What is ultra-wideband and what does UWB do? VW (Pocket-lint) - Ultra-wideband (UWB) popped onto the consumer electronics radar in 2019, when Apple announced the inclusion of the U1 chip in the iPhone 11. It has subsequently found its way into some other key areas of technology, and we're expecting to see a lot more from UWB over the coming years. But what is ultra-wideband and why is everyone talking about it? What is UWB? Ultra-wideband is a short-range wireless communication protocol. It uses high frequencies that can provide spatial and directional data, which is why it's now being talked about. The advantage that UWB offers over existing technologies is that it's much better at ranging with greater accuracy, so two UWB devices would know where the other was with much greater precision than Bluetooth or GPS.