In this interview, Felix Wolf, CTO at Alpha-Omega Technology, explains what LoRaWAN networks can do and how the technology can help to advance digitalisation across the board.
ITD: On the network side, what are the biggest challenges posed by IoT applications?
Felix Wolf: In principle, the requirements for IoT networks are quite comparable to those for other communication networks. Reliability, security and fault tolerance therefore play an important role here too. In addition, the ability to integrate into existing IT systems, in other words the interfaces, must be taken into account. Another important aspect, especially for radio networks, is energy efficiency, particularly when the sensors are battery-powered.
ITD: Can you briefly explain what "LoRaWAN" actually means and what role licence-free frequency bands play?
Wolf: LoRaWAN is a low-power wireless network protocol. The abbreviation stands for "Long Range Wide Area Network", and in Europe it operates in the 868 MHz band. This range has been released across Europe for use by short range devices and can therefore be used by anyone. To avoid overloading the frequency range, it was specified that a device may transmit for a maximum of one percent of the time (always measured over the past hour). LoRaWAN is characterised by transmitting measurement and sensor data over long distances with little energy, up to 15 kilometres in rural areas, and by achieving excellent building penetration. With its two-level symmetric encryption, in which the key is never transmitted over the air, the LoRaWAN protocol offers a solid and secure basis for data transmission. The sensors used in a LoRaWAN network are simple in design and therefore inexpensive and flexible to use, with long battery lives of up to five years. These properties make LoRaWAN technology comparatively robust and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, so for IoT in smart buildings as much as for smart cities.
ITD: How does this approach differ from classic mobile communications, and what is the difference to NB-IoT, for example?
Wolf: The main difference is that in a LoRaWAN network you can operate the gateways yourself and, if desired, the data never leaves your own network. This means there are no connection costs. A remote company site can thus be connected just as easily as a location that is shielded from mobile reception by buildings, for example. In extreme cases, gateways can even be installed underground to read the corresponding sensors.
ITD: What characteristics should the locations of the required gateways ideally have?
Wolf: Put simply: "Every metre counts!" In other words, the gateways should be mounted as high as possible, ideally on radio masts or tall buildings. With buildings it is important to make sure that shadowing by the roof surfaces is kept to a minimum. A fixed network connection is also highly recommended to avoid the interruptions that can occur with a normal mobile connection.
ITD: Which applications is the technology suitable for, and where does it reach its limits?
Wolf: LoRaWAN networks are very well suited to recording the consumption of water, electricity, gas or heat and forwarding the consumption data. There is also a wide range of sensors from various manufacturers for indoor climate and air quality, plus door sensors and motion detectors as well as add-on modules that make existing sensors LoRaWAN-capable. The technology usually reaches its limits when too much data needs to be transmitted and when it is essential that every single packet arrives. The transmission quality in LoRaWAN networks is around 96 percent, so this technology is not suitable for safety purposes.
ITD: How important is the technology in the context of Industry 4.0?
Wolf: Industry 4.0 is based on communication between machines as well as communication between machines and people. LPWAN is a technology that is indispensable for mobile systems in particular. Whether integrated as a retrofit into existing machine fleets or built in from the start, the technology makes it possible to capture and transmit data directly and without manual intervention.
ITD: Your company supports various customers in building an intelligent infrastructure. How did this come about, and which use cases reinforced the decision of municipal decision-makers in favour of LoRaWAN?
Wolf: LoRaWAN is a current topic for many companies across industries, and for public bodies as well. Because such a network can be set up at low cost, initial use cases such as controlling street lighting or reading speed display systems can be implemented quickly and cost-efficiently. With our online shop for IoT accessories in the LoRaWAN field, we at Alpha-Omega Technology are a central point of contact for many companies, because we offer an extensive range of hardware and can advise our customers on their individual use cases.
ITD: IoT environments are particularly in need of protection. How secure are LoRaWAN networks, and how can they be protected against manipulation and hacking?
Wolf: LoRaWAN networks were designed from the outset with security in mind. Communication between sensor and network server is doubly encrypted with 128-bit AES. The LoRaWAN gateways contain no keys for reading the network traffic, so no information can be intercepted there. In addition, the individual sensors of a LoRaWAN network are so simple in design that they are not a worthwhile target for hackers.
ITD: Everyone is talking about 5G. What is your view of the new mobile standard?
Wolf: 5G is an umbrella term for various standards, some of which will very likely become important in the IoT field. Nevertheless, it is only one tool among many and certainly not a cure-all. Choosing the right tool remains complex and always depends on the specific requirements.
The questions were asked by Shipra Kren of MEDIENHAUS Verlag GmbH