Whitepapers

LoRaWAN provides an optimal solution for this coverage challenge, with tests confirming that it has better deep indoor signal-penetration capabilities than cellular and NB-IoT solutions - making it a superior solution in terms of costs and performance. Maximum Coupling Loss (MCL) is defined as the maximum loss in the conducted power level that a system can tolerate and still be operable (defined by a minimum acceptable received power level). The MCL for both uplink and downlink of LoRaWAN is 165 decibels (dB); for NB-IoT, the MCL value can be from 145 dB to 169 dB for uplink and 151 dB for downlink based on the device class. NB-IoT solutions normally compen- sate for lower link budgets by increasing power consumption –reducing the battery life or requiring a larger battery size. 3. Much Longer Battery Life of Up To 10 Years Two important factors affect the life of IoT device batteries: the end-device current consumption (peak and average) and the contribution of the protocol. Cellular communication systems are designed for optimal spectrum utilisation, which compromises the end-node in terms of cost and battery lifetime. LoRaWAN devices, by contrast, have the lowest power consumption of any bi-directional communications protocol. By optimising nodes for cost and battery lifetime at the expense of spectrum utilisation, LoRaWAN extensively extends IoT sensor battery life when compared with cellular and NBIoT technologies. 4. Two-Way Communication Another key feature of LoRaWAN is its ability to support bi-directional communication. This means that an end device (sensor) can send a message to the network (containing, for example, sensor data, or occupancy or location information), as well as receiving messages from the network. Two-way transmissions allow acknowledgements, configuration changes in devices, and remote firmware updates. They also can be used for control of connected assets, including inter-device communications for advanced IoT solutions (as noted in Birdz' Lyon's case study referred to in this paper). 5. In-Built End-to-End Security IoT devices lie at the heart of water utilities' operational networks, which means security is a key concern. The LoRa Alliance has kept security front and centre in its development of the LoRaWAN specification and has been highly transparent about the protocol's security features. AES algorithms provide authentication and integrity of packets to the network server, and end-to-end encryption to the application server. The LoRaWAN specification offers dedicated end-to-end encryption to application providers, with two layers of crypto- graphy. It uses a unique 128-bit network session key shared between the end device and the network server. Messages are then encrypted with another unique 128-bit application session key shared end-to-end at the application level. 6. Lower Total Cost of Ownership with Battery Consumption up to 5 Times Less than NB-IoT When contemplating an IoT deployment, water utilities will ultimately evaluate options based on the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO). LoRaWAN's low hardware, operational and installation costs make it highly competitive compared to other solutions. LoRaWAN consumes less energy than NB-IoT resulting in far greater battery life – tests confirm battery consumption is five times less than for NB-IoT 13 – significantly reducing capital and operational expenses. 7. Complementary to SCADA Systems by Adding Additional Data Points With LoRaWAN At A Lower Cost LoRaWAN complements traditional SCADA systems, which water utilities rely on heavily for essential network functions. The ideal goal for water utilities is to integrate all data streams from LoRaWAN, SCADA and other systems into one platform for better monitoring, capital and operational expenditure projections, and ultimately, better decision-making. LoRaWAN can also be gradually introduced in the water and sewage portion of the network for preventative maintenance, improving the life of the assets and reducing TCO. Due to the low cost of deployment and operation, LoRaWAN will complement SCADA in critical control systems and make it possible to monitor assets that otherwise would not be monitored as closely due to cost. 8. Multi-Service Platform for Smart City Use Cases Smart city technologies are aiming at improving residents' quality of life and city services. These solutions lean heavily on IoT technology, which means cities and water utilities can share common connectivity fabrics. Figure 6: Technology Comparisons between LoRaWAN and NB-IoT 13. Orange Business Services, Connectivity, protocols, security and IoT needs: a compass to find a path, https://www.orange-business.com/en/ www.lora-alliance.org p.11

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