The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized how we connect and communicate with devices, and LoRaWAN has emerged as a prominent player in the IoT connectivity landscape. LoRaWAN has witnessed remarkable growth in popularity during recent years. 

LoRaWAN is a Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN), with more than 225 million LoRa/LoRaWAN end nodes and worldwide availability (LoRa Alliance, 2021). Organizations across various industries are increasingly adopting LoRaWAN for their IoT deployments, and for good reason.

In this blog, we will explore the significant coverage growth and increasing popularity of LoRaWAN and why it can help businesses and industries that are looking to leverage the potential of IoT connectivity.

What is a communication protocol?

To understand what LoRaWAN is and how it works, it's essential to understand the concept of a wireless communication protocol. Communication protocols are widely compared to human interaction and languages. However, with protocols, instead of people communicating with words, there are devices that send and receive wireless data.

Wireless communication protocols tell your device how to read, send, and process wireless data and how frequently this is done. For example, when talking about LoRaWAN, the expression "downlink" represents data transmitted from the server to the gateway or device, and "uplinks" represents the message that your device has sent. So LoRaWAN, in this case, will decide the frequency that it sends and processes downlinks and uplinks.

What is LoRaWAN?

LoRaWAN is a wireless communication protocol designed for IoT devices developed and maintained by LoRa Alliance. It uses LPWAN technology, known for its long-range coverage, low power consumption, and scalability. These features have made LoRaWAN an increasingly popular network solution.

Long-Range Coverage:

LoRaWAN's long-range coverage allows devices to communicate over several kilometers in rural or urban environments. This feature makes it suitable for use cases where devices are spread across large areas, such as in smart agriculture, environmental monitoring, and asset tracking. Furthermore, the long-range coverage is made possible through its use of spread spectrum modulation, which allows it to achieve a range of several kilometers with low power consumption, making it ideal for long-range IoT applications. However, a LoRaWAN device’s range can still be affected by obstructions and signal interferences.

Low Power Consumption

Devices powered by LoRaWAN can usually operate on battery power for an extended period of time. The long battery duration is achieved through the use of adaptive data rate (ADR) and optimized packet routing, which helps to conserve energy and extend the battery life of devices. The low power consumption of LoRaWAN turns it into a valuable option for IoT deployments in remote or hard-to-reach locations where frequent battery replacements or recharging may not be feasible.

Scalability

LoRaWAN is highly scalable, as it can support many devices in a single network. LoRaWAN's scalability is possible due to its star-of-stars network architecture, where end devices communicate directly with a gateway, and multiple gateways can be connected to a central network server. This allows for efficient and reliable communication between a large number of devices and gateways within a LoRaWAN network.

How does LoRaWAN work?

As mentioned, LoRaWAN operates on a star-of-stars network architecture consisting of end devices, gateways, and a central network server. The end devices, such as sensors or devices, communicate directly with the gateways, which act as a bridge between the end devices and the central network server. The central network server manages the network and enables the communication between the end devices and the application server. The image below represents the LoRaWAN star-of-stars architecture.

The communication between the end devices, or nodes, and the gateways in LoRaWAN is based on the LoRa modulation technique, which allows for long-range communication with low power consumption.

The end devices transmit data to the gateways using spread spectrum modulation, which enables the data to be transmitted over a wide frequency range. The gateways receive the data from the end devices and then forward it to the central network server over an IP-based connection, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or cellular.

LoRaWAN device classes

LoRaWAN also supports multiple classes of devices, including Class A, Class B, and Class C. Class A devices can only receive downlink messages after they send an uplink message; this feature is one of the reasons why class A devices are the most battery-efficient type of LoRaWAN device. They open two short receive windows at fixed delays after each uplink transmission. If the network server does not respond during these windows, the device has to wait until the next uplink to receive a downlink.

Class A devices are suitable for applications that do not require frequent or timely downlink communication, such as environmental monitoring or animal tracking. An example of this type of device would be the STREGA Smart-Valve Lite Edition; its battery is rated to last for more than ten years, showcasing the longevity of Class A battery life.

Class B devices are similar to Class A devices, but they open extra receive windows at scheduled times. They use a periodic beacon signal from the network to synchronize their clocks and open 'ping slots' for receiving downlink messages. Class B devices have lower latency than Class A devices but consume more energy because they spend more time in active mode. 

Class B devices are ideal for applications requiring low-latency communication with battery-powered devices, such as fire or water leakage detection.

