1. The Things Stack
The LoRaWAN network is perhaps the fastest growing wireless technology, transforming wide area IoT deployment across the globe. Supporting a range of use cases – from cold chain monitoring in the development of the COVID vaccine to agricultural non-digital asset tracking- LoRa is everywhere in the world and shows no signs of slowing down.
As this technology gains momentum, the complexities in development and use cases need to be simplified in one accessible area. This is where the The Things Stack comes in, providing world-class architecture the stack offers a complete solution to make it seamless to build a LoRaWAN network.
The Things network stack can connect to any LoRaWAN device or device glass in any region across the globe.
LoRaWAN: How does it work?
The Things Stack operates as a feature complete product, enabling the user a complete 360 degree access to all the tools needed to integrate into their IoT solution.
The simple product architecture follows a standardised design to maintain compliancy and interoperability.
First, the packet broker connects all the things of the stack.
The Things Stack Open Source deployment is available of GitHub to install and connect gateways to build LoRaWAN applications.
Branching out of the packet broker also entails access to The things network, which is the LoRaWAN community Network holding all the gateways and collaborations needed to deploy your device.
The Things Stack Cloud is essentially what it says on the tin, facilitating the user to host their own environment to connect all LoRaWAN devices.
To complete the stack, The Things enterprise branch clusters advanced analytics and insights, holding everything you need to deploy a LoRaWAN network.
2. Supporting the LoRa 2.4GHz
Perhaps one of the most innovative announcements at The Things Conference was The Things support for the LoRa 2.4GHz band.
Developed by Semtech’s SX1280 & SX1281 transceivers, the LoRa 2.4GHz band has displayed promising opportunities to accelerate IoT deployment for the seas in non-regional specific areas.
The maritime industry is set to reap the benefits of LoRaWAN in 2021 as IoT for the seas is set to scale up deployment.
John Helge Ulstein, Project Manager at Wilhelmsen said at the conference, ‘We have successfully tested and deployed pilots on board ships, on ports and mainland. He continued, they discovered that ‘LoRaWAN allowed cost effective solutions, exposing data from rural parts of the ocean’.
The success relayed to the development of the Wilhelmsen service platform IoT of the Seas which will enable users access to the digital global LoRaWAN ecosystem.
The deployment of the LoRa 2.4GHz is in its early stages, it is anticipated this year we will understand more about the use cases and developments for industries that will benefit, as well as LoRaWAN product developments to leverage this technology.
3. The LoRaWAN Generic Node Sensor Edition
Use cases of LoRaWAN Technologies are developing everyday, through low-cost sensors and a longer battery lifetime. The Things LoRaWAN Generic node offers easy enablement of use cases, allowing developers to build IoT solutions without the risk or complexity of hardware engineering.
Transforming LoRaWAN software development, the Generic Node facilitates end-to-end encryption, which is essential when leveraging any IoT solution, especially when the deployment is across a large scale and complex supply chain.
As we see the proliferation in the need for wide-area connected devices to conjure Smart buildings and Industrial applications etc. The Generic Node will play a significant role in the momentum of LoRaWAN device development in 2021.
In a nutshell the Generic Node enables these capabilities:
- Build IoT Solutions without the risk or complexity of hardware engineering
- Focus on the software that makes the product unique
- LoRaWAN device packed with sensors- support several use cases with a single device and supply chain- Applications for cold chain retail, smart building, agriculture
4.LTE-M and LoRaWAN
Announcing a huge milestone for The Things Industries, was the collaboration with Deutsche Telekom to leverage LTE-M and LoRaWAN capabilities.
As one of the world’s largest telecommunication providers, Deutsche Telekom’s LTE-M cellular technology combined with LoRaWAN will facilitate benefits to wide-scale indoor and outdoor penetration. This means communication from sensors to the LoRaWAN gateway will backhaul to the LTE-M cellular Network across a scalable vicinity without the need for complex wiring.
Key Takeaways of this deployment include:
- APN can be configured directly to the IP address of the LoRaWAN Network server- a secure connection
- LTE-M is easy to deploy LoRaWAN networks, all you need is the device and a power source
- Scalability challenges are solved across LTE-M connected LoRaWAN gateways.
Increasingly, more IoT use cases are moving towards wide-scale deployments, as a result the essentiality for easy and seamless deployment is paramount. It is expected that this partnership will evolve the development of scalable solutions and assist barriers in cost and complexity.
Why use LoRaWAN?
LoRaWAN is emerging as a dominant wireless technology for all the right reasons, it is just so easy to deploy! Here’s why:
- Ultra Low Power
- Low Cost
- Public and Private Deployments
- Long Range
- End-to-End-Security
- Deep Indoor Penetration
- License Free Spectrum
- Geolocation
- Firmware updates over the air
- A expanding ecosystem!
The LoRaWAN landscape is moving at a fast pace, with new technologies, devices and deployments evolving everyday. If you are interested in learning more about LoRaWAN or looking for a position to leverage this technology please contact me at aled.corcoran@paratuspeople.com