LoRaWAN — Long Range Wide Area Network
LoRaWAN is a Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) protocol designed for battery-operated IoT devices that need to transmit small amounts of data over long distances. Where BLE covers meters, LoRaWAN covers kilometers — making it the protocol of choice for remote sensors, agriculture, smart cities, and utility metering.
How LoRaWAN Works
LoRaWAN operates in two layers:
- LoRa (Physical Layer) — A proprietary chirp spread spectrum (CSS) modulation developed by Semtech. Trades data rate for range and noise immunity.
- LoRaWAN (Network Layer) — An open standard managed by the LoRa Alliance (800+ member companies). Defines device classes, security, and network architecture.
EU868 Specifications (Europe)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency band | 863–870 MHz (EU868) |
| Default channels | 868.10, 868.30, 868.50 MHz (125 kHz BW) |
| TX power | Max 14 dBm (25 mW) ERP |
| Duty cycle | 1% (868.0–868.6 MHz), 0.1% (868.7–869.2 MHz), 10% (869.4–869.65 MHz) |
| Data rate | 0.3–50 kbps (SF7–SF12) |
| Range | 2–5 km (urban), 5–15 km (suburban), 20+ km (rural/line-of-sight) |
| Sensitivity | -137 dBm (SF12) |
| Maximum payload | 51–222 bytes (depending on data rate) |
Device Classes
| Class | Behavior | Latency | Power | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class A | TX, then 2 short RX windows | Seconds–hours | Lowest | Battery sensors, meters |
| Class B | Scheduled RX windows (beacon-synced) | Seconds | Low–medium | Actuators needing timed downlinks |
| Class C | Always listening | Near real-time | Highest | Mains-powered gateways, streetlights |
LoRaWAN vs. Other Long-Range Protocols
| Protocol | Range | Power | Data Rate | License | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LoRaWAN | 5–15 km | Ultra-low | 0.3–50 kbps | Unlicensed (ISM) | Private or public networks |
| NB-IoT | Cellular | Medium | 250 kbps | Licensed (telecom) | Telecom-dependent |
| LTE-M | Cellular | Medium | 1 Mbps | Licensed (telecom) | Telecom-dependent |
| Sigfox | 10–50 km | Ultra-low | 100 bps | Unlicensed | Sigfox network (declining) |
| Mioty (ETSI TS 103 357) | 5–15 km | Ultra-low | 0.5 kbps | Unlicensed | Industrial, EU-backed |
Security Architecture
LoRaWAN 1.1 includes two-layer encryption:
- Network Session Key (NwkSKey) — Authenticates packets at the network layer (MIC verification)
- Application Session Key (AppSKey) — Encrypts payload end-to-end; network operators cannot read application data
- Join Server — Manages device activation and key derivation (OTAA — Over-The-Air Activation)
Common Applications
- Smart agriculture — Soil moisture, weather stations, irrigation control
- Smart cities — Parking sensors, waste bin monitoring, air quality
- Utility metering — Water, gas, electricity remote readings
- Asset tracking — Container and vehicle location over wide areas
- Industrial monitoring — Vibration sensors, tank levels, environmental conditions
Related Terms
- BLE — Short-range complement to LoRaWAN; often used together (BLE for commissioning, LoRaWAN for data backhaul).
- IoT — LoRaWAN is a foundational IoT connectivity protocol for long-range, battery-powered applications.
We develop LoRaWAN sensor nodes and gateways — from RF design through CRA-compliant firmware to production deployment. See our Embedded Systems Development services.