Class C devices are the simplest and have the lowest latency. They constantly listen for downlink messages from the network, except for when they are transmitting an uplink message. Due to being active most of the time, they are the most energy-intensive LoRaWAN device type. Class C devices are ideal for externally-powered devices that need continuous communication with the network, such as smart outlets or security cameras. Many LoRaWAN devices can work as class A and C, allowing the possibility to adapt to the client's preference. An example of a device that works both as A and C is the Watteco In'O sensor.

Is LoRaWAN secure?

The security of LoRaWAN is ensured through various mechanisms, such as end-to-end encryption, authentication, and integrity checks. LoRaWAN uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with a 128-bit key length for end-to-end encryption, which ensures secure communication between end devices and the application server. Additionally, LoRaWAN also supports mutual authentication between end devices and the network server, preventing unauthorized devices from accessing the network.

How does LoRaWAN compare to other IoT connectivity options?

LoRaWAN can oftentimes be the best fit when comparing IoT connectivity options, depending on your needs. Cellular networks, such as 4G LTE and 5G, provide wide coverage and high data rates but can be costly regarding device modules, data plans, and power consumption. In contrast, LoRaWAN offers long-range coverage with low power consumption, making it suitable for cost-effective IoT deployments in various use cases.

Wi-Fi is widely used for local area networks (LANs) and offers high data rates and low latency. However, it has a limited range and may only be suitable for short-range communication or remote connectivity. On the other hand, LoRaWAN offers a much longer range than Wi-Fi, and its low power consumption allows for extended battery life.

Zigbee is a low-power, short-range wireless communication protocol commonly used for home automation and industrial control applications. It offers mesh networking, allowing devices to form a network and communicate with each other. In contrast, LoRaWAN provides a more extended range and a star-of-stars network architecture, simplifying network deployment and management and reducing infrastructure costs.

Sigfox is another LPWAN connectivity option for IoT applications. It uses a proprietary network and offers global coverage but has limitations in terms of data rates and message size. LoRaWAN offers higher data rates and larger message sizes, making it suitable for applications that require more data. LoRaWAN also offers more flexibility in terms of network architecture and customization as it is an open standard.

How to deploy and manage LoRaWAN networks

To deploy and manage a LoRaWAN network, careful planning, configuration, monitoring, and scaling are required. Start by identifying your use case network requirements and network providers, considering factors such as coverage area, number of devices, data rate, and application-specific needs. This will help determine the type and number of gateways, sensors, network providers, and other network components required.

When selecting a LoRaWAN provider, consider factors such as network coverage, reliability, and pricing. Some popular providers include The Things Network, Senet, Actility, and Everynet. Senet is deployed in over 29 states and covers over 1,300 cities in the United States, serving a population of over 55 million people. Everynet covers more than 650 cities in the US, with the image below showing Everynet LoRaWAN coverage in the US.

(Source: Everynet)

It is critical to evaluate each provider’s capabilities and compatibility with your network requirements to make an informed decision. It’s important to not only choose a provider that can support your network now, but also into the future, as you scale and expand your IoT projects.

Then consider suitable LoRaWAN gateways and network servers that meet your network requirements. Conduct a site survey to identify the best locations for gateways, considering factors such as height, line of sight, interference, and redundancy. Once installed, configure and register gateways with the LoRaWAN network server by setting up network parameters and registering for authentication and management.
From there, additionally configure network settings, such as data rate, channel plan, and security settings, based on your use case requirements. Regularly monitor the network performance and use network management tools to troubleshoot issues and monitor network health.

As your IoT deployment grows, scale and expand your LoRaWAN network by adding more gateways, registering new end devices, and managing network resources more efficiently. Implement appropriate security measures to protect your LoRaWAN network and data, including encryption, authentication, and authorization mechanisms. Keep devices and software updated with the latest security patches to safeguard against potential vulnerabilities.

Deploying your IoT application using LoRaWAN

TagoIO can help you to easily deploy and manage your application using the LoRaWAN network. Our platform provides comprehensive tools to plan, configure, monitor, and scale your application. With TagoIO, you can easily connect and manage gateways and end devices, configure network settings, and monitor network performance.

In addition to robust application management capabilities, TagoIO also provides advanced security features to protect your LoRaWAN network and data. Our platform supports encryption, authentication, and authorization mechanisms to ensure the security of your data in transit and at rest. In addition, with TagoIO, you can update your devices and software with the latest security patches to safeguard against potential vulnerabilities.

As your IoT deployment grows, TagoIO makes it easy to scale and expand your application. Our platform enables you to add more gateways and connect new end devices in a simple and efficient manner. With TagoIO, you can focus on your core business while we take care of the complexities of deploying and managing a LoRaWAN network. Contact us today to learn more about how TagoIO can help you achieve your IoT goals.