Thread (network protocol)
 | This article is missing information about technical specification and licensing. (April 2025) |
 | |
| Developed by | Thread Group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Home automation |
| Website | threadgroup |
Thread is an IPv6-based, low-power mesh networking technology for Internet of things (IoT) products.[1] Often used as a transport for the home automation connectivity standard Matter (the combination being known as Matter over Thread), the protocol has seen increased use for connecting low-power and battery-operated smart-home devices.[2]
Organization
[edit]In July 2014, the Thread Group alliance was formed as an industry group to develop, maintain and drive adoption of Thread as an industry networking standard for IoT applications.[3] Thread Group provides certification for components and products to ensure adherence to the spec. Initial members were ARM Holdings, Big Ass Solutions, NXP Semiconductors/Freescale, Google-subsidiary Nest Labs, OSRAM, Samsung, Silicon Labs, Somfy, Tyco International, Qualcomm, and the Yale lock company. In August 2018, Apple joined the group,[4] and released its first Thread product, the HomePod Mini, in late 2020.[5]
The Thread protocol specification is available at no cost. It requires agreement and continued adherence to an end-user license agreement (EULA), which states "Membership in Thread Group is necessary to implement, practice, and ship Thread technology and Thread Group specifications."[6]
Characteristics
[edit]Thread uses 6LoWPAN, which, in turn, uses the IEEE 802.15.4 wireless protocol with mesh communication (in the 2.4 GHz spectrum), as do Zigbee and other systems. However, Thread is IP-addressable, with cloud access and AES encryption. A BSD-licensed open-source implementation of Thread called OpenThread is available from and managed by Google.[7]
The OpenThread network simulator, a part of the OpenThread implementation, simulates Thread networks using OpenThread POSIX instances.[8] The simulator utilises discrete-event simulation and allows for visualisation of communications through a web interface.[relevant?][9]
Use cases
[edit]In 2019, the Connected Home over IP (CHIP) project, subsequently renamed to Matter, led by the Zigbee Alliance, now the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), Google, Amazon, and Apple, announced a broad collaboration to create a royalty-free standard and open-source code base to promote interoperability in home connectivity, leveraging Thread, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth Low Energy.[10][11]
Border routers
[edit]A Thread border router is a device that provides bidirectional Internet Protocol connectivity between a Thread network and another physical network, such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet. It enables communication between Thread devices and other local networks or the Internet. A Thread network is a low-power mesh network using the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol in the 2.4 GHz ISM radio band, and a border router translates between such a network another physical network, allows for service discovery across network boundaries, and enables external commissioning of Thread devices. Without a border router, Thread devices would be isolated from other networks and the Internet.[12]
| Company | Device name | Release year | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon[13] | Echo | 2020 | 4th generation and newer |
| Echo Hub | 2024 | All models | |
| Echo Plus | 2018 | 2nd generation | |
| Echo Show | 2024
2024 2021 2023 |
Echo Show 21
Echo Show 15 (2nd generation) Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) Echo Show 8 (3rd generation) | |
| Echo Studio | 2019 | All models | |
| eero routers | 2017 | All eero Pro routers and eero Beacon
All third-generation routers with Wi-Fi 6 and newer | |
| Apple[14] | Apple TV 4K | 2021 | 2nd generation
3rd generation with Ethernet |
| HomePod Mini | 2020 | All models | |
| HomePod | 2023 | 2nd generation | |
| Google[15] | Nest Hub | 2021 | 2nd generation |
| Nest Hub Max | 2019 | All models | |
| Nest Wifi | 2019 | All models | |
| Google TV Streamer 4K | 2024 | All models | |
| MikroTik[16] | hAP be³ Media | 2026 | All models |
| Samsung SmartThings[17] | SmartThings Hub | 2018 | Version 3 |
| SmartThings Station | 2023 | All models | |
| Aeotec Smart Home Hub | 2021 | All models |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "What is Thread - Overview". Thread Group. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
- ^ Tuohy, Jennifer Pattison (July 29, 2022). "What is Thread and how will it help your smart home?". The Verge. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ Noel Randewich (July 15, 2014). "Google's Nest launches network technology for connected home". Reuters. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
- ^ "Apple joins 'The Thread Group,' opening up the possibility of more advanced HomeKit tech". 9to5Mac. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ "Apple introduces HomePod mini: A powerful smart speaker with amazing sound". Apple (Press release). October 13, 2020.
- ^ "The Thread group - Thread 1.1 Specifications". Thread Group. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
- ^ "OpenThread". 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ openthread/ot-ns, OpenThread, April 18, 2024, retrieved April 22, 2024
- ^ "Simulate Thread Networks using OTNS". OpenThread. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Amazon, Apple, Google, and Zigbee join forces for an open smart home standard". TechCrunch. December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ "Project Connected Home over IP". Project Connected Home over IP. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ "Thread Border Router - Bidirectional IPv6 Connectivity and DNS-Based Service Discovery". OpenThread. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "Understand Smart Home Thread Support | Alexa Skills Kit". Amazon Alexa. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ "If you see a 'Thread Border Router Required' or 'Needs Thread Network' alert on your iPhone or iPad". Apple Support. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
- ^ "Making your home more helpful with Matter and Thread". Google Store. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ "hAP be³ Media | MikroTik". mikrotik.com.
- ^ "SmartThings x Matter Integration". SmartThings Support. January 19, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
