Free e-book: IEEE 802.15.4ab vs IEEE 802.15.4z

One radio, many protocols. That's where Silicon Labs shines - and where it gets hard.

Q: Can needCode develop firmware on Silicon Labs EFR32 silicon?

Yes - needCode develops on the EFR32 Wireless Gecko families (Mighty Gecko, Blue Gecko, Flex Gecko) using the Simplicity/Gecko SDK, covering Zigbee, Thread, Matter, BLE, Bluetooth mesh, and proprietary protocols. The team includes engineers who previously shipped products at Silicon Labs, and it built the world's first certified Bluetooth mesh stack. Engagements span firmware, multi-protocol, mesh, and certification, starting with an NDA and a scoping call.

Q: Can you run multiple protocols concurrently on one EFR32?

Yes - concurrent multi-protocol is EFR32's signature capability and a named needCode competence: needCode has shipped a product running BLE and Zigbee concurrently on one chip with runtime protocol switching. Running two stacks on one radio means time-slicing the transceiver so neither starves, managing RF coexistence so they don't desense each other, and validating it under real traffic. A single-protocol demo doesn't prove the concurrent product ships.

Q: What is needCode's relationship with Silicon Labs?

needCode is not a corporate partner of Silicon Labs - its named silicon partnership is with Qorvo. What needCode brings to EFR32 projects is engineer pedigree: team members who previously built and shipped products at Silicon Labs, plus multi-protocol coexistence as a core competence and a certified Bluetooth mesh heritage. For an EFR32 product, that inside platform knowledge is the capability that matters.

Q: Can you build a Matter product on Silicon Labs silicon?

Yes - Matter-over-Thread on EFR32 is a core use case, and needCode handles commissioning, Thread networking, BLE-based setup, and the multi-protocol coexistence of running Matter alongside other protocols on one radio, through to certification. Silicon Labs is one of the most established Matter platforms, and needCode's certification discipline takes the product through the lab as a checkpoint rather than a risk.

Q: Can you develop Zigbee products on EFR32?

Yes - EFR32 (Mighty Gecko) is a leading Zigbee platform, and needCode builds Zigbee firmware and mesh networks that behave at building scale: provisioning, reliability, and OTA. The mesh depth comes from having built the world's first certified Bluetooth mesh stack and proven mesh at a thousand nodes - the engineering that separates a Zigbee demo from a deployment.

Q: Do you work with the Simplicity SDK and Gecko toolchain?

Yes - needCode works in the Simplicity/Gecko SDK ecosystem for EFR32 development, and in Zephyr where a design calls for it, choosing the toolchain that fits the product and its concurrency needs. Working across both the vendor toolchain and Zephyr means the right environment for the product, not just the familiar one.

Q: Can you hit our battery-life target on a multi-protocol EFR32 product?

Battery life is validated, not estimated - and it matters more on multi-protocol products, because two stacks cost more energy than one. needCode measures current draw on instruments in a dedicated BLE Power Optimization Lab across real traffic and sleep states, then optimises through protocol timing and sleep-state engineering. Hitting a multi-year target with concurrent protocols running is exactly where designs blow their power budget.

Q: Can you take an EFR32 product through Matter, Zigbee, or Bluetooth certification?

Yes - needCode supports Matter, Zigbee, and Bluetooth certification on EFR32, with automated PTS qualification that compresses Bluetooth testing from weeks to an overnight run and pre-certification testing that removes launch-date surprises. As Bluetooth SIG members, the team runs certification as a checkpoint. The certification path is handled through the Standards & Certification service.

Q: How does Silicon Labs compare to Nordic for our product?

Both are excellent low-power wireless platforms with real overlap; the honest answer depends on your protocol mix and priorities. Silicon Labs' EFR32 is especially strong for Zigbee and concurrent multi-protocol connected-home products; Nordic's nRF is a BLE-first platform with a widely liked SDK. needCode ships on both and advises from your actual requirements in a feasibility consultation, with no incentive to steer toward one vendor.

Q: How is needCode different from a general firmware agency for Silicon Labs work?

The difference is inside knowledge and coexistence depth: engineers who shipped at Silicon Labs, a shipped concurrent BLE-plus-Zigbee product, the world's first certified Bluetooth mesh stack, and a dedicated power lab - credentials a firmware generalist meeting EFR32 on your project can't assemble. Multi-protocol is where EFR32 products get hard, and it's exactly where that depth pays off.

Silicon Labs' EFR32 Wireless Gecko is the multi-protocol workhorse of the connected-home and industrial-IoT world - Zigbee, Thread, Matter, and BLE, often on the same silicon at the same time. needCode's team includes engineers who shipped products inside Silicon Labs, built the world's first certified Bluetooth mesh stack, and does multi-protocol coexistence as a core competence. On EFR32, that means the concurrency and certification most products underestimate, handled by people who've been inside the platform.

