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- IoT Knowledge Base
- LP-WAN
What is LP-WAN?
Quick summary of LP-WAN
LP-WAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) is a wireless communication technology designed specifically for Internet of Things (IoT) applications that require long-range connectivity with minimal power consumption. By enabling devices to transmit small amounts of data over long distances with minimal energy usage, LPWAN technologies enable efficient communication for IoT devices across urban, rural, and remote environments.
How does LP-WAN work?
LP-WAN networks provide the critical infrastructure required to support millions of connected devices by offering an efficient, scalable, and cost-effective solution for large-scale IoT deployments. These networks enable seamless connectivity over vast areas, making them ideal for a wide range of industries such as agriculture, smart cities, supply chain management, environmental monitoring, and industrial automation.
By supporting long-range communication with minimal power consumption, LP-WAN networks are revolutionizing the way IoT applications are designed and deployed across diverse sectors, ensuring long-term sustainability and operational efficiency.
What LPWAN Brings to IoT Applications
Low Power Consumption
Low Power Wide Area Networks (LP-WAN) are designed for devices that require long battery life and minimal energy consumption. These networks enable devices to operate for years on small batteries by using low data rates, efficient transmission protocols, and extended sleep or standby modes. LP-WAN technologies can dynamically adjust transmission power based on signal strength, reducing unnecessary energy use. This makes them ideal for IoT applications like smart meters, sensors, and remote monitoring systems.
Wide Area Coverage & Range
LP-WAN technologies provide exceptional wide-area coverage, enabling communication over long distances with minimal infrastructure. Depending on the technology and environment, LP-WAN can reach ranges of several kilometers in urban areas and up to tens of kilometers in rural or open settings. This extensive coverage allows seamless connectivity for large-scale IoT deployments, such as smart cities, agriculture, and logistics, where devices are spread across vast areas yet still require reliable, low-power communication.
Data Efficiency
LP-WAN technologies are optimized for data efficiency, transmitting only small packets of essential information to conserve bandwidth and energy. By focusing on low data rates and simple message structures, LP-WAN minimizes network congestion and power consumption. Devices often use event-driven communication, sending data only when needed, which further enhances efficiency. This approach makes LP-WAN ideal for IoT applications that require periodic or infrequent data transmission, such as environmental monitoring or asset tracking.
Key features of LP-WAN
Long-rage connectivity | Can transmit data over distances of up to 15-30 kilometers in rural areas and 2-5 kilometers in urban environments. |
Low power consumption | Can operate on small batteries for years (typically 5-10 years) without needing to recharge, making it ideal for remote or hard-to-reach locations. |
Cost-effective | Reduces the need for expensive infrastructure, supporting low-cost devices and requires minimal energy. |
Scalability | LP-WAN networks are highly scalable, making them perfect for large-scale IoT applications with thousands or even millions of devices in remote or dispersed areas. |
Secure data transmission | Provides encrypted communication, ensuring data transmitted across the network is protected. |
Small data transmissions | Designed to handle small, periodic bursts of data, making it perfect for monitoring sensors, asset tracking, and environmental monitoring |
Common use cases for LP-WAN in IoT
Industry | Use cases | Why LPWAN |
|---|---|---|
Agriculture | Precision farming, soil moisture monitoring, livestock tracking, and crop health monitoring. | LPWAN’s long-range capability allows devices to transmit data with minimal energy use, making it ideal for managing vast fields or farms without constant maintenance or battery replacement. |
Logistics & supply chain | Asset tracking, fleet management, and inventory management. | Cost-effective, long-distance connectivity for tracking assets, goods, or vehicles over large areas, reducing the need for frequent data transmission and ensuring constant communication across vast networks. |
Smart cities | Smart street lighting, waste management, environmental monitoring, and parking management. | Supports large-scale deployments, enabling efficient communication between sensors and infrastructure while consuming minimal power. Also offers extensive coverage in urban areas and remote sections of cities. |
Utilities | Smart metering, energy consumption tracking, and infrastructure monitoring. | Low energy use and long-range capabilities make LP-WAN ideal for monitoring utility meters across a large region, without the need for frequent battery changes or high operational costs. |
Healthcare | Remote patient monitoring, wearable health devices, and emergency alert systems. | LPWAN technologies provide reliable and energy-efficient communication for medical devices, such as wearable sensors or remote patient monitoring tools, ensuring continuous data transmission over large areas with minimal power usage. |
Industrial IoT | Equipment monitoring, predictive maintenance, and asset tracking. | Ideal for industrial environments where devices require minimal data transmission and long battery life. Supports remote equipment monitoring across factories or warehouses, reducing maintenance costs. |
Transport | Vehicle tracking, fleet management, and remote diagnostics. | Low-power, wide-coverage connectivity for vehicle fleets, making it perfect for real-time tracking, condition monitoring, and location-based services. |
Why choose LP-WAN for your IoT deployment?
