The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has necessitated the development of various communication protocols to handle the unique demands of connected devices. Among these, the Mioty® technology stands out for its innovative approach and impressive capabilities. But why was Mioty invented, and what benefits does it bring? Let's explore the core technology behind Mioty, how it compares to other Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) protocols, and how to start building IoT applications.

Why Mioty Was Invented

The Mioty protocol was developed by the Fraunhofer Institute, a leading organization for applied research in Europe, to address several critical challenges in the realm of IoT communication:

1. Scalability: As the number of connected devices continues to explode, protocols that can handle massive device deployments without compromising performance are needed.

2. Interference Resistance: The potential for signal interference grows with the increasing density of IoT devices. Mioty aims to provide reliable communication even in environments with significant interference.

3. Energy Efficiency: Many IoT devices are battery-powered, making low power consumption essential to prolong device life and reduce maintenance costs.

4. Reliability: Ensuring data integrity and timely delivery is crucial, especially for applications in critical infrastructure and industrial settings.

Benefits of the Mioty Protocol

Mioty offers several advantages that make it a compelling choice for IoT applications:

1. High Scalability: Mioty can support up to 1.5 million daily messages per base station, making it highly scalable for large deployments.

2. Robust Interference Resistance: Mioty employs advanced error correction techniques and robust signal processing to maintain reliable communication even in noisy environments.

3. Ultra-Low Power Consumption: Thanks to the protocol's efficient energy use, devices using Mioty can operate for years on a single battery charge.

4. Long Range: Mioty can achieve communication ranges of up to 15 kilometers, depending on the environment and specific application.

5. Reliability and Security: The protocol ensures data integrity and security through advanced encryption and authentication mechanisms.

Core Technology Behind Mioty

Mioty leverages a patented telegram-splitting technology that differentiates it from other LPWAN protocols. Here’s a closer look at how it works:

Telegram Splitting: The data payload is split into multiple small sub-packets, or telegrams. Each telegram is then transmitted at different times and frequencies.

Fig.1 - Telegram Splitting Multiple Access method. Source: Mioty Alliance.

Diversity: This temporal and frequency diversity increases the chances of successful transmission, as only a few of the sub-packets need to be correctly received to reconstruct the original message.

Error Correction: Advanced error correction (FEC) algorithms are used to piece together the original message from the received sub-packets, even in the presence of significant interference. The receiver only needs 50% of the radio bursts to reconstruct the information completely. This reduces the impact of corrupted or lost bursts due to collisions and increases the resistance to interference.

Frequency Bands: Mioty operates primarily in the license-free ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) bands, including 868 MHz in Europe and 915 MHz in North America. These frequencies are commonly used for IoT applications and offer a good balance between range and data rate.

For more information and resources about the technology and partners, visit the Mioty Alliance website.

Mioty vs. LoRaWAN

The main advantage of Mioty over LoRaWAN is its superior scalability. Mioty can support up to 1.5 million daily messages per base station, significantly higher than LoRaWAN can handle. This makes Mioty particularly well-suited for large-scale deployments with a high density of devices. 

Scalability

   Mioty: Designed to handle massive device deployments efficiently. Its ability to support up to 1.5 million daily messages per base station is a key differentiator.

   LoRaWAN: While scalable, it typically supports fewer messages per day than Mioty, which can become a limitation in large networks.

Interference Resistance

   Mioty: Utilizes telegram splitting technology, where data is split into smaller sub-packets transmitted at different times and frequencies. This increases the likelihood of successful message reconstruction even in interference.

   LoRaWAN: Uses chirp spread spectrum modulation, which provides good interference resistance but is less robust than Mioty's telegram splitting.

Reliability

   Mioty: Telegram splitting technology enhances interference resistance and contributes to higher data transmission reliability.

   LoRaWAN: Offers reliable communication but may face challenges in highly congested environments compared to Mioty.

Power Consumption

   Mioty: Designed for ultra-low power consumption, enabling devices to operate for years on a single battery charge. The efficient communication strategy further optimizes power usage.

   LoRaWAN: Also designed for low power consumption, making it suitable for battery-powered devices, but Mioty's approach can lead to even longer battery life in certain scenarios.

On the other hand, the main advantage of LoRaWAN over Mioty is its widespread adoption and extensive ecosystem. LoRaWAN has been around longer and has established a broad network of compatible devices, infrastructure, and service providers. This maturity and market presence offer several specific benefits:

Regarding ecosystem and adoption, LoRaWAN has a well-established and extensive ecosystem with various devices, gateways, and service providers. Its maturity means that it has robust community support, a wealth of development resources, and numerous commercial solutions available. While Mioty is growing, its ecosystem is not as extensive as LoRaWAN’s, which might limit the availability of compatible devices and infrastructure.

How to start building IoT applications with Mioty?

Building applications with the Mioty protocol involves selecting the right hardware for your sensing needs, developing robust firmware, integrating with network and cloud platforms, and conducting thorough testing. 

Fig. 2: Texas Instruments Evaluation Kit Mioty-HW-BDL

Examples of modules and devices include Mioty-certified modules from companies like STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, and others. For the gateways (called base stations), look for providers such as Miromico and Wittra. Then, start building your application, connecting it directly to the TagoIO platform. TagoIO’s team developed some dashboard templates that are available for free here to anyone who needs a kickstart or inspiration. 

What is next?

The Mioty protocol represents a significant advancement in LPWAN technology, addressing key challenges in scalability, interference resistance, power consumption, and reliability. Its innovative telegram-splitting technology sets it apart from other protocols, making it a strong contender in the ever-expanding world of IoT. As IoT grows, Mioty’s unique features and benefits will likely make it a go-to choice for many applications, from smart cities to industrial automation. 

Nevertheless, considering that the LoRa Alliance currently has more than 500 members worldwide and Mioty has only a little bit more than 30 members—most from Europe—we can expect the market to take a while before considering the deployment of a massive number of devices and applications based on the Mioty technology.

Feel free to contact us if you need more details or have specific questions about Mioty or other LPWAN technologies for your next IoT project.