LoRaWAN or Long-Range Wide Area Network, is now a leading technology within the license-exempt low power wide area (LPWA) space. LoRaWAN networks are typically laid out in a star-topology in which gateways relay messages between end devices and a central network server. LoRaWAN provides efficient and long-range connectivity for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, enabling them to communicate over large distances while consuming minimal power.
Smart Cities: connected devices such as smart streetlights, waste management systems, parking sensors, and environmental sensors.
Industrial Automation: predictive maintenance, asset tracking, supply chain optimization, and energy management.
Agriculture: soil moisture monitoring, weather monitoring, livestock tracking, and precision farming.
Asset Tracking: vehicles, containers, and logistics shipments.
LoRaWAN system structure is represented by three main constituents:
end-devices (sensors or devices)
gateways
network server
Here's how it works:
End-devices collect data from the environment, process it, and transfer it to the gateways. LoRaWAN operates with ultra-low power consumption, enabling them to work on batteries for extended periods.
Gateways connect the end-devices and the network server. They obtain the data from end-devices using the LoRa modulation technique and send it to the network server via an IP-based backhaul connection, such as Ethernet or cellular networks.
Network server manages the whole LoRaWAN network, receiving data from multiple gateways, performs needed security checks, and sends the data to the server. In addition, it manages network-related functionalities like device authentication, encryption, and routing.
It's essential to distinguish between LoRaWAN, LoRa, and LPWAN as they are interconnected but represent different aspects of IoT connectivity:
LoRa is a proprietary wireless modulation technique developed by Semtech, providing the physical layer (PHY) for long-range communication. It utilizes chirp spread spectrum modulation, allowing LoRaWAN to achieve exceptional range and robustness.
LoRaWAN is a higher-level protocol that operates on top of the LoRa PHY layer, an open standard managed by the LoRa Alliance, ensuring interoperability between different vendors' devices and networks.
LPWAN refers to the broader category of low-power, wide-area network technologies that enable long-range communication for IoT devices. LoRaWAN is one such LPWAN technology, but there are other alternatives like NB-IoT and Sigfox. LPWAN technologies are designed to meet the specific requirements of IoT applications, including long battery life, wide coverage, and low-cost connectivity.
