The adequacy of LoRaWAN on smart grids: A comparison with RF mesh technology

Smart cities initiatives have been subject of discussion in various forums throughout the world. This innovation in urban infrastructure of cities and the impacts of intensive application of technology are still being identified and mapped. A fundamental aspect under technological viewpoint to make this novelty a reality, and most comprehensive as possible is related to communication networks. Concept of Internet of Things (IoT) only materializes through a combination of technologies based on private and public networks and the Internet as the main platform. Utilities companies have already started their participation in this process in sense that they are deploying smart grids using technologies like RF Mesh and PLC, being RF Mesh the most widespread in world markets. But it is necessary to insert smart grid projects in the context of smart cities and in its converging alternatives of communications infrastructure. This work explores an emerging technology named as Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) and proposes that this is the current alternative best suited to the big scenario of IoT, in which smart grids are included, and also compares with the RF Mesh technology widely adopted for this application.