ENERGY EFFICIENCY RESEARCH OF LPWAN TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract

Context. The emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to the development of various low-power wide area network (LPWAN) technologies that are designed to provide transmission of small data packets over long distances with minimal energy consumption. The two most well-known LPWAN technologies are LoRaWAN and Sigfox. This study aims to compare the energy efficiency of these two technologies to determine their suitability for use in autonomous solutions. Objective. The objective of this study is to compare the energy efficiency of LoRaWAN and Sigfox technologies for IoT devices. The comparison will help determine which technology is better for autonomous solutions when devices need to operate for extended periods of time without frequent battery replacements. Method. In this work, taking into account the specifications of the investigated radio technologies, mathematical modeling of the time of data transmission or reception is used depending on the payload, and information on the power supply current is taken from official datasheets for the components of the investigated devices. Results. The results of the study show that both LoRaWAN and Sigfox are energy-saving technologies, but LoRaWAN is generally more energy-efficient than Sigfox. In addition, LoRaWAN has adaptive modes and significantly more manual settings, which in some cases further reduces the energy per bit of data compared to Sigfox. Conclusions. LoRaWAN is the best choice for autonomous solutions where energy efficiency is crucial. This study provides valuable information for designers and developers of IoT devices, allowing them to make informed decisions when choosing LPWAN technologies for their autonomous solutions.