Free, open LoRaWAN coverage for the Garbatella and Ostiense neighbourhoods

Since 10 May, the Roman neighbourhoods of Garbatella and Ostiense have been covered by the new LoRaWAN gateway installed by Chirale at the CNA Roma headquarters in via Cristoforo Colombo 283/A.

A high-gain antenna, made of glass fibre with a copper core, atop the hill overlooking the south-western quadrant of the capital, is one of the main radio access terminals to the The Things Network platform, as part of the TTN Community Lazio project, promoted by Chirale just over a year ago.

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a network protocol designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices that need long-range communication with low power consumption.

It is a very recent communication standard that uses an innovative modulation technology called LoRa (Long Range), which delivers surprising performance.

The protocol is specific to IoT applications, which usually transmit a small amount of data at fairly long intervals.

In these cases, using broadband technologies such as cellular networks or wireless standards like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is unjustified and unnecessarily expensive, also from an energy perspective.

In its specific scope, LoRaWAN offers a number of advantages:

1. Wide coverage range: LoRaWAN can transmit signals over distances of many kilometres, making it ideal for IoT applications in geographically broad areas, such as precision agriculture, water-resource management and environmental monitoring.

2. Low power consumption: LoRaWAN devices use little power, meaning they can run on batteries or micro solar cells for years without recharging or replacement.

3. High penetration capability: LoRaWAN can penetrate physical obstacles, such as building walls, very well, making it a good choice for IoT applications in urban and industrial environments.

4. Security: LoRaWAN incorporates robust security measures, including end-to-end encryption, to protect data transmitted across the network.

In the industrial sector, this protocol enables remote monitoring and control of activities and processes at large scale, optimising operating efficiency and reducing running costs.

In an Industry 4.0 scenario, LoRaWAN sensors can be used to monitor the condition of machinery and equipment, flagging anomalies and preventing unplanned downtime or malfunctions.

Since LoRaWAN devices can run for long periods without maintenance, they can also reduce the need for human intervention, further improving efficiency.

As an emerging standard set to grow as the solution of choice for all IoT applications, it is essential to have the tools and platforms to carry out experimentation and industrial research.

This is exactly where Chirale’s initiative comes in.

First, let’s explain what The Things Network is.

The Things Network (TTN) is a global open-source network for the Internet of Things (IoT) based on LoRaWAN technology.

Founded in 2015 in Amsterdam, the organisation aims to provide a decentralised and accessible IoT network, leveraging the coverage provided by its own users.

TTN works through gateways, devices that receive signals from LoRa-based IoT devices and forward them to the network. Anyone can set up a gateway and help expand the network’s coverage. These gateways can cover long distances (up to 10 kilometres in open spaces) and support thousands of devices simultaneously.

Devices send their data to the gateways, which in turn forward it to a “Network Server” via the Internet. This data can then be routed to an “Application Server”, where it can be processed and used.

One of the distinctive features of The Things Network is its openness. The organisation promotes an ecosystem in which anyone can contribute and benefit. This openness is reflected both in its community-driven model — encouraging anyone to set up a gateway and expand the network — and in the use of open standards such as LoRaWAN.

Last year, Chirale involved the most innovative companies in its network, including Blu Sistemi, TCH Sistemi, TERIS Energia and the trade association CNA Roma, to launch the TTN Lazio community.

The 10 May initiative is just the latest in a series of activities carried out within the community. The goal is to make it easier for companies and people to experiment with this innovative technology, building the foundations for market expansion and contributing to local development.

For more information or for support in setting up your own project, you can contact the community’s referents directly.

Join the TTN Lazio Community