Building Massive IoT with LoRaWAN®: Insights from IoTSWC 2025

The IoT Solutions World Congress 2025 in Barcelona showcased the transformative power of LoRaWAN® in scaling Internet of Things (IoT) deployments. A crowded "Building Massive IoT with LoRaWAN" track session featured a series of speeches and round tables highlighting the evolution, applications and prospects of LoRaWAN technology. 

Alper Yegin, CEO, LoRa® Alliance, kicked off the event by reflecting on LoRaWAN's journey from a promising wireless technology to a global force driving change across industries and communities. He highlighted real-world success stories, including smart city rollouts and environmental wins like wildlife protection in Africa. The session underscored LoRaWAN's strengths—its open architecture, energy-efficient design, and the collaborative LoRa Alliance ecosystem. Looking ahead, Yegin envisioned LoRaWAN underpinning Massive IoT and evolving into utility-grade infrastructure, solidifying its role as a pivotal wireless technology shaping the connected world. 

Telemaco Melia, vice president and GM at EchoStar Mobile, explored the integration of satellite technology with LoRaWAN, focusing on Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). He discussed the latest technological developments in NTNs using LoRaWAN (leveraging LR1121 chips and LR1120 chips), the adoption of satellite technology by end customers, and real-world success stories. The session highlighted how the LoRa Alliance ensures the sustainability of the satellite ecosystem through standardization processes, aiming to redefine the future of wireless IoT communication and expand global connectivity. 

James Wilson, manager of Smart Metering Delivery at Yorkshire Water, and Vadim Lyu, managing director, UK and Ireland at Netmore, presented one of BBC Europe's largest LoRaWAN-based smart water metering projects. They discussed its impact on water conservation, leakage reduction and customer engagement in sustainable practices. The session emphasized how smart metering is transforming utilities by providing real-time data, enhancing operational efficiency, and promoting environmental sustainability. 

Henry Huang,  CEO of Browan Communications representative from Browan Communications, introduced an innovative indoor positioning solution that combines LoRaWAN with AI-driven analytics. The system offers cost-effective and scalable tracking for personnel and assets without the need for extensive infrastructure. The session highlighted the benefits of this approach, including enhanced operational efficiency and improved safety in environments such as warehouses and factories. 

Jan-Philipp Exner, senior project engineer, Strategic Project Management Smart City at ZENNER, and Florian Andersch, business field development and innovation management at Stadtwerke Amberg, shared insights from German cities and utilities, including Stadtwerke Amberg, on their implementation of LoRaWAN-based IoT solutions. The session covered various applications, including smart lighting, waste management and environmental monitoring, demonstrating how these initiatives have led to improved urban management and resource optimization. 

Olivier Beaujard, senior director, LoRa Ecosystem at Semtech, moderated a panel discussion that included leaders from LORIOT, Wien Energie GmbH  and SMBIT.LTD, PVH Corp. The panel was focused on how LoRaWAN is being utilized to address environmental and humanitarian challenges. Speakers shared real-world use cases, including managing solar energy systems, assessing wildfire risks, optimizing urban irrigation, and enabling life-saving automation in conflict zones. The session highlighted LoRaWAN's role in creating sustainable solutions that protect both people and the planet. 

 TEKTELIC, Wattio, Philips, and ZENNER all showcased real-world applications of LoRaWAN in smart buildings and facility management. Speakers presented success stories involving energy management, predictive maintenance and occupant comfort, illustrating how LoRaWAN enables efficient and sustainable building operations. The session emphasized the versatility of LoRaWAN in various sectors, including healthcare, education and commercial real estate. 

 J.Catalano, deputy CTO, Kerlink and vice chair technical committee LoRa Alliance, presented their LoRaWAN roadmap and the need to keep it active to continue growing an addressable market and maintaining its competitive advantage over the other LPWAN technologies 

Today, three key pillars are shaping the vision of the roadmap each highlighting exciting advancements: crypto agility to stay ahead of evolving security requirements, satellite operations, and gateway interface specifications.

As IoT continues its rapid advancement, technologies like LoRaWAN are challenging the boundaries of what’s possible. From smart metering to safeguarding the environment, the real-world applications showcased at IoTSWC 2025 highlight  IoT’s vast potential. Whether it's reaching into space or optimizing our urban environments, the IoT ecosystem is growing at an unprecedented pace. Now is the moment to rethink what’s possible. Curious how these innovations could benefit your operations?

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