There are three main ways to locate people and assets indoors: UWB time-of-flight ranging, Bluetooth Direction Finding (AoA/AoD), and BLE proximity via RSSI. ^(1)(2)(3)

How Each Indoor Positioning Technology Really Works

Ultra-Wideband (UWB): High-Precision Time-of-Flight Ranging

UWB systems use time-of-flight ranging procedures between participating devices to measure distance. ⁽³⁾ In Lansitec’s UWB Anchor system, anchors synchronize timing, calculate distances to nearby UWB trackers, and can provide up to 10 cm accuracy with a specified receiving range up to 23 m (environment-dependent). ⁽⁴⁾

BLE Angle-of-Arrival (AoA): Direction-Aware Bluetooth Positioning

Bluetooth Direction Finding adds standardized direction to Bluetooth LE signals via Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD) methods. In AoA, a transmitter (for example, an asset tag) uses a single antenna, while the fixed receiving locator uses multiple antennas arranged in an array to collect data used to compute signal direction. ⁽²⁾ Bluetooth’s technical overview also describes the limitations of traditional beacon positioning and why direction finding improves what can be derived from the RF signal. ⁽¹⁾

“Most of the cost is infrastructure, not the tags” is generally true in practice, but the exact cost split is deployment-specific.

BLE Proximity (RSSI): Simple & Scalable Zone-Level Tracking

Classic BLE proximity estimates distance from received signal strength (RSSI) and a reference transmit power value, but it is often not accurate enough for higher-precision use cases and can be affected by environmental conditions. ⁽¹⁾ Lansitec’s LoRaWAN Micro Bluetooth Gateway is an example of an RSSI-driven proximity approach, advertising 3 m indoor accuracy, IP68 enclosure, and 6-plus years of battery operation under stated scanning conditions. ⁽⁵⁾

We’ve learned to treat these as layers, not rivals. UWB gives you surgical precision where centimetres matter; BLE gives you breathable coverage everywhere else. ⁽⁴⁾⁽⁵⁾

How to Smartly Choose the Right Technology by Use Case

When to Use UWB: Mission-Critical Centimeter Accuracy, and you want published system constraints you can design around (accuracy, receiving range, device capacity, environmental ratings).

When BLE AoA Makes Sense: Directional Indoor Positioning, and you can deploy fixed locators with antenna arrays in the environment. Exact “1–3 m dot” expectations vary widely with locator density, mounting height, and multipath.

UWB anchorsWhen BLE Proximity Wins: Long Battery Life & Wide Coverage, and zone/room-level presence is enough. RSSI proximity can be made useful at scale, but it remains sensitive to environment and calibration. Micro gateways and UWB anchors can both use a LoRaWAN backhaul in Lansitec’s portfolio, which simplifies pilots and rollouts.

Infrastructure & Power Planning: The Hidden Success Factor

This stage often determines whether a project succeeds or fails.

Anchor spacing and geometry: If you’re using Lansitec UWB Anchors, the published receiving range is up to 23 m, which sets an upper bound for layout sketches, then you tighten spacing based on the site. ⁽⁴⁾

Device density and lifetimes: Lansitec specifies up to 512 UWB trackers per anchor and a stated battery-life envelope (depending on density and reporting). ⁽⁴⁾ For Micro Bluetooth Gateways, Lansitec specifies >500 beacons tracked, plus payload/airtime handling details that impact network planning. ⁽⁵⁾

Backhaul: In the cited Lansitec examples, UWB Anchor data and Micro Gateway BLE data are sent via LoRaWAN.

Cost & TCO Comparison: What You’ll Really Pay

UWB accuracy is fundamentally tied to time-of-flight ranging procedures and system design. ⁽³⁾ In Lansitec’s implementation example, the UWB Anchor emphasizes long-life industrial batteries (spec’d as Li-SoCl₂ 19000mAh×4) and environmental hardening (for example, IP66 and industrial temperature ratings). ⁽⁴⁾

With BLE AoA, the Bluetooth SIG describes the need for antenna arrays and fixed locator infrastructure for direction finding. ⁽²⁾ Your real-world cost profile will depend on cabling, mounting, and compute architecture.

BLE proximity offers the simplest roll-out path: you can deploy gateways and get room/zone-level presence quickly. Lansitec’s Micro Gateway positions itself as a low-maintenance option with stated longevity, ruggedization, and RSSI-driven precision targets. ⁽⁵⁾

Why Hybrid BLE + UWB Systems Consistently Win

We often run a BLE blanket + UWB islands. Why? Because the hybrid system works in two layers:

1. Deploy Micro Bluetooth Gateways for broad presence and zone alerts (RSSI-driven positioning), with long battery life and high beacon capacity. (1)(5)
2. Add UWB Anchors around choke points and high-value zones where tighter accuracy is needed, using the UWB Anchor’s stated accuracy and range envelope as your design constraints. ⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾

Both layers can ride the same LoRaWAN backhaul in the Lansitec examples, which keeps operations saner.

Quick Decision Quiz: Find Your Best-Fit Technology

Which Indoor Positioning Technology Is Right for You?

Answer these five questions, tally the letters, and you’ve got your shortlist.

Whatever your split, the path is clear: match the precision to your need and your infrastructure reality. Use BLE proximity for wide coverage and commissioning, reserve UWB for the mission-critical zones where accuracy matters most. By leveraging a hybrid solution sharing the same LoRaWAN backhaul, you streamline deployment and ensure every tracked asset is delivering value. Choose the right balance, and your operation becomes more efficient, effective, and ready for what’s next.

References and further reading:

1. Bluetooth SIG, Bluetooth Direction Finding: A Technical Overview
2. Bluetooth SIG, Bluetooth Direction Finding Feature Enchancement Overview
3. IEEE Standards Association, IEEE 802.15.4z-2020
4. Lansitec, UWB Anchor product page
5. Lansitec, LoRaWAN Micro Bluetooth Gateway product page