What is LoRaWAN?

LoRaWAN is a Low Power, Wide Area (LPWA) networking protocol developed by the LoRa Alliance, that wirelessly connects battery operated ‘things’ to the internet in regional, national or global networks, targeting key Internet of Things (IoT) requirements such as bi-directional communication, end-to-end security, mobility and localization services.

LoRaWAN uses unlicensed spectrum in the ISM bands to define the communication protocol and system architecture for the network while the LoRa physical layer creates the long-range communication links between remote sensors and gateways connected to the network. This protocol helps in the quick setup of public or private IoT networks anywhere using hardware and software.

LoRa is the physical layer i.e. the chip and LoRaWAN is the MAC layer i.e. the software that’s put on the chip to enable networking.