Tiny Navigators: New Modules Pack Low-Power GNSS for IoT's Future

MILPITAS, CA – January 05, 2026 – On the eve of the consumer electronics industry’s largest showcase, a strategic partnership has been announced that aims to solve one of the biggest challenges for connected devices: providing precise location without draining the battery. Milpitas-based etherWhere, a specialist in low-power Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) chipsets, is joining forces with AsiaRF, a global leader in wireless connectivity modules. The collaboration will produce a new line of miniature GNSS modules built around etherWhere's groundbreaking EW6181 chipset.

The new modules are set to be unveiled at CES 2026 in Las Vegas this week and are engineered for some of the fastest-growing sectors in technology: next-generation Wi-Fi 7 access points, body-worn cameras for public safety, and a massive array of asset tracking tags for logistics and enterprise.

Redefining Power and Precision in Geolocation

For years, the dream of always-on, accurately located devices has been hampered by a fundamental trade-off between performance and power. High-precision GNSS tracking traditionally required significant energy, making it impractical for small, battery-operated devices. The new partnership seeks to shatter this limitation. At the heart of AsiaRF's new modules is etherWhere’s EW6181 chipset, which the company claims offers the industry’s lowest power consumption alongside fast acquisition times.

While specific performance metrics remain under wraps pending the official CES launch, the claim of “industry-low” power consumption places the solution in direct competition with established market leaders like u-blox and Quectel. Competitors have already set a high bar, with modules that operate below 25 milliwatts in continuous tracking mode and achieve position fixes from a cold start in under 15 seconds. To stand out, the EW6181 will need to meet or exceed these demanding benchmarks.

A key differentiator for etherWhere is its accuWhereTM cloud platform. This service offers a multi-modal approach, allowing customers to either prioritize ultra-low power consumption for devices needing to last months or years on a single charge, or to boost positional accuracy for applications where every meter counts. This flexibility could be a decisive factor for developers creating solutions for diverse and challenging environments.

A Strategic Synergy for High-Growth Markets

The timing and focus of this partnership are no coincidence. It targets three markets experiencing explosive growth and a pressing need for better location services.

The market for body-worn cameras, driven by law enforcement and private security demands for accountability, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 14%, potentially exceeding $8 billion by 2035. For these devices, reliable location stamping is critical for evidence integrity, and extended battery life is essential for officers working long shifts. A low-power GNSS solution that doesn't compromise an officer's gear is a significant value proposition.

Similarly, the IoT asset tracking market is on a steep upward trajectory, with forecasts predicting a market size of nearly $60 billion by 2032, fueled by a CAGR of over 12%. Businesses are desperate for real-time visibility into their supply chains, from individual pallets to shipping containers. The challenge has always been the cost and battery life of tracking tags. By enabling smaller, longer-lasting trackers, this technology could unlock widespread adoption and revolutionize logistics efficiency.

Perhaps the most forward-looking application is the integration into Wi-Fi 7 access points. As the new wireless standard rolls out, promising unprecedented speed and low latency, embedding precise location capabilities directly into the network infrastructure opens up a new frontier for smart buildings, seamless indoor-to-outdoor navigation, and advanced enterprise device management.

Real-World Impact on Safety, Logistics, and Connectivity

Beyond the technical specifications, the true impact of this technology lies in its real-world applications. For a police department, it means body cameras that reliably geo-tag video evidence throughout an entire shift without failure. For a global shipping company, it means being able to place a small, inexpensive tag on a pallet and track its journey across continents for years without a battery change.

For network administrators, a Wi-Fi 7 access point with integrated GNSS becomes more than just a data hub; it becomes a location-aware anchor point. This could enable services that automatically adjust building climate control based on where employees are gathered, provide detailed foot-traffic analytics for retailers, or help locate critical equipment within a large hospital campus. AsiaRF is offering the technology in two compact module sizes (10.1 × 9.7 × 2.3 mm and a slightly larger 18 × 18 × 6.2 mm version), providing hardware integrators with the flexibility to embed location awareness into a wide range of device designs.

The CES 2026 Launch Pad

Both companies are betting on CES 2026 to serve as a powerful launchpad. AsiaRF will be showcasing the new modules at Booth No. 10676 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, while etherWhere will be greeting partners and customers nearby at Booth No. 10763. The event provides a crucial opportunity to demonstrate the technology's capabilities to a global audience of engineers, product managers, and decision-makers.

“We’re thrilled to work with AsiaRF, a leader in wireless connectivity solutions, targeting the enterprise, IoT, and public safety markets,” said Michael Raam, CEO of etherWhere. “Location awareness is becoming a key requirement across the industry, and we’re excited to be partnering with AsiaRF to bring solutions to the market.”

This sentiment was echoed by AsiaRF's leadership. “Our partnership with etherWhere marks a significant milestone in AsiaRF’s mission to push the boundaries of wireless innovation,” stated Paul Lai, CEO of AsiaRF. “The new GNSS modules address critical market demand for high precision and ultra-low power consumption in compact form factors.” As the doors to CES open, the industry will be watching closely to see if this partnership can deliver on its promise to invisibly and efficiently connect our world, one location point at a time.