reQuest (HARQ) schemes to support applications with high reliability requirements, such as industrial closed-loop control applications for automated assembly lines, where reliability requirements are at least 99.999%
NearLink aims to improve upon several limitations associated with Bluetooth, particularly in terms of speed, latency, power efficiency, and connectivity stability. NearLink combines aspects of existing wireless technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to offer enhanced performance, aiming to support fast and stable connections for IoT devices, smart homes, and high-demand applications.
Here’s a breakdown of NearLink and Bluetooth, highlighting their key characteristics and differences:
NearLink
- Developer: Huawei
- Primary Focus: Low latency, high speed, and improved power efficiency for short-range communication.
- Speed: Up to 6 times faster than Bluetooth.
- Latency: As low as 1/30th of Bluetooth’s latency, making it highly suitable for real-time applications.
- Connection Stability: Designed to handle crowded environments with minimal interference.
- Power Efficiency: Up to 60% more efficient than Bluetooth, ideal for battery-powered IoT devices.
- Security: Enhanced encryption and security protocols.
- Data Capacity: Supports higher data rates and larger volumes, making it suitable for data-heavy applications.
- Use Cases: Ideal for applications requiring rapid and stable connections, such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), gaming, smart homes, and automotive infotainment systems.
Bluetooth
- Developer: Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)
- Primary Focus: General-purpose, low-power wireless communication for short distances.
- Speed: Generally slower, with Bluetooth 5.0 reaching speeds of up to 2 Mbps, which is significantly lower than NearLink.
- Latency: Moderate; acceptable for basic applications but can be inadequate for real-time interactions.
- Connection Stability: Can experience interference in crowded environments or where multiple Bluetooth devices are present.
- Power Efficiency: Optimized for low-power communication, but generally not as efficient as NearLink for continuous, high-demand connections.
- Security: Includes standard encryption and security, but not as advanced as NearLink in some cases.
- Data Capacity: Limited data rates and capacity, mainly suitable for audio, basic data transfer, and low-bandwidth applications.
- Use Cases: Widely used for audio devices (earbuds, speakers), wearables, smart home devices, and basic IoT applications.
Key Differences: NearLink vs. Bluetooth
| Feature | NearLink | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 6x faster | Up to 2 Mbps (Bluetooth 5.0) |
| Latency | 1/30th of Bluetooth’s latency | Moderate |
| Power Efficiency | Up to 60% more efficient | Good, but less than NearLink |
| Connection Stability | High, even in crowded spaces | Moderate, prone to interference |
| Data Capacity | Higher data rates and volume | Limited |
| Security | Enhanced encryption and protocols | Standard encryption |
| Ideal Use Cases | Real-time apps (AR/VR, gaming) | Audio devices, wearables, IoT |
NearLink is designed to address the limitations of Bluetooth by providing faster, more stable, and power-efficient communication, particularly for high-demand applications. Bluetooth, however, remains widely adopted and continues to serve well for standard low-power, short-range communications in audio and wearables.