Lorawan can be used for industrial private networking applications but has some limitations. It works well for some applications but does not work well for customers using well-known private network solutions.
LORA is a point-to-multipoint network protocol using the Semtech Lora modulation scheme. Lorawan is a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) protocol optimized for use in mobile and stationary batteries. It provides long-distance wireless connections to low-power IoT terminals operating on unlicensed frequencies.
The IoT solutions offer innovative methods to keep the customers engaged and gather prudent business. LORA itself represents the physical level of network technology. It is powered by wireless modulation and is used to establish remote communication between devices. Lorawan defines the communication protocols and system architecture of the network for the LORA Alliance and the physical layers that enable remote communications. The LORAWAN Cloud-based Media Access Control layer protocol acts as a network layer protocol for managing communication between LPWAN gateways, end nodes and devices and is the routing protocol maintained by the alliance.
Lorawan is a data protocol developed in 2015 by LORA Alliance to provide a low-power connectivity solution for battery-powered devices [841]. This is a type of LPWAN that limits network interference and keeps battery demand low. Due to its many advantages, it is considered one of the best specifications for the LANWAN standard.
The Lorawan enables terminal devices (sensors and actuators) to connect to the Lorawan network via radio gateways using LORA RF modulation. A sensor node in an IoT system collects data from one or more sensors and transmits it via short-range wireless communication protocols like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, Zigbee to the gateway [10,14].
There is a one-to-one relationship between the LORA-based devices and the gateways of the Lorawan network and messages sent to the terminal device move within the gateway area. The Lorawan Gateway receives LORA’s modulated RF messages from the terminal devices, which are heard some distance away from the messages from Lorawan’s Network Servers (LNs) connected to the IP backbone.
A typical Lorraine network is a single-hop star topology consisting of terminals that transmit data to and from gateways. A Lorawan gateway is no longer owned and operated independently, but all gateways are tuned to the same frequency. This is used in a star topology network based on the Open Lorawan protocol and is perfect for applications that require wide-reaching deep integration communication between a large number of devices, low power consumption, and the collection of small data amounts.
Compared to other LPWAN solutions that enable high data rates such as LTE (Narrowband Internet of Things) and Cat M1, LORA does not have the overhead of a third-party mobile network for SIM cards and recurring payments. The ease with which private network operations can be carried out is a significant advantage for applications where coverage is required, particularly in rural and remote areas where public Lorawan operations are not in reach. Lora Alliance enables the use of private networks required for IoT solutions or applications.
Unlike cellular networks, LPWANs are cost-effective and energy-efficient, making them ideal for applications with many energy-saving devices like irrigation systems and smart lighting. The systems used in Lorawan have a simple architecture, which means that they are easy to implement.
Lorawan systems use unlicensed frequencies and operate without license fees, which is necessary if you are on a licensed mobile phone band. Lorawan also does not charge the monthly data fees required for mobile devices.
LORA Alliance (501 (c) (6) (21) is an association established in 2015 to support the Lorawan Long Range Wide Area Network Protocol and ensure the interoperability between Lorawan products and technologies. Lora and Lorawan belong to the category of non-cellular LPWAN players (Wireless Communications Network Protocol) that operate on unlicensed frequencies while others such as SIGfox, Ingenu and some others operate legally.
An open technology standardised by LORA Alliance is designed for low-power, wide-area networks required. Using the medium access control (MAC) protocol, the Low-Range Wide Area Network (LORAawan) of LORA is an open standard defined by the Alliance, taking into account the energy-efficient nature of the protocol and the fact that many battery-powered devices rely on it.
LORA is considered a proprietary derivative of CSS that allows an IoT network operator to exchange data rates for greater range and performance while optimizing its network performance based on its needs. Here we meet LORA and Lorawan, a category of wireless wide-range technologies that have to cover long distances and require little power and low bandwidth, also known as LPWA networks or LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network).
The characteristics of the physical layer of Loras and the simplicity of Lorawan make it possible to achieve very low operating costs per unit on the transceivers and silicon modules of the terminals offered by an increasing number of providers. The functionality is released via APIs and the Lorawan stack can be easily integrated into a company’s billing, network operations, device management, and organizational systems.
The LORA Alliance has a strong ecosystem of hardware manufacturers, developers, and partners for IoT platforms. IoT security and application support covers the connectivity layer, network connectivity providers, platform and system integrators, IoT solution providers, and telecom providers, to name just a few. Manufacturers of IoT devices (OEMs) use the global and regional specifications and parameters of Loras and their certification programs to develop IoT solution sensors and terminals connected to the Lorawan IoT network.
