Major Announcement: LoRaWAN 2027 Development Roadmap Unveiled

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On April 16th, the LoRa Alliance released the LoRaWAN development roadmap to guide the future evolution of this standard.

LoRaWAN, as one of the prominent players in the field of low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) communication, is a proprietary technology based on spread spectrum modulation by Semtech Corporation. LoRaWAN, on the other hand, defines the communication protocol and system architecture for networks. It is a low-power wide-area network standard introduced by the LoRa Alliance, enabling efficient long-distance communication supported by the LoRa physical layer, facilitating tasks such as device onboarding, data encryption, and rate control. The newly released roadmap emphasizes the evolution of LoRaWAN from building and interconnecting networks to focusing on making the technology faster and easier to deploy. It plans to further enhance several key features already incorporated into the LoRaWAN standard. The LoRa Alliance states that this effort has successfully made LoRaWAN the most deployed LPWAN, leading industry development and driving growth in IoT connectivity.

Key points worth noting in this evolution:

1.Expanded Target Markets: Enhancing LoRaWAN's connectivity through NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network) such as LR-FHSS (Long Range-Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) to optimize spectrum utilization, extending LoRaWAN far beyond expected capacity requirements for large-scale IoT networks. Enhanced relay functionality extends LoRaWAN signal coverage in noisy or complex environments, enabling sensor deployment anywhere. Rapid, low-power network discovery brings new deployment options for mobile gateways and significant value to critical markets such as utilities.

2.Superior Scalability: Simplifying deployment through streamlined configuration management and device migration. Effectively identifying products and assets by carrying identifiers compliant with GS1 standards (such as RFID, barcodes, and Electronic Product Code EPC) via LoRaWAN. Simplifying device integration with LoRaWAN networks by automatically downloading device configuration files from online repositories.

3.Core Network Management: Enhancing device interoperability through standardized application server and gateway interfaces.

4.Authentication: Enhancing customer trust through over-the-air firmware updates, integrating relays into LoRaWAN certification tests to validate their functionality. Adding advanced interoperability testing to the LoRaWAN certification test suite to provide end-user trust in interoperability across devices from different vendors.

5.Physical/Link Layer Development: Integrating cryptographic agility into LoRaWAN to allow various encryption suites, current, and future, as extensions to the LoRaWAN link layer without necessitating evolution at that layer.

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In February 2022, the LoRa Alliance announced LoRaWAN protocol support for LR-FHSS (Long Range-Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) functionality. Concurrently, Semtech announced LR-FHSS support for LoRa chips. Through software upgrades of LoRa chips and gateways, significant improvements in network capacity and interference resilience were achieved, enabling low-power, reliable direct communication from sensors to satellites.

Projects combining LoRa with satellite IoT have also seen fruition. US satellite TV operator EchoStar announced in September 23 that its subsidiary EchoStar Mobile Limited partnered with The Things Industries to deploy hybrid satellite LoRaWAN solutions for businesses across Europe. These companies have integrated EchoStar's satellite IoT capabilities into The Things Stack, a cloud-based LoRaWAN network server, enabling real-time bidirectional communication for customer devices via satellite or ground networks. In March of this year, Semtech announced the integration of NTN support into its HL series LPWA modules, particularly the HL7810 and HL7812, enabling devices to maintain reliable global connections via satellite networks, even in the most remote areas. Semtech collaborated with satellite IoT pioneer Skylo, whose upcoming software update will provide access to Skylo's extensive network. This update is scheduled for commercial release in the second quarter and awaits testing and certification on the Skylo network.

The latest developments in the LoRaWAN open standard have propelled LPWAN deployments across terrestrial and satellite non-terrestrial networks globally, including hybrid network approaches. With the satellite IoT market continuing to heat up, the LoRa Alliance will continue to improve and expand LR-FHSS based on market demand and new use cases to achieve large-scale global LoRaWAN connections, advancing the vision of satellite IoT.

Furthermore, the evolution of LoRaWAN in super scalability is also noteworthy. Effectively identifying products and assets by carrying identifiers compliant with GS1 standards (such as RFID, barcodes, and Electronic Product Code EPC) via LoRaWAN. The LoRa Alliance also plans to automate the device onboarding process by requesting device configuration files from online repositories using standard APIs; this will build on previous work around QR codes.

In a related press release, the LoRa Alliance highlighted the typical case of the ZENNER network. The network demonstrates the current high-capacity characteristics of LoRaWAN, operating on over 100,000 gateways in 15 countries, serving energy providers, real estate, cities, municipalities, utilities, and industrial operations.

Trend of LoRaWAN Development

In recent years, whether in technology, standards, ecology, or applications, both LoRa and LoRaWAN have achieved significant milestones.

