IBM Research and Semtech announced a new technology based on low-power, wide-area networks targeting machine-to-machine and the “Internet of Things.” The technology is said to offer an alternative to the use of cellular or Wi-Fi.
The technology is based on long-range wide-area networks, using a new specification and protocol for low-power WANs utilizing unlicensed wireless spectrum. Sensors can be connected over long distances with minimal infrastructure and extended battery life. The sensors are designed to communicate over distances greater than 100 kilometers under some conditions. More realistically they can communicate at least 2 km in urban areas and 15 km in suburban areas. Data rates range from 300 bits per second to 100 kilobits per second. The sensors require minimal energy to operate and can stay in place for at least 10 years before requiring new batteries. They also have AES128 keys to secure the data being transferred from malicious activities. Target applications include vending machines, smart metering and parking services, pet tracking, logistics tracking, and home heating oil measurements.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjK3rK-v3xM
The LoRa Alliance is a key organization in the discussion related to LPWANs. Announced at the recent Consumer Electronics Show and launched at last week’s Mobile World Congress event, it is a nonprofit association that supports the view that IoT is happening now and needs alternatives to cellular and Wi-Fi to achieve the industry goals around IoT. As they’ve just launched, their membership is only beginning; but the initial announcements reflect a mix of network operators and vendors. Those already listed publicly include KPN, Bouygues Telecom, SingTel, Swisscom, Proximus, Fastnet, IBM, Sagemcom, Kerlink, Actility, IMST, Eolane and Microchip.
There are already two deployment announcements showing initial support of the concept from the network operator community. Last November, South Africa’s FastNet announced its intent to launch a purpose-built IoT network based on the LoRaWAN technology. They are currently supporting M2M communications via their existing telecommunications network and Wi-Fi. One of the services currently offered monitors temperatures of perishable items via a real-time dashboard. 
KPN announced in January that they will also join the alliance and deploy the technology by the end of the year.
More options to support IoT provide more reasons for operators to deploy solutions including devices, connectivity, security and management. Without an end-to-end solution provided by some form of operator, the speed to adoption of IoT will likely continue to stay focused on more industrial-type applications and not reach the wider market expectations. New technology choices give a higher chance for the IoT to move as fast as the industry predictions would propose.
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Claudia Bacco, Managing Director – EMEA for RCR Wireless News, has spent her entire career in telecom, IT and security. Having experience as an operator, software and hardware vendor and as a well-known industry analyst, she has many opinions on the market. She’ll be sharing those opinions along with ongoing trend analysis for RCR Wireless News.
