With over 12 billion connected IoT devices worldwide and the number projected to cross more than 24 billion by the end of 2030, LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN standards are fast spreading across the telecom landscape and creating better living conditions in their wake. A company has a large facility with several buildings and outdoor areas that require monitoring and control of various systems such as HVAC, lighting, security, and equipment. The existing wired network infrastructure is limited and expensive to expand, and Wi-Fi signals do not reach all areas reliably. The company needs a wireless network solution that is cost-effective, has long-range capabilities, and can support low-power devices that run on batteries. LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a wireless protocol that uses low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) technology to enable long-range communication with low-power devices. It operates on unlicensed radio bands, making it a cost-effective solution for the company. However, implementing LoRaWAN can be challenging, and that's where CLoRaWAN comes in.
CLoRaWAN is an open-source library that provides an easy-to-use interface for LoRaWAN communication. It supports multiple regions and devices, and its modular architecture allows for flexibility and customization. Using CLoRaWAN, the company can quickly deploy a wireless network that covers their entire facility, enabling remote monitoring and control of their various systems. The low-power capabilities of LoRaWAN also mean that battery-operated devices can last for years without needing replacement, saving the company on maintenance costs. Overall, implementing LoRaWAN with CLoRaWAN provides a cost-effective, long-range wireless network solution that can support low-power devices for remote monitoring and control of a company's various systems.
Along with 5G, the LoRaWAN is expected to dominate the era of IoTs as a leading networking technology. Industry experts assert that the technology will soon surpass even 5G to garner around USD 350 billion, nearly 75% of the total IoT market. LoRaWAN is simple, inexpensive, accessible, and requires less power when compared to 5G. This technology wirelessly connects battery-operated devices such as IoT sensors and trackers to the internet.
The intrinsic characteristics of the protocol that make it a suitable choice for multiple applications include-
The water market was quick to adopt LoRaWAN networks and LoRaWAN sensor-enabled devices for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and water management solutions, saving millions of liters of water in the process. LoRaWAN-enabled sensors used in wildfire detection have curbed a large amount of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Other markets such as natural gas utilities are considering its adoption for metering and monitoring, as well as for ensuring public safety by adding valve shut-off capabilities to prevent gas leaks.
The ability to easily connect a large number of nodes (around 1000 devices per gateway) over long ranges, makes LoRaWAN useful in the management and control of smart city systems that include street lighting, waste management, environment monitoring, smart parking, public transport, and maintenance.
LoRaWAN network is highly efficient in monitoring IoT in utilities and ensuring their seamless daily operations. It helps in data collection and its transformation into action, without human intervention.
Smart agriculture uses IoT systems and sensors to collect information such as temperature and humidity and analyze the data across every step of the food production chain. High-tech devices such as sensors and drones help farmers manage their equipment, crops, and livestock from remote distances. The automation of manual tasks improves efficiency and output while minimizing energy consumption and environmental impact. Using LoRaWAN protocol and IoT devices, commercial farmers have been able to reduce irrigation water use by 50%.
The LoRaWAN market has been experiencing significant growth over the past few years, driven by the increasing adoption of IoT devices across various industries.
The following are some of the factors that are expected to drive the growth of the LoRaWAN market:
In addition to these factors, the LoRa Alliance, the organization responsible for the LoRaWAN standard, continues to drive innovation and expansion of the technology. The LoRa Alliance has been working on new specifications for LoRaWAN 2.4GHz, which is expected to expand the capabilities of the technology further. Overall, the future outlook for the LoRaWAN market is positive, with the technology expected to play a significant role in the growth of the IoT industry. As more devices and applications become connected, the demand for long-range, low-power wireless networks is expected to increase, creating opportunities for LoRaWAN technology to expand into new markets and use cases.
Here are some trends for the LoRaWAN market in the Asia Pacific and North America regions:
According to a survey, there will be more than 100 million buildings using smart building technologies worldwide, in the next few years. LoRa-based smart building solutions are quick and easy to install. They can maximize efficiency and reduce costs with minimal investment. LoRa radio waves can pass through doors, walls, ceilings, garages, etc., and reach the sensors inside a building. They ensure centralized, smart building management and monitoring of lighting, heating, cooling, and fire safety. Furthermore, facility managers can gain insights into occupancy, energy consumption, air quality, and environmental conditions in and around the buildings.
LoRaWAN networks are perfect to incorporate artificial intelligence in healthcare because of their low power consumption, cheap cost, and reliable performance. By transferring data between patients and doctors in real time, the LoRaWAN protocol could significantly improve the ease of patient diagnosis. These sensors can establish a safe and dependable wireless connection between patients, nurses, and doctors. Enterprises and government authorities have been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by leveraging IoT technologies to tackle health, safety, and financial concerns. LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN protocol have assisted with contact tracing, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations in the workplace, and addressing the needs of medical professionals.
From air quality monitoring to radiation leak detection, LoRaWAN-based IoT solutions for the environment help protect communities from environmental dangers. By installing a network of LoRaWAN-enabled devices and gateways throughout an area, it is feasible to capture and broadcast environmental indicators for real-time data analysis.
Organizations are setting and struggling to meet their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals in order to remain competitive and sustainable, earn and retain customer loyalty, and generate profitability in today’s evolving business landscape. The implementation of LoRaWAN and IoT technology can help accomplish these goals. With LoRaWAN, businesses can monitor and control energy and resource consumption, prevent water leaks and wildfires, improve building energy efficiency and optimize their overall operations in accordance with their ESG objectives.
Some emerging economies may find implementing 5G solutions quite expensive. But LoRaWAN is flexible, simple, and requires low network hardware. Its implementation and operational costs are significantly low. For instance, India is attempting to harness the power of IoT, data analytics, and automation to transform its traditional manufacturing capabilities and stride into the era of Industry 4.0. This is being expedited with the help of LoRa-based connectivity. The deployment of LoRaWAN is helping keep the burgeoning number of manufacturing plants, smart manufacturing platforms, machines, and workers connected, productive, and highly efficient.
In conclusion, the LoRaWAN technology has emerged as a promising wireless connectivity solution for IoT devices, enabling long-range communication and low-power consumption. With its wide range of applications across industries such as agriculture, smart cities, and industrial automation, the LoRaWAN market is poised for significant growth in the coming years. The technology's cost-effectiveness, scalability, interoperability, and security features have made it an attractive option for organizations looking to deploy IoT solutions that require long-range connectivity. Furthermore, the LoRa Alliance continues to drive innovation and expansion of the technology, with new specifications in the pipeline for LoRaWAN 2.4GHz.
