LoRa and LoRaWAN in the IoT: Performance, Challenges, and Future Opportunities

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This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.

Year : 2026 | Volume : 04 | 02 | Page :
By

Shravani Pimpodkar,

Yogesh Nazarkar,

Nandini Dhole,

Tulsi Patil,

Geetanjali Suryawanshi,

  1. Student, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication, RMD Sinhgad School of Engineering, Warje, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  2. Student, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication, RMD Sinhgad School of Engineering, Warje, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  3. Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication, RMD Sinhgad School of Engineering, Warje, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  4. Student, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication, RMD Sinhgad School of Engineering, Warje, Pune, Maharashtra,
  5. Student, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication, RMD Sinhgad School of Engineering, Warje, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

This paper provides a broad overview of both LoRa and LoRaWAN technologies in the context of Internet of Things (IoT). The market need for communication technology to be low-power and long-range continues to grow, and LoRa and LoRaWAN are emerging as viable options for enabling widespread IoT applications in a variety of applications. This review offers structured and comparative assessment of their functionality in different environments, such as urban, rural, suburban and forest environments. These key communication parameters are discussed extensively and their effects on system performance are analyzed, including spreading factor, bandwidth, coding rate, transmission range, energy consumption, and network scalability. Additionally, the study thoroughly examines the latest developments in energy efficient communication technologies, adaptive data rate schemes, network optimization strategies and intelligent approaches using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance resource utilization and communication reliability. The review also delves into the key challenges of LoRa and LoRaWAN networks, such as interference, network congestion, duty cycle, security, and scalability. The results of the literature review indicate that there are several areas of research that have not been addressed and further research is suggested. This includes the creation of hybrid communication architectures, integration with edge and cloud intelligence, cross-layer optimization frameworks, advanced security mechanisms, and the implementation of AI-based adaptive networking strategies. The findings reported in this work can help researchers, practitioners, and system designers to improve their understanding of capabilities, limitations, and future potential of LoRa and LoRaWAN technologies, offering guidance to their design.

Keywords: LoRa, LoRaWAN, Internet of Things, Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN), Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS), Energy Optimization, Communication Performance, Adaptive Data Rate, Wireless Communication.

How to cite this article: Shravani Pimpodkar, Yogesh Nazarkar, Nandini Dhole, Tulsi Patil, Geetanjali Suryawanshi. LoRa and LoRaWAN in the IoT: Performance, Challenges, and Future Opportunities. International Journal of Wireless Security and Networks. 2026; 04(02):-.
How to cite this URL: Shravani Pimpodkar, Yogesh Nazarkar, Nandini Dhole, Tulsi Patil, Geetanjali Suryawanshi. LoRa and LoRaWAN in the IoT: Performance, Challenges, and Future Opportunities. International Journal of Wireless Security and Networks. 2026; 04(02):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijwsn/article=2026/view=250547

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Ahead of Print Subscription Review Article
Volume 04
02
Received 19/05/2026
Accepted 01/07/2026
Published 10/07/2026
Publication Time 52 Days

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