How CSA, Thread Group, and Wi-Fi Alliance Aim to Enhance Matter
In 2025, Matter intends to become a significant reality.
Matter launched with the mission of providing a reliable and secure way for smart home devices to connect and communicate with each other, regardless of brand or ecosystem. However, after two years of implementation, several issues have emerged with this connectivity protocol. Major companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google have shown a slow response in offering broad support for Matter device types, and reliability and interoperability issues continue to exist. Additionally, the Thread protocol, on which Matter is based, has faced significant difficulties in its development.
Despite these challenges, those responsible for Matter claim to be aware of the complaints and are committed to addressing these concerns. Tobin Richardson, president and CEO of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), stated that 2025 will be a crucial year for the platform, emphasizing the need to improve reliability and ensure everything works smoothly. Richardson mentioned that the focus this year will be on resolving the various performance issues in Matter.
To discuss improvements in Matter, a conversation was held with leaders from key organizations involved in its success: Richardson from the CSA, Vividh Siddha, president of the Thread Group and software engineering director at Apple, and Kevin Robinson, president and CEO of the Wi-Fi Alliance. These three organizations have been collaborating on the standard since it began in 2019. During this meeting, they shared their plans to optimize the smart home standard.
According to Richardson, we can expect to see improvements in Matter within the next 12 months, making it easier to use and more reliable. Siddha agreed, noting that 2025 will be a decisive year to address existing issues and offer more robust product experiences. Robinson is confident that the collaboration between the three groups will facilitate these goals, indicating that alignment among industries helps everyone "sing from the same sheet."
Among the solutions they are considering to enhance connectivity are incorporating software into home routers to ensure that Matter and Thread devices connect seamlessly to networks, adding Thread radios to routers, and the possibility of replacing Bluetooth with Thread for device onboarding. This collaboration aims to promote the use of Thread 1.4, which promises to improve communication between routers from different manufacturers.
Although these steps seem positive, the challenge remains to see how quickly and effectively they can be implemented. While the goal of interoperability has been set, in practice, the most reliable option currently is to stay within a single ecosystem. Matter, as an industry collaboration, will only work as promised if all companies continue to work together. Key members of this alliance include giants like Apple, Google, Samsung, Amazon, LG, and chip manufacturers like NXP and Qualcomm, all committed to making Matter a viable solution for home automation.
An important aspect discussed was why Matter chose Thread and Wi-Fi as its connectivity protocols instead of alternatives like Zigbee or Z-Wave. According to Richardson, the choice was 100% driven by the founding members of the Project CHIP, which includes Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung SmartThings. They evaluated the existing technology and decided that, since Wi-Fi is already integrated into most smart home devices, it was the best option alongside Thread, which fits most use cases.
The need to maintain simplicity for consumers in terms of the technologies involved was emphasized, highlighting that if Matter achieves its goals, users will recognize the Matter logo first instead of worrying about whether a device uses Wi-Fi or Thread. This is crucial to allow users to enjoy a seamless experience without having to think twice about it.
Regarding the implementation of Matter-compatible routers, it was noted that many existing routers could receive an update to enable compatibility, especially those from service providers that already have Thread radios. Progress with Thread 1.4 is vital, as it promises to resolve interoperability issues.
In summary, although Matter has faced a series of challenges on its path to stability and reliability, the leaders of its development are optimistic about the future. With 2025 as a key year to resolve these technical issues and promote better integration, expectations are set for consumers to soon enjoy a smart home that operates seamlessly and efficiently.
