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“The Deployment Synergies paper highlights
the ways in which these technologies are
impacting private-public business models
and enabling IoT services, while also
identifying ways in which the technologies
complement one another and can be used
to further expand the Internet of Things.”
Co-written by members of the WBA
IoT Work Group and the LoRa Alliance,
input for the paper was provided by a
number of companies and organisations,
including BT, Boingo, BSG Wireless, Charter
Communications, Connexin, Eleven-X, ER-
Telecom, Orange, Tata Communications,
Unity Media, Objenious, Semtech,
Syniverse, Abeeway, Actility, BSG, Kerlink,
Maxima Telecom, Microshare, Orbiwise,
Senet, Siradel, Skyhook Multi-Tech, the
Centre for Development of Telematics and
Digital Catapult.
“The reality is that no one single technology
is going to fit the billions of IoT use cases,”
said Donna Moore, CEO and Chairwoman of
the LoRa Alliance.
powered applications like real-time video
and Internet browsing. Meanwhile,
LoRaWAN covers long-range use cases at
low data rates, making it the preferable
technology for low bandwidth applications,
including in hard to reach locations, such
as temperature sensors in a manufacturing
setting or vibration sensors in concrete.
When utilised in conjunction with one
another, Wi-Fi and LoRaWAN networks
optimise a number of IoT use cases, including:
• Smart building/smart hospitality:
Both technologies have been deployed
for decades throughout buildings, with
Wi-Fi used for things like security
cameras and high-speed Internet, and
LoRaWAN used for smoke detection,
asset and vehicle tracking, room usage
and more. The paper identifies two
scenarios for convergence of Wi-Fi and
LoRaWAN, including accurate asset
tracking and location services for
indoor or near buildings, as well as
on-demand streaming for devices with
battery limitations
• Residential connectivity: Wi-Fi is used
to connect billions of personal and
professional devices in homes, while
LoRaWAN is used for home security
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INTELLIGENTCIO
and access control, leak detection and
fuel tank monitoring, and many other
applications. The paper recommends
deploying LoRaWAN picocells that
leverage Wi-Fi backhaul to the user set
top box to expand coverage of home
services to the neighbourhood. These
“neighborhood IoT networks” can support
new geolocation services, while also
serving as a communication backbone for
demand-response services
• Automotive and smart transportation:
Currently, Wi-Fi is used for passenger
entertainment and access control, while
LoRaWAN is used for fleet tracking and
vehicle maintenance. Hybrid use cases
identified in the paper include location
and video streaming
The paper also outlines a number of
deployment models and details frontend and
backend integration and security processes.
Additionally, it provides several testimonials
from organisations regarding the power of
their Wi-Fi / LoRaWAN deployments.
“Wi-Fi and LoRaWAN are two important
technologies utilising the unlicensed
spectrum, and they already address a large
proportion of IoT use cases,” said Tiago
Rodrigues, General Manager, WBA.
“It is collaborative initiatives like this one
with Wi-Fi that will drive innovation to solve
important issues, leverage an even broader
range of applications and, ultimately, ensure
the success of global mass IoT deployments
in the future.” n
“
WI-FI AND
LORAWAN ARE
TWO IMPORTANT
TECHNOLOGIES
UTILISING THE
UNLICENSED
SPECTRUM, AND
THEY ALREADY
ADDRESS A LARGE
PROPORTION OF
IOT USE CASES.
www.intelligentcio.com