What you'll learn:
- How LoRaWAN serves the IoT.
- The expansion and enhancement of the LoRaWAN Certification Program.
- The authorization of DEKRA’s Atibaia, Brazil, facility for LoRaWAN end devices.
The LoRaWAN specification is a low-power, wide-area networking protocol designed to wirelessly connect battery-operated "things" to the internet in regional, national, or global networks. Deployed in a topology where gateways relay messages between end-devices and a central network server, it takes advantage of the long-range characteristics of the LoRa physical layer. All modes are capable of bidirectional communication, and there's support for tasks such as firmware over-the-air (FOTA) upgrades or other mass distribution messages.
The LoRa Alliance recently made multiple announcements related to updating the LoRaWAN Certification Program, available June 2024. New updates include LoRaWAN Relay feature testing as part of end-device certification, and the launch of the LoRaWAN Web Certification System, which automates the certification process.
The Alliance also accredited DEKRA’s Atibaia, Brazil, facility as a LoRa Alliance Authorized Test Lab, the first in Latin and South America. The Alliance also introduced LoRa Alliance member self-testing of end-devices.
LoRaWaN Cert Program Now Offers New Ways to Test and Certify
The updates provide OEMs with multiple approaches to certify and meet market requirements for tested devices, and allows for products to be featured in the LoRaWAN Marketplace, an online resource to research and purchase certified products and services.
According to Donna Moore, CEO and Chairwoman of the LoRa Alliance, “The simple fact is that IoT needs certified devices to ramp to billions of sensor deployments, the tremendous benefit of certification—knowing that devices are correctly configured and will perform as intended—truly underlies the market’s trust in a technology’s ability to scale.
"LoRaWAN already has the most certified devices and the largest variety of certified devices in the LPWAN space, and the programs announced today follow through on our commitment to continuously accelerate and simplify the certification process for end-device manufacturers. Additionally, we’re excited to have a new ATL in Brazil to expedite the certification process in that region.”
LoRaWAN Certification Testing Now Includes Relay Feature
Adding the Relay feature to testing strengthens LoRaWAN Certification, ensuring that end-devices are compliant as defined in the LoRaWAN standard. Relay is a critical feature for utilities and satellites, particularly to amplify and extend the reach of LoRaWAN signals.
Introducing LoRaWAN relays into a network architecture allows for easy expansion and scalability without the need for additional gateways. Relay certification testing adds to the program’s optional feature tests, such as firmware updates over-the-air (FUOTA) and static context header compression (SCHC). This makes sure that certified devices are fully compliant with all aspects of the LoRaWAN standard.
New Authorized Test Lab in Brazil
The LoRa Alliance also authorized DEKRA’s Atibaia, Brazil, facility as a new Authorized Test Lab for LoRaWAN end-devices, demonstrating the strong growth of LoRaWAN in the Latin America and South America regions. Having a local Authorized Test Lab means that members no longer need to ship products outside of the continent. It ultimately supports the area’s rapidly growing membership and promotes increased device manufacturing in the region.
“DEKRA’s designation as the first LoRa Alliance authorized test lab in South and Latin America marks a significant step forward in enabling global market access for LoRaWAN devices. Our commitment to fostering a safe and secure worldwide adoption of LoRaWAN technology, while supporting local and international customers, is now strengthened by our lab in Brazil, which will continue growing with testing and certification services in the region,” said Juan Carlos Soler, VP of Business Lines of Digital & Product Solutions at DEKRA.
He continued, “Backed by our extensive testing and certification expertise, we stand ready to assist customers in obtaining LoRaWAN Certification and related electromagnetic compatibility, radio frequency, and product safety testing to ensure optimal device performance across diverse network environments.”
Gustavo Zarife, Country Manager Brazil at Everynet, also weighed in: “Everynet has been working towards the creation of a strong and dynamic local LoRaWAN ecosystem since 2017. Today, Brazil’s ecosystem is a reality, and this initiative from the LoRa Alliance, enabling the first ATL for South America, is aligned with the vibrant scenario we observe for LoRaWAN and IoT in general in the region.
“As a LoRaWAN pioneer, Everynet worked together with the LoRa Alliance to expand the certification program to Brazil and Latin America. As a next step, Everynet will work closely with the local ecosystem to accelerate the adoption of LoRaWAN Certification, and, therefore, increase the quality of available devices. LoRaWAN is here to stay, and the future is bright.”
Benefits of the Certification Program's Updates
The Alliance’s new LoRaWAN Certification Program reduces paperwork and simplifies the certification process, providing seamless digital communications between the member certifying, the test labs, and the LoRa Alliance. It helps reduce human error and unnecessary administrative time and supports traditional certification via an authorized test lab, certification by similarity, and certification by self-testing.
The new Member Self-Testing Program gives LoRa Alliance members the option to become authorized to self-test their own devices and submit the test results directly to the LoRa Alliance to request device certification. To ensure the quality of the program, the LoRa Alliance will audit capability for authorized members.
Read more articles in the TechXchanges: LoRaWAN and IoT & Narrowband Communications.
