The Internet of Things has revolutionized the world of businesses and citizens by making it possible to connect equipment and places of life or work. LORAWAN communication technology is part of the success of this major development.
LORAWAN, an acronym for Low Power Wide Area Network, is a low-speed, low energy consumption and long-range wireless communication technology. LORAWAN makes it possible to offer small, inexpensive IOT sensors, generally battery-powered, which communicate data over large distances. The possibility of deploying numerous sensors locally also makes this technology very economical. These characteristics have opened the door to the deployment of numerous use cases, previously difficult or unprofitable to implement.

LORAWAN® Private network for the deployment of sensors in companies (industrial site, building, agriculture, city)
In this article we will cover:
- What is a LORAWAN® network ?
- What are the advantages of a LORAWAN® network
- What are the typical use cases for a LORAWAN® network?
- How does a LORAWAN® network work?
- The security of a LORAWAN® network
- The limitations of a LORAWAN® network
- Difference between a public and private LORAWAN® network
- LORAWAN®- a powerful and open ecosystem
- LORAWAN® - Is it legal?
- History of LORAWAN® technology
What is a LORAWAN® network ?
A LORAWAN network is a wireless communication network which allows, thanks to the installation of a simple Gateway (LORAWAN Gateway), the communication of several hundred IOT sensors over large distances (up to 20 km).
Among the main characteristics of this technology, we can cite:
- Communication consumes little energy and allows the sensors to operate on battery power, which avoids the cost and constraints of external power supply
- Long distance communication makes it possible to limit the equipment (gateways, antennas) required, making deployment very economical
- The cost of this technology is low, and makes it possible to make many use cases profitable until now impossible to “digitalize”.

What are the advantages of a LORAWAN® network
There are many wireless communication technologies, but not all of them are suitable for communicating with objects.
No wireless communications technology meets all the criteria. The choice will always depend on the specifics of the use case. For this comparison, we will focus on the main characteristics at the origin of LORAWAN, namely communication over long distances, with low energy consumption.
Bluetooth consumes little energy, so allows battery-powered sensors. Although Bluetooth allows communications at relatively high speeds, the distances are very short (a few tens of meters), which requires the deployment of numerous gateways (or relays). In addition, Bluetooth is very sensitive to obstacles (walls, etc.).
Many sensors are offered, for the residential sector, with WIFI communication. However, this is not a viable option for the professional world, for 3 main reasons. On the one hand, WIFI communication consumes a lot of energy, which limits battery life. On the other hand, connecting to a WIFI network (and therefore relying on IP communication) presents numerous security risks. Finally, WIFI coverage rarely exceeds 100m, which requires the deployment of numerous hotspots.
Z-Wave and Zigbee sensors have ranges of a maximum of a few hundred meters, which requires the deployment of quite a few relays/gateways. They can be on battery. These are less developed standards than LORAWAN, so the offer is more limited, and the cost of the sensors is higher.
Narrowband IOT (NB-IOT) is the response of mobile operators (3GPP) to the arrival of LPWAN networks. NB-IOT allows communication, through the cellular network, of small quantities of data, with optimization of the energy consumed.
This option is interesting for global deployments, when it is not economically possible to deploy a LORAWAN type network. On the other hand, the cost of these sensors is higher (NB-IOT modem + SIM card) and the monthly subscription is often higher. Energy consumption remains higher than a LORAWAN type network, even if it is optimized compared to 4G.
SigFox is the other major player in LPWAN networks using the free ISM frequency band. Similar technologies (not compatible), but a radically different business model. SigFox can only be deployed through the public SigFox network. Unable to create a private network. There are therefore subscription fees per sensor. Additionally, if a SigFox operator is not present in the country (or target region), it is not possible to operate it.
These constraints had the effect of limiting the commercial success of SigFox and slowing down the development of a sensor ecosystem. Some doubt the economic viability in the medium term.
Mioty is a more modern technology, which promises to be even more robust than LORAWAN, particularly in terms of network density (number of sensors). At present, Mioty is not yet very developed, and the supply of sensors is very low.
What are the typical use cases for a LORAWAN® network?
LORAWAN is particularly well suited to covering areas, such as industrial sites, agricultural land, buildings, or even a district in a city.
If there are public networks in certain countries (France, Netherlands, Switzerland, etc.), the success of LORAWAN networks is notoriously in the deployment of private networks, for a building, a company, an agricultural cooperative, a city . Implementing a LORAWAN network is simple, and allows hundreds of sensors to be instantly connected.
How does a LORAWAN® network work?

