On the Limits of LoRaWAN Channel Access

Abstract

The rising tide of the Internet of Things has brought to the surface numerous low-power, long-range and low-bitrate wireless network technologies. One of them, LoRaWAN, is being intensely popularized as a solution for sensor networks, however, its potential and limitations are unclear, because there is still neither accurate study nor massive LoRaWAN deployment. This paper surveys and analyzes LoRaWAN operation, focusing on performance evaluation of its channel access as the most crucial component for massive machine type communication. We reveal and point out weaknesses of the LoRaWAN specification and propose solutions to improve LoRaWAN performance.