LoRaWAN®, the ecological and economical connectivity
Over the past several years, wireless connectivity technologies for objects have proliferated. While WIFI and Bluetooth are still relevant for domestic use, they cannot meet the needs of professionals who must manage pools of several thousand objects in a reliable and secure way.
For this, there are 2 major categories of networks:
- Cellular networks and their low-power derivates such as LTE-M or NB-IoT.
- Networks called Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN)
Each category has its advantages and drawbacks (Skiply also offers LTE-M solutions, particularly with the Clock R)
Among LPWAN networks, LoRaWAN® offers several benefits over cellular technologies like LTE-M and NB-IoT :
- A low energy consumption that adapts to network conditions. In laboratory tests, a Skiply device was able to send up to 53,000 messages on a LoRaWAN® network while using minimal power.
- LoRaWAN uses frequency bands that are “free” and do not require a license.
- It enables the deployment of a private network of thousands of sensors that are independent of other operators.
Public or private networks?
Since 2016, Skiply has been connecting its sensors to public and private LoRaWAN networks:
- Public networks are operated by actors who deploy antennas across the national territory, and they are compatible with all sensors following the LoRaWAN® Orange network, which offers excellent quality of service and optimum coverage across the entire territory.
- Private networks enable the deployment of our own antennas. The management of the sensors and the network thus created requires the use of software called Network Server (network core). Several market notions are available in this field, especially Kerlink, a French company that offers a consistent and high-performance solution with Wanesy Small Private Network. This solution is particularly suitable for environments such as shopping centers, factories, or supermarkets.
Chirpstack, the LoRaWAN® Open Source reference solution
According to their IT management policy, infrastructure operators (airports, stations, etc.) and corporate real estate managers sometimes turn to solutions that allow them to be independent of a supplier for the operation of their sensor network. They therefore turn to Open Source technologies that can be maintained by any IT services company and can be deployed freely, whether in the cloud or on-premise.
In this field, Chirpstack (previously LoRaServer) has become a reference over the years. Supported by an active community of users worldwide, this system offers an excellent capacity to deploy networks on a large scale.
Choosing a solution like Chirpstack offers several benefits :
- The choice for hosting the solution
- A powerful and quick gRCP API
- Compatibility with almost all LoRaWAN® gateways on the market
- A total control over managing the network
By becoming an official sponsor of Chirpstack, Skiply reaffirms its commitment to participate in the massive adoption of low-power networks so that connectivity does not mean overconsumption.
We can guide you, along with our partners, in implementing a solution that allows you to inexpensively connect thousands of sensors, whether it is to measure user satisfaction, track personal movement, or improve the energetic efficacy of your building.
Discover how LoRaWAN enables airports to better serve their passengers at the most cost-effective price.
Jérôme Chambard is a French engineer and a graduate of INSA Lyon. He has founded several successful technology companies, including Webmecanik and Skiply.
A TEDx speaker and frequent contributor to media outlets and organizations such as MEDEF, Jérôme is passionate about innovation and making technology accessible. He regularly supports entrepreneurs as a coach or investor.
He has also taught at various business schools and universities.
