IBM Research and Semtech announced a new technology called LoRaWAN (Long Range wide-area networks) that promises significant advantages over cellular networks and Wi-Fi for providing machine-to-machine (M2M) communications.
IBM said LoRaWAN sensors can communicate over distances of more than 100 km (62 miles) in favorable environments, 15 km (9 miles) in typical semi-rural environments and more than 2 km (1.2 miles) in dense urban environments at data rates from 300 bit/s up to 100 Kbps. This makes them well suited for sending small amounts of data, such as GPS coordinates and climate readings, where broadband can’t reach. The sensors also require very little energy to operate; most can run for 10 years or more on a single AA battery, and AES128 keys make communication tampering and eavesdropping virtually impossible.
In support of LPWAN technology, IBM, Semtech, and other companies also announced the LoRa™ Alliance, a new association to support and develop the standardization LoRaWAN. The alliance aims to combine hardware and software based on the LoRaWAN standard for telecom operators and network operators, enabling them to offer IoT services to both businesses and consumers.
“The Internet of Things is already changing our world – from better traffic control on our highways, to greater energy efficiency in buildings and manufacturing operations, to reduced crime on our city streets,” said Thorsten Kramp, Master Inventor, IBM Research. “Technology advancements like the one we’re announcing today will help significantly advance that vision by extending the range and longevity of sensors that make up an intelligent world.”
