ANT+ Is doomed to Die a slow death
Garmin has recently announced significant changes to its ANT+ membership and certification programs. These shifts signal the demise of ANT+, the once-dominant wireless communication standard for sports devices. Over two decades, ANT+ was integral to the fitness and cycling industries, providing seamless wireless interoperability. However, its dominance is now finished. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), a protocol with wider adoption and greater regulatory alignment, has won.
Additional Insights: a DCRAINMAKER article
Further sources: EU RED Directive, thisisant.com
The Rise and Fall of ANT+
Introduced in 2004, ANT+ became the backbone of wireless communication for fitness and cycling products, celebrated for its low power consumption, ease of use, and seamless device interoperability. ANT+ allowed multiple sensors—heart rate monitors, power meters, speed sensors, and more—to connect simultaneously to devices like Garmin Edge computers and Forerunner watches.
However, over recent years, BLE has emerged as a powerful competitor, overtaking ANT+ in the number of capable devices. BLE’s widespread adoption in smartphones, tablets, and wearables created an ecosystem Garmin’s ANT+ could never match.
Why ANT+ Certification Programs Are Ending
Garmin cited “a changing regulatory landscape” for discontinuing the ANT+ membership and certification programs by 30 June 2025. Upcoming regulations require wireless communication standards to meet stricter privacy and security compliance.
Retrofitting ANT+ to meet these new requirements would break backward compatibility. Instead of reinventing ANT+ for an increasingly BLE-dominated market, Garmin will focus increasingly on from now on BLE.
Despite these changes, Garmin has clarified that ANT+ support will continue through its chipset providers and legacy device profiles. Documentation and tools for developers will remain available, ensuring continued functionality for existing ANT+ devices.
The BLE Advantage: Why It’s Taking Over
Several factors contribute to BLE’s growing dominance:
- Universal Adoption: BLE is embedded in nearly every modern smartphone, wearable, and tablet, creating a vast interconnected ecosystem that ANT+ cannot match.
- Regulatory Compliance: BLE is regularly updated to meet stringent data security and privacy requirements, keeping it aligned with evolving regulatory demands.
- Ease of Development: BLE offers developers a single, more straightforward, standardized platform with advanced features and more room to evolve.
- Multi-Channel Capabilities: BLE can now support multiple device connections simultaneously.
Garmin’s Pivot to BLE: What It Means
Garmin has simplified its approach, allowing developers to focus on BLE while maintaining ANT+ device profiles for legacy products.
However, it’s important to note that some sectors, particularly cycling, still rely heavily on ANT+. For example, smart cycling radar systems, and wireless shifting systems like Di2 use ANT+. BLE equivalents in these areas are either proprietary or underdeveloped.
As soon as this year, we may notice more manufacturers than usual releasing BLE-only products, as the entire market progressively shifts away from ANT+.
Long-Term Implications for Consumers
Garmin’s ongoing support for ANT+ compatibility will ensure it is unlikely to disappear entirely, even in the next 5-10 years. (Phew!)
Key Dates to Remember
- 31 March 2025: Final deadline for ANT+ certification applications.
- 30 June 2025: ANT+ membership and certification programs officially end.
Final Thoughts
For two decades, ANT+ has been a cornerstone of wireless interoperability, enabling seamless connectivity across countless fitness and cycling devices. While its relevance is gradually declining, Garmin’s ongoing support ensures a smooth transition for legacy users.
For now, athletes and enthusiasts should continue to expect ANT+ compatibility in their devices, particularly for niche applications. However, the rise of BLE marks a new era in wireless communication that will shape the future of connected sports technology.
As someone loves ant+ for having multiple devices hocked up to my powermeter. Love it but we all see this coming
Happy training
yes ANT+ makes my life easier when attaching many watches/bike computers to any given sensor. I’m a niche use case of course.
I know it may differ from person to person, but here is my experiences
My ancient Suunto Ambit 3 I used 10ish years ago didn’t had ant+. Most reviews said that was a major drawback. Never missed if.
After the Ambit 3 I got 2 garmins, a forerunner 935 for over 6 years and a 965 for about one and a half year. In that time, the only ant only thing I had was a garmin cheststrap. Running footpods (milestonepod and stryd) and bike cadence and power meters all had bluetooth.
So, I had no concerns when I switched back to Suunto and bluetooth only again.
Maybe reviewers who want to connect multiple devices for review purposes find ant a must have feature, but others won’t notice it if it’s gone.
yes I mostly agree with your summary
there will be issues for ‘normal’ people trying to multi-use their sensors eg via Apple TV, apps or gym equipment. but dual-BLE mostly sorts that out.
Multi channel isn’t a BLE advantage over ANT+. ANT+ is broadcast, you can have an infinite number of receivers per sensor (well, as many as you can fit in range) and receivers easily handle lots of concurrent senders. Multichannel is a band-aid to a problem ANT+ never had.
yes.
Broadcasting is not unique to ANT+. It is available in BLE since its introduction as a part of Bloetooth spec. 4.0 in 2010.
That means we will see even more proprietary / private BLE in the future. More attempts at walling off ecosystems, etc. because everyone thinks they are Apple.
What are cyclists with n+1 bikes supposed to do?! Stock up on current gen bike computers and sportwatches with ANT and bike sensors?
Not to mention how scared I am that some one is highjacking my cadence data with that horrible insecure ANT…
Another great news for consumers. 🙁
I don’t understand……
Is this irony?
the only proprietary format is Garmin’s ANT, Bluetooth is and a Industry Standard that Garmin killed in ANT since they bought Dynastream and added a lot of Garmin only/tuned features, Bike radars for example only work in a way Garmin had it first. Thete was never a moment Garmin calked fir papers but in typical Garmin fashion: hey we have a new feature inplemenation here for you to underwrite.