LoRaWAN vs. NB-IoT: What’s the Difference?

The Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed various industries by connecting devices that used to work in isolation. To keep billions of devices communicating reliably and efficiently, Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) have become increasingly popular, offering long-range communication with minimal energy use. However, choosing the one most appropriate for your use case scenario is vital, particularly since different projects require different priorities. For example, a smart agriculture system prioritizes reliable transmission from remote regions, while smart water meters prioritize a long battery life.

Today, two popular LPWAN technologies are LoRaWAN and NB-IoT. Both boast low power consumption and wide coverage, but they’re suited for different applications. Choosing the right one is about matching the right technology to your project’s needs, environment, and scale. Explore LoRaWAN versus NB-IoT to learn how they work, where each excels, and how to choose the right fit so you can build smarter, more reliable IoT solutions.

What is the difference between NB-IoT and LoRaWAN?

At first glance, LoRaWAN and NB-IoT offer similar benefits: long-range, low-cost, and low-power communications. While true, each type of network operates differently once you get into the details. 

LoRaWAN provides flexibility and independence, operating on unlicensed spectrum. This means you can implement and manage your networks without relying on telecom providers. If you want a large-scale, low-maintenance deployment that prioritizes long battery life, resilience to environmental hazards, and low operating costs, this is the option for you. Uses for this type of network include agriculture, environmental monitoring, and remote utility systems.

NB-IoT, on the other hand, runs using licensed cellular networks managed by mobile operators. NB-IoT is an excellent option if you want more reliability and coverage, especially in dense environments (like cities) or deep indoor locations. Using licensed signals also allows high scalability, making NB-IoT a great choice if you have to connect a large number of devices. Uses for this type of network include health care wearables, underground utility monitoring, and smart parking systems. 

What is LoRaWAN?

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a wireless communication protocol you can use for IoT networks operating on unlicensed spectrum. These systems allow for efficient, low-power, and long-range connections. That means you can set up your network without paying for cellular subscriptions, giving you independence, low ongoing costs, and a longer battery life. 

LoRaWAN is especially useful in areas where building your coverage is easier and cheaper than relying on cellular networks, such as remote regions. With this option, you don’t have continual data transmission at high speeds, but you do have reliable long-range bi-directional communication, secure data transmission, and end-to-end encryption. 

What is LoRaWAN used for?

LoRaWan shines in applications that prioritize long battery life and cost control. If your project revolves around the following areas, you might find LoRaWAN what you’re looking for.

• Smart agriculture: Farmers use LoRaWAN sensors to keep track of livestock locations, detect disease outbreaks, and detect early signs of pests. 

• Environmental monitoring: Remote sensors using LoRaWAN periodically transmit information related to temperature, air quality, and other environmental metrics.

• Water and gas metering: Utilities can use LoRaWAN to detect consumption data from smart meters in hard-to-reach locations to lower operational costs.

• Industrial logistics: Warehouses and equipment yards can effectively track inventory and assets over wide areas without worrying about crowded networks' interference. 

How does the LoRaWAN work?

LoRaWAN networks use a star-of-stars architecture so that multiple devices, or end nodes, can communicate directly with multiple gateways over long distances. At its core, LoRaWAN is designed to move small amounts of data across very long distances by using as little power as possible. This is possible through a technique called “Chirp Spread Spectrum,” which means the transmitter periodically sends a signal (or “chirp”) that sweeps across different frequencies. This provides resistance against interference and makes it easier to maintain long-distance connections.

LoRaWAN devices are asynchronous, meaning devices wake up to transmit periodically and then return to sleep, giving them a long battery life. To adapt to different environments, LoRaWAN automatically adjusts its data rate based on signal quality, using a higher data rate for devices closer to a gateway to conserve power and opting for a slower signal for ones farther away. This flexibility is what makes it a great choice for applications that need ultra-low power consumption and long-range communication without relying on cellular carriers. 

Pros and cons of LoRaWAN

Deciding whether to choose LoRaWAN will depend on your priorities regarding network speed, coverage, and costs. Consider the benefits and potential disadvantages to help you determine whether this network matches your priorities. 

Pros:

• Signals can extend up to 30 km in optimal conditions

• Low energy consumption (long device battery life)

• Well-suited for rural and outdoor areas

• Adaptable data transmission rate

• Can provide both indoor and outdoor coverage when you place gateways strategically

• Low cost

• Highly scalable

Cons:

• Not suited for applications prioritizing ultra-reliability

• May have security vulnerabilities

• Slower data transmission than some other network types

• Periodic data transmission rather than continuous

LoRa vs. LoRaWAN

LoRa is the physical radio technology that allows your devices to transmit data over long distances, while LoRaWAN is the network protocol built on top of LoRa. Basically, LoRa is the signal, while LoRaWan is the full communication system.

