STMicroelectronics Deploys Technology to Standardize Smartphone-Based Digital Access

2026-02-27 companies

Geneva, Friday, 27 February 2026.
Leveraging the newly released Aliro 1.0 standard, STMicroelectronics now provides the essential infrastructure to transform smartphones into universal, secure digital keys for immediate industry adoption.

Bridging the Hardware-Software Gap

Following the Connectivity Standards Alliance’s (CSA) release of the Aliro 1.0 specification on February 26, 2026, STMicroelectronics (STM) acted immediately to secure its position as a primary infrastructure provider for this new ecosystem [1][3]. On February 27, 2026, the company introduced a comprehensive suite of engineering tools designed to accelerate the development of Aliro-compliant devices [1]. This offering creates a direct bridge between the theoretical standard and physical implementation, addressing the fragmentation that has historically hindered the adoption of digital keys [3][5]. The core of this release is the X-CUBE-ALIRO software package and the STEVAL-ALOCKCB reference design, which are available as of today [1]. These tools enable manufacturers to build systems capable of operating over distances ranging from centimeters to more than 100 meters, utilizing a combination of wireless protocols [1].

Technical Specifications and Configurations

STMicroelectronics has structured its portfolio to support all three defined configurations of the Aliro standard: NFC-only, NFC combined with Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), and a high-performance tier integrating NFC, Bluetooth LE, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) [1][2]. The inclusion of UWB allows for hands-free access, where a door can unlock automatically based on the precise spatial positioning of a user’s device [1][6]. To support these topologies, the company is deploying specific hardware components, including STM32U5 and STM32WBA6 microcontrollers, ST25 NFC readers, and ST64UWB-C100 chips [2]. Furthermore, security—a critical component of the Aliro 1.0 specification which mandates asymmetric cryptography—is handled via ST’s STSAFE-A embedded secure elements [2][3]. This hardware lineup ensures that the rigorous security requirements for digital credential exchange are met at the silicon level [1][8].

Industry Collaboration and Market Impact

The release of Aliro 1.0 represents a significant shift toward interoperability, backed by a consortium of over 220 member companies, including major mobile OS providers like Apple, Google, and Samsung [3][4]. This broad industry consensus allows digital keys stored in mobile wallets to function across different hardware brands, effectively solving the vendor lock-in issue that has plagued the access control market [6][8]. Tobin Richardson, President and CEO of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, emphasized that STMicroelectronics played an instrumental role in realizing this standard, noting that their investment in reference designs removes complexity and helps companies reach the market faster [1]. Early adoption is already underway; Nuki Home Solutions has confirmed it will utilize ST’s developer package to create Aliro-compatible smart locks, aiming to deliver a seamless unlock experience for residential users [1].

Future Outlook for Digital Access

While the immediate focus is on standardizing basic access control for homes, corporate offices, and hospitality venues, the Aliro roadmap includes future expansions [3][8]. The current specification focuses on credential issuance and reader interoperability, but future updates are planned to support secure credential sharing among users [5][8]. STMicroelectronics is positioning itself to support this long-term evolution through a 10-year longevity program for its Aliro-compliant components [2]. As the certification program for Aliro 1.0 is now officially open, ST is expected to be among the first wave of companies to achieve certification, cementing its role in the next generation of digital security infrastructure [3][6].

Sources

STMicroelectronics Aliro