How LPWAN Works in IoT?
The Internet of Things (IoT) today relies on multiple competing connectivity methods, but low-power wide area networks (LPWANs) are rapidly emerging as one of the more important standards.
The Background of LPWANs:
Back in the 1980s and ‘90s, some similar technologies were made, but the first LPWAN called Sigfox came out in 2009. Then in 2012, Semtech bought Sigfox and kept improving its technology for IoT devices. To keep up, the cellular industry started making its own LPWAN solutions, like LTE Cat-M1 and Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT).
Do You Know What Is LPWAN Technology??
The term LPWANs, which emerged in 2013, stands for Low-Power Wide-Area Network. This is a generic term that describes a group of network technologies designed to communicate small data packets on low transmission data rates wirelessly, over relatively long distances using lower power than common network technologies.
How do LPWANs work?
LPWANs help IoT devices send small amounts of data over long distances. Usually, IoT sensors use an IoT gateway to collect their data and send it to the cloud. LPWANs like Sigfox and LoRaWAN work on free radio frequencies, while others like NB-IoT and LTE Cat-M1 use licensed frequencies. With LPWANs, IoT devices can send or receive updates at specific times or when triggered by something like a sensor.
What are the benefits Of LPWAN?
What are some of the leading LPWAN technologies?
LPWAN is not a single technology, but a group of various Low Power Wide Area network technologies that take many shapes and forms. LPWANs can use licensed or unlicensed frequencies and include proprietary or open standard options.
These Licensed and Unlicensed Frequencies have furthermore categories.
Licensed Frequency:
Unlicensed Frequency:
?Let’s take a closer look at four of the most popular LPWAN categories today.
NB-IoT:
Nb-IoT stands for Narrowband Internet of Things. NB-IoT is a special type of network that uses unused parts of the radio waves. It's different from other networks because it helps save power in IoT devices. Normally, these devices need to keep listening for a signal, which uses a lot of power. But NB-IoT lets them sleep when they're not needed, saving battery life. It also helps them send signals less often. This means NB-IoT devices can work for a long time without needing a new battery. NB-IoT doesn't need extra equipment to work. It uses existing cell phone towers. This makes it easy to connect IoT devices without spending much money. Overall, NB-IoT is a good choice for tasks like tracking and shipping.
LTE-M:
4G is the fourth generation of cellular networks, and LTE-M is an abbreviation for Long Term Evolution Machine type communication. It is an advanced type of 4G technology for IoT devices. It uses similar power-saving features as NB-IoT and works on the same infrastructure as regular 4G LTE. However, LTE-M has faster data rates, making it better for sending large amounts of data quickly, like firmware updates. It's widely available and can switch between carriers for better coverage. LTE-M is good for things like tracking assets and emergency responders, and it's faster than NB-IoT for sending and receiving data, meaning devices stay connected for less time.
LoRaWAN:
LoRaWAN stands for Long Range Wide Area Network. LoRaWANs are a type of LPWAN that doesn’t rely on cellular connectivity, and they use specific unlicensed frequency bands that vary from country to country. LoRaWANs have some of the lowest (and narrowest) bandwidths of any LPWAN, but due to duty cycle regulations, devices connected via LoRaWANs can only send a limited number of messages per day.
Sigfox:
Sigfox is the oldest LPWAN technology, a French company that built the first LPWAN in 2009, Sigfox continues to operate its proprietary network in many countries around the world. Like NB-IoT, it uses a narrow band and works best for very small bandwidth applications where energy savings is a paramount concern.
What are some ideal use cases for LPWAN?
When is LPWAN the right choice?
Choosing the right connectivity technology is always difficult. There are lots of different options and LPWAN is just one type of connectivity technology. LPWAN technologies are the best option when devices are located underground, in remote areas, or deep within urban infrastructures.
How do IoT and LPWAN fit together?
IoT devices use LPWAN technology to connect and talk to each other and the internet. LPWANs help IoT devices send and get data over long distances without using too much power. This is great for connecting different IoT devices like sensors and actuators in places like smart cities, farms, hospitals, and factories. Basically, IoT and LPWAN work together to let devices communicate well and share data for many uses. LPWAN helps IoT devices work in faraway and tough places, making it perfect for IoT.
LPWAN is the future:
In 2018, LPWAN was said to be the fastest growing IoT technology, with 1.1 billion connections expected by 2023. LPWAN helps collect important data for businesses and governments, which can be used to save lives, make things work better, and save energy. These low-power, wide-area network technologies are important for making the IoT world a reality.
Final Thoughts:
Every type of connectivity has its own advantages and disadvantages. But LPWAN has become very popular and useful in the field of IoT. Because of its amazing features, it has become the talk of the town. It is not only easy to understand but it also provides much ease to the people. LPWANs allow IoT devices to transmit or receive updates at fixed intervals or in response to an external trigger (such as a sensor), rather than maintaining a continuous connection. That drastically decreases power consumption. According to my thought, LPWAN technologies are the best match for IoT projects.
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What are your thoughts regarding this?
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P.S. Do share your thoughts in the comments or “DM”? for an open discussion.
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