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The Silicon Labs silicon we work on

We work with Industry Leaders

Multi-protocol is the reason to choose EFR32 - and the reason it's hard to finish

The whole point of Silicon Labs' Wireless Gecko is that one part can speak Zigbee, Thread, Matter, and BLE - sometimes concurrently. That's exactly what a modern connected-home or building product needs, and exactly where the difficulty lives. Running two protocols on one radio means time-slicing the transceiver without either stack starving, managing coexistence so they don't desense each other, and surviving Matter and Zigbee certification with all of it switched on. A single-protocol demo says nothing about whether the concurrent product ships.

needCode brings that concurrency engineering to EFR32. The team includes engineers who shipped inside Silicon Labs, built the world's first certified Bluetooth mesh stack, and treats multi-protocol coexistence as a named competence - proven on a single chip running BLE and Zigbee with runtime protocol switching. On SiLabs silicon, the getting-started path is good; the concurrent, certified, real-world product is the part needCode is built for.

Inside knowledge, on the team

Engineers who shipped products at Silicon Labs - the EFR32 platform understood from the inside, not from the getting-started guide.

Coexistence as a competence

Multiple protocols on one radio - time-slicing, coexistence, runtime switching - proven, not theorised.

Certified at the standards level

The world's first certified Bluetooth mesh stack and SIG/CSA-grade certification discipline - Matter and Zigbee that clear the lab.

The Silicon Labs silicon we work on

The EFR32 Wireless Gecko family and the SDK behind it - the multi-protocol parts a connected product actually ships on.

EFR32MG (Mighty Gecko)

The multi-protocol / mesh workhorse - Zigbee, Thread, and Matter, often concurrently - the silicon behind a large share of connected-lighting, smart-home, and building products. This is the core of SiLabs' multi-protocol story and needCode's coexistence competence.

Multi-Protocol / Coexistence

EFR32BG (Blue Gecko)

The BLE-focused Wireless Gecko parts - Bluetooth Low Energy and Bluetooth mesh for products centred on BLE, backed by needCode's certified-mesh heritage.

BLE

BLE SDK Development

EFR32FG / Proprietary & Sub-GHz

The flexible and sub-GHz parts for proprietary and long-range protocols - where a product needs range or a custom RF scheme rather than a standard mesh. needCode's protocol depth extends to proprietary and pre-standard work.

Multi-Protocol / Coexistence

Simplicity SDK & Series 2

The Gecko SDK / Simplicity ecosystem and the Series 2 generation all current EFR32 parts share - plus the concurrency configuration that multi-protocol products depend on. needCode works in the SiLabs toolchain and in Zephyr where a design calls for it.

Platform Bring-Up & SDK

Building a multi-protocol product on EFR32?

Book a discovery call with our CEO

Book a discovery call

What we build on Silicon Labs silicon

The full stack of EFR32 engagements, centred on the multi-protocol and certification work the platform demands.

Multi-Protocol & Coexistence Firmware

Running Zigbee, Thread, Matter, and BLE on one EFR32 - time-slicing the radio, managing coexistence, and runtime protocol switching, proven by needCode on a single chip running BLE and Zigbee concurrently. This is the hardest and most valuable EFR32 work.

Multi-Protocol / Coexistence

Matter & Thread Products

Matter-over-Thread devices on EFR32 - commissioning, Thread networking, BLE-based setup, and the interoperability that survives certification. The connected-home direction the whole industry is moving toward.

Standards & Certification

Zigbee & Mesh at Scale

Zigbee and mesh networks that behave at building scale - provisioning, reliability, and OTA - from the team that built the world's first certified Bluetooth mesh stack and proved mesh at a thousand nodes.

BLE Mesh Networks

BLE Mesh at Scale

BLE, Firmware & Certification

EFR32 BLE and application firmware, ultra-low-power design measured in a dedicated lab, and BLE/Zigbee/Matter certification - taking the concurrent product through the lab without a launch-date surprise.

BLE SDK Development

BLE Power Optimization Lab

The multi-protocol platform, known from the inside

Engineers who shipped at Silicon Labs

needCode's team includes engineers who previously built and shipped products at Silicon Labs - EFR32 platform knowledge from having worked inside it, not from the Simplicity docs.

Coexistence is a named competence

Multiple protocols on one radio is where EFR32 products stall - and needCode has shipped exactly that: one chip running BLE and Zigbee with runtime protocol switching. Coexistence here is proven, not promised.

Certified-mesh and standards heritage

The world's first certified Bluetooth mesh stack, SIG spec co-authorship, and automated PTS qualification - the certification depth Matter and Zigbee products on EFR32 depend on.

Power, measured not promised

A dedicated BLE Power Optimization Lab means battery targets on EFR32 are validated on instruments - the requirement multi-protocol products most often blow, because two stacks cost more energy than one.

Four ways to bring needCode in

From a chipset-level question to a standing team. We match the engagement to where your Qorvo project is.