Connectivity:

According to the latest Global Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) Tracking and Forecast Report released by renowned market research firm IoT Analytics: global LPWAN connections continue to grow. By the end of 2023, global LPWAN connections approached 1.3 billion, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 26% in the coming years, reaching 3 billion connections by 2027. In the global market excluding China, the proportion of LoRa connections to LPWAN connections in 2023 was 41%, LTE-M connections accounted for 31%, and NB-IoT was only 20%. In other words, excluding the Chinese market, LoRa still occupies the leading position in LPWAN connections. Despite strong competitors like NB-IoT and LTE-M, LoRa is expected to maintain a stable market share and influence in the IoT market in the coming years, leveraging the foundation laid in the past few years and the flexible commercial cooperation model of the LoRa ecosystem. IoT Analytics predicts that by 2027, excluding the Chinese market, LoRa connections still have a 36% share of the global LPWAN market, maintaining the leading position in LPWAN technology.

Application Deployment

In January of this year, the LoRa Alliance released its year-end report for 2023. The report highlighted the strong global deployment growth of LoRaWAN across multiple vertical markets, including smart buildings, utilities, cities, agriculture, and industry. Some notable LoRaWAN projects and large-scale deployments in the Asia-Pacific region include:

1. Tata Communications: Completed two significant deployments, one covering over 250,000 interconnected worker solution endpoints used to monitor health, safety, and productivity in large manufacturing companies in sectors such as metals and mining, oil and gas, automotive, and pharmaceuticals. The other deployment involved providing over 300,000 smart automatic lighting solutions in India and the Middle East using LoRaWAN to manage the streetlight infrastructure in large areas.

2. Semtech: Partnered in a major water metering deployment project in South Korea, deploying 250,000 sensors. Leotek provided advanced water metering infrastructure services to major local governments in South Korea using SJI LoRaWAN modules.

3. Milesigh IoT: Completed multiple deployment projects across China, deploying approximately 50,000 LoRaWAN devices. These projects include upgrading lighting control systems to improve park management efficiency and reduce energy consumption, achieving digital transformation through smart buildings using LoRaWAN for lighting and equipment control, energy, environmental and space management to improve work efficiency and productivity, and sustainable and efficient building management using LoRaWAN smart trash bin sensors and leak detectors to improve operational efficiency, ensure customer satisfaction, and integrate with old building systems.

4. iWOW: Installed a network consisting of over 400 TEKTELIC LoRaWAN gateways, working with over 25,000 smart measurement and emergency response service sensors. This marks a milestone for LoRaWAN in Singapore.

5. SenRa: Collaborated with a large building management systems company in India to optimize and expand its LoRaWAN deployment covering a 65-acre site. Over 250 sensors were used in the initial phase of the project to support water metering and management, leak detection, and remote monitoring.

It's worth mentioning that the LoRa Alliance has also demonstrated how LoRaWAN is leading the global industrial evolution towards Industry 5.0 and emphasizes the urgency of driving Industry 5.0 forward. In a paper titled "利用工业 5.0 及物联网技术，实现生产工厂及仓库自动化" the authors compared different communication protocols and IoT platforms, concluding that the most efficient IoT processing core is the ARM Cortex, while the most effective communication protocol and technology is the LoRaWAN protocol. CEO and Chairman of the LoRa Alliance, Moore, stated, "The large-scale deployment of LoRaWAN paves the way for achieving ESG goals and the implementation of Industry 5.0."

Ecological Construction

Due to the flexible business cooperation model of the LoRa ecosystem, over 170 major mobile network operators worldwide have deployed the LoRaWAN standard, with connectivity spanning the globe. Additionally, various vertical industry enterprises, internet companies, and OEM manufacturers continue to increase their application of LoRa—for example, Amazon AWS has released several products based on LoRaWAN. AWS IoT supports LoRaWAN messages, allowing users to connect, control, and manage their low-power wireless devices on AWS cloud servers. AWS's proprietary communication technology, Sidewalk, also incorporates LoRa modulation technology.

The world's largest module manufacturer, Quectel, recently released LoRa module products. During CES 2024, Quectel officially launched the high-performance LoRa module KG200Z. This module boasts comprehensive advantages such as ultra-low power consumption, long-distance transmission, high cost-effectiveness, and high reliability, meeting the critical requirements of IoT devices for bidirectional communication, end-to-end security, mobility, and localized services.

In conclusion

Ove Anebygd, a board member of the LoRa Alliance and CEO of Netmore Group AB, stated, "The continuous innovation reflected in the latest development roadmap proposed by the LoRa Alliance, including those use cases that require improvements or extensions in connectivity through repeaters, mobile gateways, and non-terrestrial networks, will continue to consolidate the technology's leading position. For Netmore and our global customers, these advantages will facilitate the transformation into service optimization, cost savings, regulatory compliance, and resource conservation. This is most evident in the utilities and energy sectors, where infrastructure metering and monitoring solutions are rapidly expanding." The LoRaWAN standard has essentially become the global standard for operator-level IoT LPWAN secure connections, and with the release of the roadmap, the entire ecosystem will move towards clearer goals.

References 《LoRa Alliance® presenta el roadmap de desarrollo de LoRaWAN®: el éxito de este estándar marca su rumbo y evolución futuros》，lora-alliance 《LoRa® 集成LR-FHSS功能，支持卫星通讯与密集部署》，CWW 《Semtech Elevates Global IoT Connectivity with HL78 Modules Enhanced by NTN Capabilities》，Semtech 《2027 LoRaWAN roadmap published – for satellite IoT, hybrid IoT, easy IoT》，RCRWirelessNews