Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1545219
6 Scalable growth path A well-designed LoRaWAN network is inherently scalable. Modular growth—by adding indoor or outdoor gateways based on traffic load or coverage challenges—allows for cost- effective expansion over time. Compared to cellular IoT, LoRaWAN offers significantly lower scaling costs while retaining flexibility and adaptability. 2. Transmission Efficiency and Network Server Behavior Efficient use of the LoRaWAN air interface is a prerequisite for scaling deployments to thousands or even millions of devices. Since every uplink consumes valuable airtime, network servers must intelligently manage how devices adapt their parameters, ensuring both reliable delivery of messages and minimal waste of airtime. The following practices create a balance between robustness, energy consumption, and capacity. On an Aloha channel, where transmissions are random, diversity is key: it is a well- established fact that more than 3 retransmissions are needed when the objective is to operate the network at a load that is of the same order of magnitude as the load for maximal channel utilization. Also, in presence of multipath fading (expected in most cases), the channel gain fluctuations may be overcome by increasing transmission power, SF and ultimately the number of gateways. But the most effective measure is to use retransmissions on different frequency channels (with enough frequency spacing), which is exactly the default LoRaWAN behavior. Confirmed vs. unconfirmed uplinks tradeoff Not all devices benefit from the same transmission strategy. The network must weigh reliability needs against airtime consumption when choosing between confirmed and unconfirmed uplinks: Battery-critical endpoints (such as water meters in underground pits) often operate in poor RF conditions. For these devices, confirmed uplinks with moderate NbTrans (8) are recommended. This ensures critical readings are not lost, while still limiting retransmission overhead to protect battery life. High-frequency reporters (such as electricity meters) generate frequent data transmissions. For them, unconfirmed mode with optimized retransmission is more efficient (NbTrans (3). Occasional packet loss is acceptable because subsequent transmissions can provide redundancy at application level. Eliminating acknowledgments reduces network overhead, freeing airtime for other devices. By tailoring the confirmation strategy to the use case, a network operator maximizes both its network efficiency and the device longevity. LoRa Alliance ® WHITEPAPER