Research and Markets has announced the addition of SNS Research’s new report “The LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Ecosystem: 2015 – 2030 – Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies, Industry Verticals & Forecasts” to their offering.
Until recently, most M2M and IoT services have largely relied on licensed cellular, wireline and satellite networks for their wide area connectivity requirements. Cellular networks, in particular, have enjoyed significant success in the area. However, for many low bandwidth IoT applications, traditional cellular networks are deemed too expensive due excessive power consumption and complex protocols that lower battery life. As a result, a number of LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) alternatives have emerged that specifically seek to address these concerns.
LPWA networks are optimized to provide wide area coverage with minimal power consumption. Typically reliant on unlicensed frequencies, LPWA devices have low data rates, long battery lives and can operate unattended for long periods of time.
Already prevalent in IoT applications such as smart metering, lighting control and parking management, LPWA networks are expected to make a significant contribution to the M2M and IoT ecosystem, with an estimated $27 Billion in service revenue by 2020.
As of Q4 2015, estimates suggest the cost of a typical LPWA module to be $5-20, depending on the specific technology. As LPWA network deployments mature, the report expects that the cost per module can drop down to as low as $1-2 in volume quantities.
At present, a majority of LPWA networks operate in license-exempt spectrum primarily in sub-GHz bands.
There are a number of ongoing initiatives that call for regulators to dedicate spectrum bands exclusively for LPWA networks as mass market adoption of unlicensed LPWA networks can result in significant interference. Besides optimizing their cellular networks for M2M services, mobile operators are increasingly investing in their own carrier-grade LPWA networks to support low bandwidth IoT applications.
Companies Profiled Include: AT&T, BT Group, Huawei, IBM, Nokia, Orange, SK Telecom, Tata Communications, Telstra Corporation, The Things Network, u-blox, Vodafone Group, WAVIoT, Weightless SIG, Wireless IoT Forum
