Smart Home: TÜV Rheinland expands IoT testing to Matter standard

Three new accredited test labs in Asia and Germany for globally recognized Matter standard / Expanded wireless testing capabilities for IoT products

TÜV Rheinland is now testing to the internationally recognized Matter communication standard in three new Authorized Test Labs (ATL). In Shanghai (China), Taipei (Taiwan) and Bochum (Germany), TÜV Rheinland experts are now testing devices and objects connected to the Internet (IoT devices) according to the Matter standard. Matter is a secure, multi-vendor connectivity standard for IoT devices and is particularly relevant to the smart home market.

Smart home market worth billions

According to Statista, the global smart home market will reach €140 billion this year, with more than €8 billion expected in Germany alone. Products and applications include smart lights, “smart” vacuum cleaners and parking space monitoring for municipalities. “As one of the world's leading test service providers in the field of wireless standards, we are expanding our global network for our customers with our newly approved laboratories. This underlines our commitment to the Connectivity Standards Alliance developed by Matter,” said Rudolph Schiessl, IoT expert at TÜV Rheinland. The new test labs join existing facilities in Yokohama, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; and Shenzhen, China.

Matter uses an IP-based interoperability protocol that ensures compatibility and cooperation between different devices such as thermostats, lighting systems and security systems. This enables smart home devices to control and communicate independently on a local network without the need for a cloud connection. The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), an industry alliance, supports the development and promotion of this standard to ensure broad compatibility and interoperability.

Market access with certified products

National requirements and regulations for smart home technologies are as diverse as the areas in which they are used. As a result, manufacturers and distributors face difficulties in importing and selling their products, while consumers experience a reduction in the performance of their devices. Products that have been tested and certified by TÜV Rheinland in accordance with the Matter standard, the first international standard, provide a remedy. Matter ensures a uniform, cross-border framework for smart home products.

TÜV Rheinland’s laboratory in Bochum, Germany, continues to offer testing and certification for the ZigBee Pro wireless standard, and the Shenzhen laboratory will soon offer similar qualifications. In addition, preparations are underway to qualify the Bochum and Shenzhen laboratories as test centers for the Thread wireless standard.

TÜV Rheinland’s wireless labs test many wireless standards

In addition to Matter, ZigBee and Thread, TÜV Rheinland’s wireless laboratories also offer testing and certification for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Sigfox and regulatory EMC and RF testing worldwide. Cybersecurity services are also offered. “With our comprehensive service portfolio, we are able to support our customers and manufacturers with the latest technology products while promoting sustainable solutions. Our goal is to bring secure and compliant products to global markets,” says IoT expert Schiessl. These comprehensive services ensure that TÜV Rheinland remains at the forefront of compliance testing in the rapidly evolving IoT and smart home markets.