LoRa & LoRaWAN vs. NB-IoT
Comparing 2 standards across 15 specifications. 15 key differences identified.
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.
Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT, standardized as 3GPP LTE Cat-NB1 in Rel-13 and Cat-NB2 in Rel-14) is a licensed cellular LPWAN standard. Utilizing a single 180 kHz PRB (Physical Resource Block), it delivers up to +20 dB coverage enhancement over standard LTE, enabling deep indoor penetration for underground water meters, smart grids, and smart cities.
Specification Comparison Table
15 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
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) | — |
|
3GPP Specification
|
— | Release 13 (Cat-NB1) / Release 14 (Cat-NB2) |
|
Carrier Channel Bandwidth
|
— | 180 kHz (equivalent to 1 standard LTE PRB) |
|
Deployment Modes
|
— | In-Band (within LTE carrier), Guard-Band (LTE edge), Standalone (re-farmed GSM 200 kHz) |
|
Peak Data Rates (Cat-NB2)
|
— | Up to 127 kbps Downlink / 159 kbps Uplink |
|
Link Budget / Coverage Gain
|
— | 164 dB (+20 dB gain over standard cellular) |
|
Power Saving Features
|
— | PSM (Power Saving Mode) and eDRX (extended Discontinuous Reception) |
|
Connected Node Density
|
— | Up to 100,000 devices per cell |