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LPWAN: Advantages and Disadvantages

lpwan iot low power wide area network wireless communication

This page explores the advantages and disadvantages of Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs), along with a general overview of what they are.

What is LPWAN?

Introduction: LPWAN stands for Low Power Wide Area Network. It’s a type of wireless network specifically designed for low-power Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) applications. Essentially, an LPWAN is a low-power WAN system that provides long-range communication between connected devices or sensors while maximizing battery life.

Here’s a visual representation of the LPWAN standards and their developing organizations:

LPWAN Standards

LPWANs are used in various applications, including:

  • Smart Metering
  • Smart Parking
  • Smart Grid Control
  • Smart Security
  • Smart Cities
  • Smart Agriculture
  • Asset Tracking
  • Smart Home Automation
  • Critical Infrastructure Monitoring
  • Personal IoT Applications
  • Logistics

The following are some popular LPWAN technologies:

  • NB-Fi
  • DASH7
  • SIGFOX
  • LoRa
  • EC-GSM
  • NB-IoT
  • LTE-M
  • Weightless

Advantages of LPWAN,Disadvantages of LPWAN

Refer to an LPWAN tutorial to understand the basic components used in LPWAN network architecture.

LPWAN architecture

Benefits or Advantages of LPWAN

Here are the key benefits of using an LPWAN:

  • Long Range: LPWANs offer a considerable communication range, typically from 5 Km to 30 Km.
  • Low Power Consumption: Devices connected to an LPWAN consume very little power, resulting in extended battery life (approximately 10 years).
  • Low Cost: The cost of LPWAN devices (sensors) and gateways is generally lower compared to other wireless technologies.
  • Wide Coverage with Few Access Points: LPWANs require fewer access points (base stations or gateways) to cover large areas, like a city or even an entire country.
  • Robustness in Complex Environments: The use of sub-GHz frequency bands makes LPWANs more resilient to interference and signal degradation in challenging environments.
  • Excellent Penetration: LPWAN signals can penetrate walls and building basements effectively.
  • Simple Installation and Management: The smart architecture of LPWANs makes network installation and management relatively easy.
  • Secure Communication: LPWANs employ encryption algorithms to ensure secure data communication between nodes and gateways.

Drawbacks or Disadvantages of LPWAN

While LPWANs offer numerous advantages, they also have some limitations:

  • Low Data Rate: LPWANs are designed for low data rate applications. They are not suitable for applications that require high-bandwidth communication.
  • High Latency: LPWANs can experience high latency between end-to-end nodes, making them unsuitable for applications requiring real-time or near-real-time responses.
  • Technology-Specific Limitations: Be sure to understand that each type of LPWAN technology (LoRa, NB-IoT, etc.) will also have its own limitations in addition to these general disadvantages.

Conclusion

LPWAN technologies, including NB-Fi, LoRa, EC-GSM, NB-IoT, LTE-M, Sigfox, and Zigbee, offer a powerful solution for connecting low-power devices over wide areas. Understanding the benefits and limitations of each technology is crucial to leverage LPWANs effectively.