Amazon Sidewalk vs. LoRa & LoRaWAN
Comparing 2 standards across 14 specifications. 14 key differences identified.
Amazon Sidewalk is a low-bandwidth, community-shared wireless network protocol developed by Amazon. By pooling a tiny fraction of internet bandwidth from compatible residential 'Sidewalk Bridges' (Echo speakers and Ring doorbells), it uses 900 MHz LoRa/FSK and 2.4 GHz BLE to connect outdoor smart lights, pet trackers, and package sensors beyond home Wi-Fi reach.
LoRa (Long Range) is a proprietary Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) physical radio modulation developed by Semtech, paired with the open LoRaWAN MAC protocol governed by the LoRa Alliance. Operating in unlicensed sub-GHz bands (868 MHz EU, 915 MHz US), it delivers transmission ranges from 5 to 15+ kilometers with 10+ year battery life.
Specification Comparison Table
14 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Network Protocol
|
Amazon Sidewalk Architecture | — |
|
Physical Layer Radios
|
900 MHz LoRa (Chirp Spread Spectrum), 900 MHz FSK, 2.4 GHz Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) | — |
|
Bridge Bandwidth Pool Limit
|
80 kbps per bridge / 500 MB total monthly cap | — |
|
Network Topology
|
Shared Community Star-of-Stars Mesh | — |
|
Typical Range per Bridge
|
Up to 500m (BLE) / up to 1.5–5 km (900 MHz LoRa) | — |
|
Security Encryption
|
3-layer end-to-end encryption (Application, Network, and Device keys) | — |
|
Physical Modulation
|
— | LoRa (Chirp Spread Spectrum / CSS) |
|
MAC Layer Protocol
|
— | LoRaWAN (Class A, Class B, Class C) |
|
Operating Frequency Bands
|
— | EU868 (863–870 MHz), US915 (902–928 MHz), AS923, AU915 |
|
Spreading Factors
|
— | SF7 (fastest / shortest) to SF12 (slowest / maximum link budget) |
|
Bandwidths Available
|
— | 125 kHz, 250 kHz, 500 kHz |
|
Max Link Budget
|
— | Up to 157 dB (receives signals below thermal noise floor) |
|
Typical Range
|
— | 2–5 km (urban) / 15–20 km (rural line-of-sight) |
|
Device Classes
|
— | Class A (All battery nodes / bi-directional), Class B (Beacon slots), Class C (Continuous listen) |