Comparison
UWB vs BLE for real-time location (2026)
UWB gives you metre-level precision at the cost of denser, more expensive infrastructure; zone-level reads give you room- or zone-level awareness with far lower cost and longer battery life. For evacuation and personnel accountability, zone-level awareness is usually sufficient — which is why The Salvus Network leads with zone-level reads and adds UWB only where precise location genuinely matters.
| Capability | UWB | Zone-level reads |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-metre precision | ||
| Zone-level awareness | ||
| Low infrastructure cost | ||
| Long tag battery life | ||
| Fast site-wide rollout | ||
| Best for mustering |
What the table means.
UWB (ultra-wideband) measures time-of-flight for sub-metre accuracy but needs many fixed anchors.
Zone-level reads trade precision for coverage, cost and battery life — ideal for zone awareness and mustering.
The verdict
Match the technology to the job. For accountability and evacuation, zone-level reads deliver the outcome affordably. For collision avoidance or precise asset location, add UWB. The Salvus Network supports both so you are not forced to over-build.
Frequently asked questions
Which does The Salvus Network use?+
Anchors and Tags by default for zone awareness and mustering, with UWB available on the Enterprise RTLS tier for metre-level precision where a site requires it.
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