LoRaWAN Public Network vs Private Network

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LoRaWAN networks are an exciting new way for businesses to communicate through low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN). But the question remains, which type of LoRaWAN network should you use: public or private?

It’s important to understand the differences between these two types of networks before making a decision. A public LoRaWAN network is a shared infrastructure that anyone can access, while a private LoRaWAN network is a dedicated infrastructure controlled by a single company.

 

What Is a LoRaWAN Network?

So, what is a LoRaWAN network? LoRaWAN stands for Long Range Wide Area Network. It is an open-source network protocol that provides secure bi-directional communication between wireless devices and a gateway. This gateway then connects to an application server, allowing for data to be sent and received. It is an ideal way to provide coverage for low-power, wide-area networks (LPWANs) such as smart cities, industrial IoT applications, and logistics tracking.

LoRaWAN networks are composed of gateways, sensors and nodes that communicate with each other across distances of up to 15 kilometres (9.3 miles). This makes them ideal for applications where devices need to communicate over long distances without having to be close together. The ability to connect wirelessly makes them particularly well-suited for urban areas where it might not be possible or convenient to install wire infrastructure.

The main advantage of these types of networks lies in their scalability - they can easily expand or contract as needed - and robustness - they are suitable for any environment with reliable communication over large distances in urban, suburban and rural locations.

 

How Do LoRaWAN Networks Work?

When it comes to LoRaWAN networks, the technology behind them is relatively straightforward. It's a wireless communication protocol used primarily for low-power Internet of Things (IoT) applications. It operates in two different frequency bands, one dedicated to uplinks (from device to gateway) and the other primarily for downlinks (from gateway to device).

The way it works is this: Your low-power IoT device sends out small packets of data over long ranges, which are picked up by a LoRaWAN gateway—a base station with a receiver. This data is then passed on to a central server running the appropriate software, which interprets the data according to whatever your application requires.

This setup allows you to quickly set up connections between multiple kinds of devices, no matter where they are about each other or the gateway base station. That makes it ideal for applications that need wide coverage and low latency, such as certain types of energy metering or remote asset tracking.

 

What Are the Differences Between Public and Private Networks?

When it comes to public and private LoRaWAN networks, the key difference lies in ownership.

Public LoRaWAN networks are typically created and operated by third-party providers or regional organizations. These networks are open-access and designed to be used by anyone in the area who meets the requirements.

On the other hand, private LoRaWAN networks are owned and managed by a single organization with specific use cases. By leveraging a private network, an organization can access greater control, security and performance capabilities than they would if they were using a public network.

To sum it up, here's a comparison of public versus private LoRaWAN networks:

Ownership: Public networks are operated by third-party providers or regional organizations; private networks are owned by a single organization.

Accessibility: Public networks are open to anyone who meets the requirements; private networks can be restricted to internal members of a company or organization.

Control & Security: Public networks offer limited/shared control over certain parameters; owners of private networks have full access to customize parameters for improved security and performance capabilities.

 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Public vs Private Networks

When deciding whether to use a public or private network for your LoRaWAN devices, there are several advantages and disadvantages to weigh up. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:

Public Networks

Private Networks

What Kind of Applications Are Suitable to Use Each Network Type?

Depending on your particular application, one type of network may be more suitable than the other. Public LoRaWAN networks offer the advantage of wide coverage due to their large-scale installations, but they may not support the level of privacy required for some applications. Private LoRaWAN networks will give you greater control and flexibility but may be limited in terms of coverage area.

Here are some of the specific applications where each type of network is most suitable:

Private LoRaWAN Networks:

Industrial automation networks that require secure end-to-end data integrity

Medical applications that require ultra-secure communication between devices

Smart buildings and home security systems with sensitive information

Public LoRaWAN Networks:

Agricultural IoT applications such as crop monitoring and livestock tracking

Smart city initiatives such as traffic monitoring, smart lighting, and intelligent parking systems

Asset tracking operations in harsh environments such as mining, oil & gas extraction sites

Conclusion

In summary, there are significant differences between a public and private LoRaWAN network. A private network is a closed system that only allows authorized users to access and use the data, while a public network is an open system open to everyone. The choice of which is best for a particular application should be based on the data security needs, cost, scalability, and other requirements of the application. Private networks are generally more secure, but they also require more effort and maintenance to keep them secure. For applications where reliability and scalability are more important, a public network may be more appropriate. Ultimately, no network type is the right fit for all applications, so careful consideration should be given when deciding which network is most appropriate for the intended use.