What is NB-IoT technology?

Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) is an LPWAN technology created by 3GPP, the same organization that created 4G and 5G technologies. Unlike LoRaWAN, NB-IoT operates on licensed cellular spectrum, meaning it relies on the existing infrastructure of mobile carrier networks. This allows it to facilitate a longer battery life for devices and support for a large number of connections.

NB-IoT is optimized for stronger indoor coverage and better quality of service than unlicensed technologies like LoRaWAN because it coincides with cellular networks. This makes it ideal for industries prioritizing security, indoor reliability, and large-scale deployments without needing to manage their own hardware like gateways.

What is NB-IoT used for?

NB-IoT is well-suited for applications requiring highly reliable, secure data transmission, often in environments with more difficult coverage, like being underground or indoors. Applications that may benefit from these features include:

• Smart cities: NB-IoT systems work well for streetlights, utility meters, and waste management systems requiring consistent performance in densely urban or underground areas with more difficult coverage.

• Health care wearables: NB-IoT can support remote patient monitoring and health care data collection to personalize treatment plans and detect anomalies early.

• Retail: Retail applications require more frequent data transfer and the ability to handle a higher volume of customers, making NB-IoT a great option for connected retail devices, smart inventory trackers, and stock management tools. 

• Security: NB-IoT systems often provide better coverage and lower latency, making them a better option for smart surveillance and building security.

How does NB-IoT work?

NB-IoT connects devices through the existing infrastructure of mobile operators, meaning you don’t need extra gateways or network servers on your end. Devices use narrowband radio waves that can penetrate walls and dense materials better than many unlicensed technologies, making it a great choice for applications inside buildings or underground.

NB-IoT also synchronizes with the network regularly, even when not transmitting large amounts of data. This regular communication ensures reliability but requires more battery over time compared with LoRaWAN’s sleep-optimized model. However, this means that data is transmitted regularly, and you have lower latency between the time of an event and receiving the related data.

Pros and cons of NB-IoT

Like LoRaWAN, NB-IoT has areas where it excels and some potential challenges. Understanding the pros and cons of NB-IoT can help you determine when it’s the right choice for your application.

Pros:

• Can send data indoors and underground with minimal battery power

• Highly scalable and can support many devices

• Long battery life

• Reliable across long distances

• Doesn’t require your own gateways

Cons:

• Not suitable for areas that don’t have 4G coverage

• Higher cost per device

• Not suitable for applications requiring high data transfer speeds

• Requires more power when farther away from cell towers

LoRaWAN vs. NB-IoT: When to use each

Deciding when to use LoRaWAN versus NB-IoT relies on an understanding of how the features of each match the needs of your specific applications. To deepen your understanding, consider a few typical use cases and why you may prefer one over the other.

• Manufacturing (NB-IoT): Factories and production facilities often rely on indoor coverage for sensors, tracking equipment performance, and energy use. You can take advantage of the NB-IoT cellular connection to promote consistent service even inside large industrial buildings. 

• Retail (NB-IoT): As a retailer, you might use NB-IoT to support inventory management and security systems to prioritize secure, always-on connectivity.

• Smart meters (NB-IoT): If your meters are located in hard-to-reach locations, such as underground infrastructures, NB-IoT can help provide reliable indoor penetration and continual monitoring.

• Supply chain (LoRaWAN): Across large spaces like shipping yards and distribution centers, you might choose LoRaWAN thanks to low power demands, wide coverage, and flexibility to operate in areas where you don’t have cellular coverage.

• Agriculture (LoRaWAN): Similarly to shipping yards, rural agriculture environments often choose LoRaWAN because of the ability to create private, long-range networks.

• Environmental monitoring (LoRaWAN): LoRaWAN allows you to create low-maintenance systems that periodically report data with minimal energy use. 

Continue learning about IoT protocols on Coursera

LoRaWAN systems thrive in remote regions where you are prioritizing efficient energy use. At the same time, NB-IoT excels with its secure, reliable connectivity in places where LoRaWAN’s unlicensed signals may struggle to reach. 

If you want to broaden your knowledge of the basics of IoT devices and programming, consider enrolling in a program on Coursera, where you can find a range of courses designed to help you build your knowledge from scratch. For example, as a beginner, you might consider the Information Technology (IT) and Cloud Fundamentals Specialization by IBM. In this six-course series, you can build core knowledge of IT hardware, software, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies vital for almost every function or role within an organization.