01 Feasibility & Protocol-Mix Consultation

Duration:
2-4 weeks
Best for:
Validating an EFR32 part and protocol combination - Zigbee, Thread, Matter, BLE, concurrent or not - measured on hardware, including the coexistence and power cost
Deliverable:
Feasibility assessment on real silicon, protocol-mix and architecture recommendation, power estimate, leadership readout

02 Firmware & Multi-Protocol Build

Duration:
Phased
Best for:
EFR32 firmware - single or concurrent protocols - from stack integration to shipping application code
Deliverable:
Working firmware on your hardware, coexistence validation, power results, test harness, documentation

03 Matter / Certification Hardening

Duration:
Phased
Best for:
Taking a Matter, Thread, or Zigbee product on EFR32 through commissioning, interoperability, and certification without a launch-date surprise
Deliverable:
Interoperability-validated firmware, pre-certification testing, qualification support

04 Embedded Team

Duration:
Multi-year, retainer-based
Best for:
Companies that want standing EFR32 and multi-protocol depth inside their programme
Deliverable:
An embedded team in your cadence - the delivery model behind an 8-year silicon-scale programme

What we ship on

The Silicon Labs stack a multi-protocol product actually combines - silicon, protocols, and coexistence.

SiLabs silicon

EFR32MG (Mighty Gecko)

EFR32BG (Blue Gecko)

EFR32FG (Flex Gecko)

Series 2

Protocols

Zigbee

Thread

Matter

Bluetooth LE

Bluetooth mesh

proprietary / sub-GHz

concurrent multi-protocol

SDK & platforms

Simplicity SDK / Gecko SDK

Zephyr

FreeRTOS

bare-metal

Coexistence

Multi-stack time-slicing

runtime protocol switching

RF coexistence

desense mitigation

Power

BLE Power Optimization Lab

current profiling

sleep-state engineering

Quality & tooling

Automated PTS qualification

HIL rigs

Matter/Zigbee cert readiness

board-matrix CI

Case studies

On this page the proof is multi-protocol and mesh - a shipped concurrent-radio product, a first-of-its-kind mesh certification, and vendor-inside pedigree.

Qorvo: RF Leadership

Context: Rapid scaling for new chipset bring-up.

Scale: Grew from <10 to 30 FTEs.
Output: Supported bring-up of 9 new hardware platforms (SDKs, Drivers, Stacks).
Retention: Zero-churn core team retained for 5+ years.

Dedicated Development Center for RF Solutions

Bluetooth Mesh Smart Lighting Control System

Smart Lighting: Core R&D Extension

Context: Client needed deep, specialized expertise to pivot from proprietary tech to a new global standard.

Service: Deployed a dedicated squad of embedded engineers to function as the client's core R&D team.
Output: Co-authored official Bluetooth SIG protocols and delivered the world’s first certified BLE Mesh stack.
Value: Enabled the client to secure Series A funding and defined the industry standard for smart buildings.

Creative Werks: Innovation rescue

Context: Hardware obsolescence threatened production shutdown.

Action: Full-stack takeover (PCB redesign + Firmware + Mobile App).
ROI: 1230% ($1.6M value generated).
Speed: Payback period of 2-3 months.

NeedCode-case study - IoT Solution for Boat Lift Modernization - cover2s

PowerPollen: AgTech automation

Context: Lack of internal expertise stalled a critical automation project.

Action: Re-architected system using unified MCU and ISOBUS standards.
ROI: 13.8x ($2.9M value generated).
Impact: Enabled $1.9M increase in harvester value.

Strategic Partnership

needCode is an official business partner of Qorvo, bringing over 8 years of proven expertise and trusted service to the technology sector.

Check our performance

Members of the UWB Alliance

In 2025 we became a member of the UWB Alliance. This strategic step reinforces our commitment to pioneering Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology.

Proudly Certified for Excellence and Security

needCode is officially certified for:
ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 – Information Security

ISO certifications reflect our focus on delivering reliable IoT solutions, smart product development, and secure technology services.

Testimonials

“I think the key takeaway from needCode is their ability to adapt and understand the customer's requirements. That took away probably a large portion of what could have been a lot of development time and expense for both companies.”

Bob Folkestad

President at Creative Werks

“One aspect that truly sets needCode apart is its profound expertise in firmware development. Their proficiency in various programming languages, embedded systems and hardware architecture is truly impressive. When faced with difficult problems, their strong problem-solving skills and analytical mindset shine through, allowing them to overcome obstacles with remarkable ease.”

Semeh Sarhan

CEO at Xtrava

“I worked with needCode while leading the NWTN-Berlin team in 2018. A big chunk for our FW development has been outsourced to them and they had proven to iterate very quickly, following specs and deliver on time. It was great working with them. I recommend working with needCode’s team on any Embedded SW development.”

Marco Salvioli Mariani

CTO at NWTN Berlin GmbH

“needCode Team proved to be one of the best engineers I have ever met. The part I like the most about the team is the more difficult an obstacle seems to be, the more motivated they were to find a solution and a way forward.”

Szymon Słupik

CTO at Silvair

“needCode is an outstanding partner. Their quick follow-up, scalability, and extensive professional network set them apart. Their expertise in wireless technologies has been valuable, supporting us from low-level drivers to architecture discussions.”

Tim Allemeersch

Director at Qorvo, Inc.

“needCode did a great job improving the firmware of the Vai Kai connected toys and developing new features, surpassing our expectations multiple times. I would definitely recommend hiring Bartek and needCode for the embedded software projects!”

Matas Petrikas

CEO & Co-founder at Vai Kai UG

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