LoRA(WAN) is a new wireless communication network that, due to its unique characteristics, is extremely suitable for sensors and Internet of Things .

With Teneo IoT we have fully focused on data communication via LoRaWAN; with which we realize a wide range of dedicated applications for our customers.

LoRaWAN is a so-called “low power wide area network’: these are new networks that can cover long distances with the lowest possible power consumption.

In addition, unlike traditional networks such as 2G or 4G, LoRaWAN has the advantage that it's an open source network. This means that for the communication of data via LoRaWAN, users are not necessarily bounded by a (telecom) provider but can also set up their own ‘private’ network.

This has the advantage that users do not have to pay (monthly) subscription costs for communication via LoRaWAN; so that the (monthly) costs of Internet of Things devices can be kept low even with large numbers!

In addition, WiFi is generally known for being able to bridge only short distances (10 – 30 meters); where LoRaWAN can cover a distance of 3 to 45 kilometers. For example, in 2018 we managed to achieve distances of more that 28 kilometers (with an NLOS connection).

This makes it possible to easily cover an entire municipality, city or village of LoRaWAN on the basis of a number of LoRaWAN gateways!

However, LoRaWAN can only send small messages, so the network is not suitable for large amounts of date (such as photos and videos). With LoRaWAN, a user can roughly assume of a message size of 230 bytes: comparable to the message size of an SMS. However, this makes LoRaWAN extremely suitable for sending data from sensors and sensor networks; because sensors and these applications always involve small amounts of data (for example, temperature, GPS coordinates, degree of filling etc.).

Benefits of LoRaWAN

Using LoRaWAN offers users various benefits such as:

• Robust and solid network;
• No (monthly) subscription costs;
• Long communication distances: 3-45 kilometers;
• Long battery life: 5 to 10 years;
• Possibility to control actuators,  thanks to bi-directional communication.

National coverage

In addition to the freedom to realize communication within its own ‘private’ network, LoRaWAN is also nationally covered by KPN in the Netherlands.

This national coverage is extremely suitable for remote monitoring / monitoring of moving objects. Monthly subscription costs are charged for using this, but in many cases these are often at least a factor of 10 lower than the current costs of  for example a traditional 4G

subscription. With this, LoRaWAN also offers various options for the transport & logistics sector; whereby national coverage is nevertheless a requirement.

In addition, the Things Network also offers the possibility to use their network worldwide. In order to determine where your actual needs are with regard to the required coverage, we always discuss this further with our customers in introductory meetings.

For more information about the current coverage of LoRaWAN worldwide, we refer you to the website of the LoRa Alliance. 

If you are interested in exploring the possibilities of LoRaWAN for you, please contact us!