Espressif’s ESP32-E22 Module Achieves Wi-Fi Certification
The ESP32-E22 tri-band Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4 module has been awarded the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED certification by the Wi-Fi Alliance.
In tandem with this notable accolade, Espressif has introduced Linux drivers for both WiFi and Bluetooth functionalities associated with the chip.
First presented at CES 2026, the ESP32-E22 boasts a dual-core RISC-V processor capable of operating at frequencies up to 500 MHz.
It encompasses 1MB of RAM and tri-band WiFi 6E performance, tested in optimal conditions to achieve data rates of up to 2.1 Gbps using iperf. Additionally, it offers dual-mode Bluetooth support for versions 5.4 and 6.0.
While equipped with 41 GPIO pins, the module is primarily tailored for host-based wireless systems that require WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, utilizing PCIe 2.0 or SDIO interfaces.
Consequently, we can expect its emergence in M.2 modules, positioning itself competitively alongside similar offerings from MediaTek and Intel.
While Espressif has not disclosed the specific module that underwent testing for the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED certificate, it is anticipated that the ESP32-E22-M2-1 M.2 module listed on their website was used.
The certification process utilized Linux for testing, as opposed to Windows, encompassing a suite of certifications for network management (WMM, Wi-Fi Agile Multiband), security protocols (WPA-Personal/Enterprise, WPA3-Personal/Enterprise, Wi-Fi Enhanced Open), and the Wi-Fi MAC/PHY layers across the 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands, as well as 802.11b/g/n/ac/ax standards.
The chip was evaluated in Station mode with a 2×2 MIMO configuration, supporting channel widths of up to 40 MHz at 2.4 GHz, and 160 MHz at both 5 GHz and 6 GHz.
Although access point tests are notably absent from the certification documentation, it is assured that AP mode functionality will be included.
Open-Source Linux Drivers Introduced
In a related development, the open-source Linux driver for the ESP32-E22 chip/module has been launched. At present, support is available exclusively for Station mode via PCIe and Bluetooth operations over USB, with further enhancements on the horizon:
- Wi-Fi (STA) – PCIe (Currently Supported), SDIO (Upcoming)
- Wi-Fi (AP) – PCIe and SDIO (Upcoming)
- Bluetooth BR/EDR and BLE over USB – Supported
- Bluetooth over UART – Upcoming
- Firmware download over PCIe or USB – Supported
- Secure Download – Upcoming
- Wi-Fi/BT coexistence – Upcoming
- Suspend/Resume (sleep) – Upcoming
Espressif has indicated compatibility with Linux versions 5.14 and higher. Nonetheless, it is expected that the drivers will eventually be integrated into mainstream distributions to alleviate user concerns over manual source compilation or DKMS updates with each kernel iteration.
Furthermore, the GitHub repository offers a binary-only unified firmware for both the ESP32-E22 Linux and Windows drivers.ESP32-E22 Linux Driver/Firmware Architecture
Source link: Cnx-software.com.
