LoRaWAN

LoRaWAN

LoRaWAN is a new wireless communication network that, due to its unique characteristics, is extremely suitable for sensors and the Internet of Things. At Teneo IoT we focus completely on data communication via LoRaWAN, allowing us to realize various dedicated applications for our customers.

In short: LoRaWAN

In brief, LoRaWAN is a so‑called low‑power wide‑area network; these new networks bridge long distances with minimal power consumption. Unlike traditional networks such as 2G or 4G, LoRaWAN is an open‑source network. Users are therefore not tied to a telecom provider and can set up their own private network. As a result there are no monthly subscription fees for the connectivity. LoRaWAN can cover distances of 3 – 45 kilometres, whereas Wi‑Fi only covers 10 – 30 metres. A LoRaWAN message is roughly 230 bytes, similar to an SMS, making it perfect for transmitting sensor data such as temperature, GPS coordinates or fill level.

This makes it possible to easily provide LoRaWAN coverage to an entire municipality, city, or village using just a few LoRaWAN gateways!

However, LoRaWAN only allows for the sending of small messages, making the network unsuitable for large amounts of data (such as photos and videos). With LoRaWAN, a user can expect a message size of approximately 230 bytes: comparable to the size of an SMS. This makes LoRaWAN ideal for sending data from sensors and sensor networks, as sensors and these applications always involve small amounts of data (e.g., temperature, GPS coordinates, fill level, etc.).

Benefits of LoRaWAN:

Using LoRaWAN offers users a variety of benefits, such as:

  • Robust and reliable network;
  • No monthly subscription fees (for connectivity), if you work with “private” gateways;
  • Long communication ranges: 3 – 45 km;
  • Long battery life: 5 – 10 years on one cycle;
  • Ability to control actuators thanks to bi‑directional communication;

National coverage

Besides the freedom to establish communication within your own private network, LoRaWAN is also offered nationwide in the Netherlands by KPN.

This nationwide coverage is ideal for remotely tracking/monitoring moving objects. While monthly subscription fees apply, these are often at least ten times lower than the current cost of a traditional 4G subscription, for example. This means LoRaWAN offers a wide range of possibilities for sectors such as the transport and logistics sector, where nationwide coverage is a requirement.

The Things Network also offers the option of using its network worldwide. To determine your actual coverage needs, we always discuss this further with our clients in introductory meetings.

For more information about current global LoRaWAN coverage, please visit the LoRa Alliance website. To see where LoRa is available, you can view the current LoRa network coverage here. If you are interested in exploring the possibilities of LoRaWAN for you, please contact us!

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