Legrand, Schneider Electric, and Siemens Smart Infrastructure have formed a strategic interest group aimed at advancing the NR+ connectivity standard for smart buildings. The initiative, supported by wireless industry specialists including Nordic Semiconductor ASA, DSR Corporation, Wirepas, and Kudelski IoT, seeks to set a new global benchmark for long-range, ultra-resilient wireless connectivity in large-scale digital building environments.
Hosted by the DECT Forum, the NR+ interest group addresses key challenges in building automation by promoting an interoperable wireless solution tailored for the Internet of Things (IoT). The collaboration aims to replace siloed building management systems with a unified standard that enhances scalability, cost efficiency, and reliability.
What is NR+?
NR+ is a non-cellular 5G IoT connectivity standard designed for long-range, scalable, and high-density device networks. Operating on license-free spectrum, NR+ supports decentralized, self-healing mesh networks that reduce infrastructure costs while improving reliability and efficiency. The technology is intended to facilitate large-scale IoT adoption in smart buildings, industrial automation, and energy management systems.
As interest in smart building connectivity continues to grow, the formation of the NR+ interest group marks a significant step toward establishing a unified wireless standard that enhances interoperability, sustainability, and efficiency.
According to the companies, buildings account for approximately 30% of global energy consumption, with 75% deemed energy inefficient. The NR+ interest group identifies reliable wireless connectivity as a critical factor in enabling scalable digital transformation, which is essential for improving sustainability in the built environment. With demand for wireless devices in buildings expected to reach hundreds of millions annually, the NR+ standard is positioned to support this growth by providing a resilient and cost-effective connectivity solution.
The NR+ interest group will collaborate with silicon vendors, access point providers, and smart building standards organizations to drive adoption of the standard. The initiative also plans to advocate for regulatory recognition of NR+ to ensure widespread deployment in commercial and industrial buildings. By aligning technology development with industry needs, the group aims to enhance digital transformation opportunities for building owners, operators, and integrators.
“DECT Forum is proud to host the NR+ interest group, which represents a groundbreaking step toward addressing the connectivity challenges in buildings,” said Andreas Zipp, Chairman of the DECT Forum. “NR+ is purpose-built for large-scale, dense sensor networks, capable of adapting to various systems while meeting high standards for scalability, cost, and reliability. Bringing together global leaders in technology and wireless innovation confirms the potential of NR+ to set a new standard in buildings.”
