# LoRa, LoRaWAN, NB-IoT and LTE-M

Low-power wide-area networks trade data rate for range and battery life. They suit small, infrequent messages from devices that sleep most of the time.

Page: https://dharanova.com/learn/long-range-radio · Track: Talk · Level: Core · Facts last checked 6 October 2026

Read first: [Bluetooth LE, Wi-Fi and 802.15.4](https://dharanova.com/learn/short-range-radio.md)

Diagram: Top: LoRaWAN, a network protocol and architecture specified by the LoRa Alliance and approved as ITU-T Recommendation Y.4480 in 2021, sits on LoRa, a chirp spread-spectrum modulation. A band chart shows India's licence-exempt band at 865–867 MHz until December 2021 and 865–868 MHz since, which LoRaWAN's IN865 plan covers. A note says regional rules may cap transmit power or transmit time. Bottom: an NB-IoT or LTE-M device (3GPP Release 13, 2016) sends, sleeps using PSM or eDRX, then sends again.

## Key points

1. LoRa is a chirp spread-spectrum radio modulation; LoRaWAN is the network protocol and architecture built on it, specified by the LoRa Alliance. [1][2]
2. LoRaWAN was approved as an ITU-T international standard, Recommendation Y.4480, in 2021. [3]
3. The LoRaWAN Regional Parameters (RP002) define an IN865 channel plan for India covering 865–868 MHz. India widened its licence-exempt short-range band from 865–867 MHz to 865–868 MHz in December 2021. [4][5]
4. NB-IoT and LTE-M are low-power cellular technologies standardised by 3GPP in Release 13 (2016). