Overview#

Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) is a generic term for networks focused on Internet of Things (IoT) devices which and provides the low cost, low power and wide-area coverage needed for vast, granular wireless sensor networks.

Low-Power Wide Area Network Wide Area Network (LPWAN) Overview is described in RFC 8376

Low-Power Wide Area Network focus is for IoT telemetry applications where small amounts of data are transmitted periodically, Low-Power Wide Area Network redefines the way assets and processes are remotely monitored and managed.

  • Long Range: The operating range of LPWAN technology varies from a few kilometers in urban areas to over 15 km in rural settings. It can also enable effective data communication in previously infeasible indoor and underground locations.
  • Low Power: Optimized for power consumption, LPWAN transceivers can run on small, inexpensive batteries for 10-15 years; reducing maintenance costs.
  • Low Cost: LPWAN's simplified, lightweight protocols reduce complexity in hardware design and lower device costs. Its long range combined with a star topology reduce expensive infrastructure requirements, and the use of license-free or already owned licensed bands, reduce network costs.

Some competing standards and vendors for LPWAN space include:

  • DASH7 , a low latency, bi-directional firmware standard that operates over multiple LPWAN radio technologies including  LoRa .
  • Wize  is an open and royalty free standard for LPWAN derived from the European Standard Wireless Mbus.[5]
  • Chirp spread spectrum  (CSS) based
  • Sigfox , UNB-based technology and French company.[6]
  • LoRa  is a proprietary, chirp spread spectrum radio  modulation  technology for LPWAN used by  LoRaWAN , Haystack Technologies, and Symphony Link.[7][8]
  • MIoTy , implementing Telegram Splitting technology.
  • Weightless  is an open standard, narrowband technology for LPWAN used by  Ubiik

More Information#

There might be more information for this subject on one of the following: