The LoRaWAN low-power wide-area IoT connectivity protocol has been integrated into Amazon Web Services’ cloud-based IoT core network server. The news comes as the LoRaWAN community pushes Amazon to re-think its recent decision to choose a proprietary version of LoRa, over LoRaWAN, for its Sidewalk smart-home platform.
California-based Semtech, licensing LoRa-based chips for both LoRaWAN and proprietary LoRa-based IoT networks, optimised for use in LoRaWAN networks – said IoT developers will be able to more easily connect low power wireless devices over LoRaWAN based networks to Amazon Web Services (AWS), without needing to develop and manage their own LoRaWAN servers.
The new AWS IoT Core for LoRaWAN removes the hassle for developers to offer support for a cloud-based core solution, as the backend complement to the physical LoRaWAN network, with their offers; the core network hosting defaults to AWS, as a matter of course, enabling connected devices to inter-connect with cloud-based applications and other devices.
Developers can source AWS qualified gateways operating the LoRaWAN protocol from the AWS partner device catalogue and select LoRaWAN-certified devices from the LoRa Alliance website. Developers can register gateways with AWS IoT Core from within the AWS management console by providing the service and unique identifier, and by selecting LoRaWAN as the radio frequency.
To register devices with LoRa chipsets, developers input the device credentials, identifiers, and security keys, and follow instructions to specify device configuration. AWS IoT Core for LoRaWAN also includes various device management capabilities, including security and IoT analytics. Developers can also access Semtech’s LoRa Cloud on AWS, an API service that provides the ability to locate LoRaWAN devices.
Dirk Didascalou, vice president of IoT at AWS, said: “IoT developers will be able to leverage LoRaWAN to simplify the development process, as well as provide key features to their applications such as long-range connectivity, the ability to build devices with low power consumption, and increased security. We are delighted to be working with Semtech to accelerate our customers’ adoption of IoT and LoRaWAN allowing them to innovate faster and focus on the main job of creating business value.”
Mohan Maheswaran, president and chief executive at Semtech, said: “AWS IoT Core for LoRaWAN will speed IoT application development by providing a plug-and-play experience for developers. In addition, this collaboration with AWS enables enterprise customers using AWS to readily take advantage of the key benefits of LoRaWAN as the protocol continues to have massive adoption in the IoT industry in a variety of verticals ranging from smart home and communities to asset tracking.”
Despite the move by Amazon to select proprietary LoRa over LoRaWAN for its Sidewalk platform, perceived by the industry as a risk and distraction for the singular focus of the vibrant LoRaWAN community, the pair have been close. AWS joined the board of the LoRa Alliance earlier this year, alongside US telecoms company Charter Communications, German untility Netze BW, and US LoRaWAN operator Senet.
Semtech is offering new developer kits for LoRa-based asset tracking and smart building applications that integrate with IoT services from AWS. California-based software firm Tensor IoT is also involved, providing cloud applications to connect LoRa sensors to AWS services. The asset tracking and smart building kits are geared towards the utilities, cities, logistics, retail and healthcare markets.
