What frequency bands are commonly used for LPWA deployments?
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Sub-GHz Bands:
LPWA technologies often operate in the sub-1 GHz frequency range, such as 169 MHz, 433 MHz, 868 MHz, and 915 MHz. These lower frequencies provide better signal propagation characteristics, allowing for longer communication ranges and better penetration through obstacles.
868 MHz and 915 MHz Bands:
These bands are commonly used for LPWA technologies like LoRa (Long Range) and Sigfox. LoRa, for example, operates in the unlicensed 868 MHz band in Europe and the 915 MHz band in the United States. These bands provide a good balance between range and power consumption.
NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT) Bands:
NB-IoT is a cellular LPWA technology standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). It operates in licensed spectrum within the LTE (Long-Term Evolution) bands. Common frequency bands for NB-IoT include 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz, depending on regional allocations.
LTE-M (LTE for M2M) Bands:
LTE-M is another cellular LPWA technology standardized by 3GPP. It operates in licensed LTE bands and is designed to coexist with existing LTE networks. Frequency bands for LTE-M are typically within the LTE spectrum, including bands like 700 MHz, 850 MHz, 1700/2100 MHz, and 1900 MHz.
Sigfox Bands:
Sigfox operates in the unlicensed ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) bands. It uses frequency bands such as 868 MHz in Europe and 915 MHz in the United States. Sigfox's ultra-narrowband technology allows for long-range communication with minimal power consumption.
Weightless-W Bands:
Weightless-W is a LPWA technology designed to operate in the TV white space spectrum, utilizing unused frequencies in the VHF (Very High Frequency) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) bands. This includes frequencies below 1 GHz.
