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Building smart city networks: using fit-for-purpose technology

Release time:

2019-08-30

Building smart city networks: using fit-for-purpose technology

Multiple market forecasts show that smart cities will grow at a compound annual growth rate of up to 25% between now and 2030, making cities an attractive market for Internet of Things (IoT) solution providers. However, cities present a variety of unique challenges for vendors seeking to enter this market.

Urban deployment is highly complex for any technology, and IoT networks are no exception. Let's examine these challenges to understand why it is critical to choose a network technology designed to meet the needs of the city.

First, there are very real physical challenges to deploying a network in a city. Cities are built mostly of steel and concrete, which creates connectivity problems because wireless signals often have difficulty penetrating these materials. In addition, many IoT sensors are located in the basement or underground, which also poses challenges for achieving reliable connectivity. Therefore, it is very important to choose a network technology that has a successful record in urban environments, such as LoRaWAN(LoRa stands for long distance).

LoRaWAN have been shown to transmit signals through cement, metal and underground. The recent addition of battery-powered relays provides an easy-to-deploy, low-power, and standards-based method to extend LoRaWAN coverage beyond its current physical limitations at a fraction of the cost of adding additional gateways.

Second, the vast majority of IoT applications transmit extremely small amounts of data, so a low-bandwidth network is ideal because it can meet connectivity and scaling requirements at a fraction of the cost of high-bandwidth technology. With the help of LoRaWAN, a single gateway can support thousands of sensors at a cost of only a few hundred dollars, so as new applications are added to the network, it becomes very cost-effective to expand the system. This scalability is a key advantage for cities that want to ensure that their network choices remain optimal for future urban development and growth.

Third, it is important to consider the power consumption of the device. Maintenance and ongoing operations are key cost drivers that must be considered when making network decisions. Save time, money and the environment by extending battery life to more than 10 years with low-power end devices.

It is worth noting that there will be millions of devices operating in hard-to-reach places or buried underground, so longer battery life can also save a lot of time and labor costs. This allows LoRaWAN to achieve significant cost savings over the entire life cycle of the equipment, thereby improving environmental and energy sustainability.

Fourth, having a flexible business model can guarantee the future development of network solutions, because the needs of cities will change over time. LoRaWAN solves this problem by providing the greatest network flexibility of any LPWAN, enabling it to meet the needs of all departments, each with its own unique requirements. Cities can establish private networks, subscribe to public or satellite networks, join community networks or take advantage of hybrid networks. Finally, cities are also able to roam these different types of deployment options.

Fifth, since cities are governmental entities, there are many rules, regulations and requirements to consider. When investing in long-term solutions, open standards are the only viable option because they can extend their lifespan and are supported by a dynamic ecosystem that promotes competition and provides cities with choices in suppliers and pricing. Proprietary solutions are problematic because they lock cities into one supplier, which limits the number and type of products available and may include price locks.

These are serious deficiencies and may not meet all of the city's long-term needs. In addition, cities should insist on the use of terminal equipment certified by regulatory agencies. Certification is the only way to ensure that equipment is reliable and compliant with standards, thereby reducing potential support costs and ensuring interoperability. LoRaWAN meet these requirements, it has been officially approved as a standard by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The technology is also supported by the LoRa Alliance certification program.

Since cities that want to become smart must anticipate future needs and consider current challenges, open standards such as LoRaWAN are ideal because they bring reliability, flexibility, and an ecosystem that provides multiple options. These capabilities enable cities to find strong partners willing to innovate and collaborate to solve urban challenges. Combining the use of open standards with the requirement to deploy certified end devices, cities' choice for IoT connectivity will deliver a return on investment in the coming years.

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