LPWAN #1. Why LPWAN is the FUTURE of IoT for Smart Cities? (Low-Power Wide Area Network Explained!)

LPWAN playlist.

Introduction to LPWANs. LPWAN has Unique Features of Having Low Power & Long Range.
Exploring LPWAN: The Technology Behind Low Power, Long Range & Low Data Rate Networks.

Motivation of LPWAN
Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWANs) are designed to meet specific needs in modern communication systems, particularly for applications requiring long-range connectivity, low power consumption and cost-effective deployment. The key motivations driving the development and adoption of LPWANs are outlined below:

Long-Range Communication
Problem: Many IoT devices operate in remote or widely dispersed locations where traditional communication technologies, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, fail to provide sufficient range.
LPWAN Solution: LPWANs enable long-range communication—reaching several kilometers in urban areas and even tens of kilometers in rural areas—without requiring expensive infrastructure.

2. Low Power Consumption
Problem: IoT devices often rely on battery power and need to operate for years without frequent recharging or replacement.
LPWAN Solution: LPWAN protocols are designed to optimize energy efficiency, allowing devices to transmit data intermittently while consuming minimal power.

3. Support for Massive IoT Deployments
Problem: The growing number of IoT devices demands a scalable and cost-effective connectivity solution.
LPWAN Solution: LPWAN networks can support thousands of connected devices per base station, making them ideal for dense deployments such as smart cities and industrial automation.

4. Cost-Effectiveness
Problem: Deploying and maintaining connectivity for a large number of IoT devices can be costly when using traditional technologies.LPWAN Solution: LPWAN technologies typically operate on unlicensed frequency bands and require simpler hardware, significantly lowering both operational and device costs.

5. Suitability for Low Data Rate Applications
Problem: Many IoT applications, such as environmental monitoring, asset tracking, and utility metering, require infrequent and small data transmissions.
LPWAN Solution: LPWAN technologies are optimized for low data rates, reducing bandwidth requirements and energy consumption.

6. Infrastructure Independence
Problem: Reliance on cellular or wired networks can be impractical in remote or underdeveloped areas.
LPWAN Solution: LPWANs can operate in areas with little to no pre-existing infrastructure, using simple gateways or satellite connections to enable data transfer.

7. Improved Coverage in Challenging Environments
Problem: Buildings, underground facilities, or remote locations often face connectivity challenges with traditional wireless technologies.
LPWAN Solution: LPWAN signals are designed to penetrate obstacles and provide reliable coverage in such environments.

8. Emerging Use Cases and Applications
LPWANs enable innovative applications such as:
Smart agriculture (soil monitoring, livestock tracking)
Smart cities (parking sensors, waste management)
Industrial IoT (predictive maintenance, asset tracking)
Environmental monitoring (air quality, weather conditions)
Healthcare (wearables, remote patient monitoring)

Cellular (2G, 3G, LTE, 5G) are too expensive for IoT applications.

Developers start to develop their own communication networks in the unlicensed spectrum.

LPWAN shows that it is able to connect sensors and controllers to the internet without the use of WiFi or cellular.

LPWAN is threatening the licensed cellular operators.

LPWAN movement began with Sigfox, and then LoRa came onto the scene. Now the cellular carriers are offering their own IoT connectivity options via LTE-M and NB-IoT to counter them.

Several LPWAN technologies address these motivations, including:
LoRaWAN: Operates in unlicensed bands with a focus on long-range and low power.
Sigfox: Specialized for ultra-narrowband, low-cost, and low-power applications.
NB-IoT: Cellular-based LPWAN technology designed for robust performance and integration with existing telecom infrastructure.
LTE-M: Another cellular LPWAN technology optimized for IoT use cases.

Summary
The motivation for LPWAN stems from the need to provide a communication solution that balances low power, long range, scalability, and cost-efficiency for IoT and M2M (Machine-to-Machine) applications. It bridges the gap between traditional short-range wireless technologies and high-power cellular networks, making it a cornerstone of modern IoT ecosystems.

[technologiesdiscussion]

Thank you for taking the time to watch this video on LPWAN.
In this video, I will share why LPWAN technologies, such as LoRa, Sigfox, NB-IoT, and Cat-M1, are emerging as significant wireless technologies due to their long-range and low-power characteristics. In short, I will explain the motivation for adopting these technologies as a new class of potential wireless connectivity for IoT and M2M communication.
Next, I will discuss how to determine if a device complies with LPWAN standards, and what critical features a device must have to be classified as LPWAN-compatible.

[riskiriyadi]

Hello. Thank you for an articulate explanation.