A LORAWAN network is made up of 4 elements:
- At least one LORAWAN Gateway, responsible for radio communication with IOT sensors, and data transmission to a server (LNS – LORAWAN Network Server)
- A software element called LORAWAN Network Server, in charge of managing Gateways, and deployed IOT sensors, and data transfer
- IOT sensors to the LORAWAN standard. On battery or mains. With integrated or external antenna to the LORAWAN standard.
- An Application server (IOT Software Platform) for receiving data from sensors, processing and displaying data
The beauty of an architecture based on LORAWAN technology is that these 4 elements are independent, respect a standard, and are therefore interchangeable. There is no “locking” possible by a supplier. You remain in control of the choice of suppliers for each component.
The security of a LORAWAN® network
Communication security is guaranteed “by Design”. LORAWAN is not an IP protocol. This is an exchange of packets of a few bytes. In addition, the sensor is generally equipped with a simple micro-controller, which is very inefficient. Data communications through a LORAWAN network are secure (encryption). Ultimately, it is almost impossible to read the data, to take control of a sensor, which would not bring any benefit anyway, because these sensors are not connected to your computer networks.
The limitations of a LORAWAN® network
LORAWAN data communication is limited to a few dozen bytes, at an average interval of 5 minutes. If the communication can be bidirectional, it is mainly intended for the transmission of data, from the sensor, to the applications (through gateways and the LNS).
The communication of images, videos, or large quantities of data, for example from sensors that transmit every minute or even every second) is impossible.
Difference between a public and private LORAWAN® network
Technically, there is no difference between a public and private LORAWAN network.
A public network is just a network deployed by an operator who decides to market communication, based on a set of Gateways that he has deployed, and that he manages, and an LNS (LORAWAN Network Server) that he it makes available to its customers.
In a private network, you are responsible for the installation and maintenance of gateways and the Network Server.
LORAWAN®- a powerful and open ecosystem
The strength of LORAWAN is its ecosystem that has developed since +/- 2016.
Hundreds of suppliers offer thousands of sensors, all compatible with this standard. For each use case, you will therefore have the choice between different suppliers, which allows you to put pressure on prices, and to ensure your independence from a supplier.
LORAWAN® - Is it legal?
LORAWAN modulation technology operates on the ISM frequency band, used mainly for instrumentation. In each region of the world, a frequency band is allocated for this purpose. In Europe, it is 868Mhz, in North America, 915Mhz for example.
Everyone can use this frequency, respecting rules on the use of the frequency band (duty cycle). These rules are translated into the constraint of sending data of a few dozen bytes, on average and per sensor, every 5 or 10 minutes.
History of LORAWAN® technology
In the field of the Internet of Things, so-called ‘Low Power Wide Area’ networks, that is to say low-speed, long-range networks, occupy a preponderant place.
In the past, IOT was still called M2M (Machine To Machine). To allow objects to communicate globally, wirelessly (over large distances, outside of an internal network such as WIFI), it was necessary to put a SIM card there, and use GPRS type communication, or its developments. like 3G or 4G. These sensors could hardly operate on battery power, and were relatively expensive.
In 2009, a French startup created LORA frequency modulation technology. A wireless communication based on the ISM frequency band used in the medical instrumentation sector. This startup, Cycléo, was bought in 2012 by Semtech. The LORAWAN protocol was born. LORAWAN is the acronym for Long Range Wide Area Network.
More on LORAWAN®
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