Electricity + Control February 2017

CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION

• LPWA networks are set to become a disruptive force in the world of remote monitoring and control. • The move towards LPWA networks should not be viewed as a drastic shift from current methods. • LPWA networks should be seen as a positive move in wire- less data techniques.

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able formats. LoRa has a rich development ecosystem encompassing chipsets, modules and software stacks, as well as a diverse selection of commercially available devices, withmany more expected to become available throughout 2017. Conclusion LPWA networks are set to be a disruptive force, with endless ap- plication possibilities. Solution providers in the areas of remote measurement and control, stand to benefit greatly from the LPWA wave that is sweeping the globe. As resources become scarcer and more expensive, it is imperative that industries are able to properly monitor and manage as many points of interest as possible. LPWA networks are the ideal technology to facilitate mass deployment of Cloud-connected sensors, meters and actuators, ushering in a new era of industrial intelligence and agility. References [1] Rioul O, Carlos Magossi J. On Shannon’s Formula and Hart- ley’s Rule: Beyond the Mathematical Coincidence. Entropy Journals, July 2014. [2] Morrish J. With 3 billion connections, LPWA will dominate wide area wireless connectivity for M2M by 2023. Machina Research, February 2015. [3] Ranken N. LPWA will dominate the M2M WAN in 2024. IoT Business News, July 2015 [4] Diggavi S, Al-Dhahir N, Stamoulis A, Calderbank A. Great Expec- tations: The Value of Spatial Diversity inWireless Networks. Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers, February 2004 [5] Brief History of GSM and the GSMA. http://www.gsma.com/ aboutus/history

Sean Laval holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electron- ic Engineering Science from the University of Johannesburg, with 10 years of experience in component-level embedded system design, primarily involving GSM/3G and short-range wireless technologies. He currently oversees the deployment of Comsol’s national LoRa network.

Enquiries: Email sean.laval@comsol.co.za

February ‘17 Electricity+Control

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