LP-WAN offers the perfect blend of long-range connectivity and low power consumption, making it a key enabler of next-gen IoT solutions.
Efficient Connectivity for Remote Areas: LP-WAN is ideal for regions where traditional networks like Wi-Fi aren’t feasible or cost-effective.
Battery-Powered, Long-Lasting Devices: With LP-WAN, IoT devices can run on low-power batteries for several years, making it perfect for applications that require long-term, continuous monitoring.
Simplified Deployment: Its scalability and minimal infrastructure needs make LP-WAN a versatile solution for large, distributed networks of devices.
Three key LP-WAN technologies
LTE-M / Cat-M1
LTE-M (Long Term Evolution for Machines) is a cellular-based network designed for IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, the main features are:
Optimised to handle low power
Used in low bandwidth applications
Handles exclusively IoT and machine-to-machine communications.
NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT)
NB-IoT is a cellular-based technology used for long range IoT applications. The main features are:
Low power usage
Long range
Reliable and secure connectivity
Wide coverage that is able to reach deep into indoor areas and to remote locations
Supports large-scale deployments
Can connect up to 100,000 devices per cell
NB-IoT is ideal for use in:
Smart meters
Sensors
Asset trackers
LTE-CAT 1 BIS
Technically, LTE-CAT 1 is not LPWAN, instead it is a network technology low power devices replacing 2G or 3G. LET-CAT 1 BIS is an enhanced version of LTE Category 1 (CAT 1), designed to be a more efficient and reliable connectivity option for IoT devices. The main features are:
Fast data speeds
Low-power consumption
Reduced latency
Improved coverage
LTE-CAT 1 BIS is used in:
Smart meters
Connected vehicles
Industrial sensors
Using LP-WAN as a solution to 2G/3G network sunsetting
As 2G and 3G networks are phased out worldwide, many legacy IoT and M2M (machine-to-machine) devices that rely on these technologies risk losing connectivity. LP-WAN offers a practical and future-ready solution to this challenge. Designed specifically for low-bandwidth, long-range, and low-power communication, LP-WAN technologies such as NB-IoT and LTE-M provide reliable connectivity for devices that previously used 2G or 3G. They operate efficiently even in remote or indoor locations, ensuring continuity of service for critical applications like smart metering, asset tracking, and industrial monitoring. Moreover, LP-WAN networks are optimized for longevity and scalability, supporting millions of devices with minimal energy consumption and low operating costs. This makes LP-WAN an ideal replacement for aging cellular networks, extending the lifespan of IoT infrastructure while enabling a smooth transition to modern, sustainable connectivity.
LP-WAN FAQs
LP-WAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) technologies are designed for reliability in large-scale IoT deployments. They provide stable, long-range communication with minimal power consumption, ideal for devices in remote or hard-to-reach areas. While data rates are lower than cellular networks, LP-WAN’s reliability for transmitting small, infrequent data packets makes it highly dependable for monitoring and sensor-based IoT applications.
No, LP-WAN is known for its cost efficiency. It supports low data rates and long battery life, which helps reduce both connectivity and device maintenance costs. Because LP-WAN networks are optimized for lightweight, low-power communication, businesses can connect thousands of IoT devices affordably, making it a practical solution for large-scale deployments such as smart cities, agriculture, and industrial monitoring.
Pelion enables seamless integration and management of LP-WAN connectivity across IoT deployments. Through Pelion’s platform, the Pelion Portal, businesses can securely onboard, monitor, and manage LP-WAN devices alongside other network types. This unified approach ensures visibility, scalability, and simplified operations, helping organizations optimize data collection, reduce costs, and maintain reliable connectivity across diverse IoT environments.