The unification of smart home communication standards is a core issue in the development of the industry. Currently, the world is showing a diversified pattern of “international standards leading, regional standards supplementing, and giants cooperating to promote”. The unification process is moving forward steadily with breakthroughs and games.
For a long time, the communication protocols in the smart home field have been seriously fragmented. More than ten protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread, and Z-Wave coexist, and private protocols from Huawei, Xiaomi, Amazon, and other companies are superimposed, resulting in “mutual ignorance” between devices. Users need to switch to multiple APPs to control devices, which damages both industry efficiency and experience.
In order to break down barriers, the CSA Connection Standards Alliance launched the Matter Protocol (formerly CHIP) in 2019. More than 350 mainstream companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, Huawei, and Samsung have joined, making it the most influential unified standards project in the world.
Matter is based on IP architecture, adopts a unified application layer protocol, supports Wi-Fi, Thread, and Ethernet bottom layer transmission. It has the advantages of local priority communication, unified network distribution, and security encryption, and can realize direct interconnection of cross-brand and cross-ecological devices.
By the end of 2025, Matter has been iterated to version 1.3, covering 95% of mainstream home categories such as lighting, temperature control, and security. It has more than 2,100 certified devices, and the response delay has been reduced to less than 80ms, basically solving the problem of cross-ecological real-time control.
At the same time, regional standards continue to work hard to form a complementary ecology.
The Smart Link protocol led by the China Smart Home Industry Alliance (CSHIA) has completed its bridging adaptation with Matter to adapt to the old community renovation scenario; the European Union promotes Thread-based IPv6 interconnection solutions to strengthen data security compliance; Japan and South Korea optimize low-power communications based on Z‑Wave to adapt to local small-house scenarios.
However, there are still challenges in the unification process: Matter’s global implementation is uneven, with market penetration rates in Europe and the United States exceeding 40% and Asia being less than 20%; issues such as technical compatibility between different standards, migration of existing equipment, and competition between commercial interests have not yet been fully resolved.
Overall, the unification of global standards has moved from “fragmented melee” to the stage of “multi-standard integration and convergence”. Matter, in collaboration with regional standards, is gradually building a new pattern of “global unification and regional adaptation”.
In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology and the continuous efforts of all parties, the unification of smart home communication standards is expected to be further improved.
Enterprises need to actively participate in the formulation and promotion of standards to better meet the needs of consumers.
At the same time, consumers will also benefit from a more unified and convenient smart home experience.
This process is not only related to the development of the smart home industry, but will also have a profound impact on people’s lifestyles.
It is believed that with the joint promotion of all parties around the world, the unification of smart home communication standards will usher in a better future.
