Silicon Labs’ EFR32BG22: Bluetooth 5.2 SoC Delivers Ultra‑Low Power, Robust Security, and Sub‑Meter Positioning for High‑Volume IoT

Silicon Labs has unveiled the EFR32BG22 (BG22) system‑on‑chip, a next‑generation Bluetooth 5.2 SoC engineered to meet the growing demand for battery‑powered, high‑volume Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) has become the cornerstone of consumer‑facing IoT—from wearables and smart appliances to connected vehicles and autonomous driving. The Bluetooth SIG forecasts a 26% increase in Bluetooth device shipments by 2023, with 90% of devices incorporating BLE, underscoring the market’s need for secure, ultra‑efficient connectivity.

Energy in BLE SoCs is largely drawn from the processor and radio. The BG22’s high‑performance Arm Cortex‑M33 core consumes only 27 µA / MHz in active mode and 1.2 µA in deep sleep, while the integrated radio peaks at 20 mA during transmission. These figures translate into significantly longer battery life for consumer and industrial applications alike.

Key capabilities include:

• Full support for Bluetooth 5.2, mesh networking, and direction‑finding (Angle of Arrival/Departure) with sub‑meter accuracy.
• Operating temperature up to 125 °C and flash memory expandable to 512 kB.
• Secure Boot, Root of Trust, and secure loader for tamper‑resistant firmware deployment.
• Comprehensive fault‑analysis and encrypted secure debugging, enabling developers to isolate issues without erasing flash.

“The EFR32BG22 is a game‑changer for battery‑powered IoT,” said Mikko Savolainen, Senior Marketing Manager at Silicon Labs. “It balances energy efficiency, performance, and security at a price point that’s perfect for mass‑market products—from fitness trackers and health sensors to smart locks and asset‑tracking tags.”

Beyond data transfer, the SoC’s direction‑finding stack powers the next generation of proximity and indoor positioning solutions. With Bluetooth’s proven reliability for point‑of‑interest information, real‑time asset tracking (RTLS), and indoor positioning systems (IPS), the BG22 enables the smallest, lowest‑power asset tags and RTLS locators on the market.

As IoT adoption accelerates, security remains a top priority. The BG22’s secure boot, root‑of‑trust, and fault‑analysis features provide a robust shield against firmware tampering and unauthorized access, giving manufacturers the confidence to deploy devices at scale.

Illustration:
Silicon Labs BG22 Secure Bluetooth 5.2 SoC block diagram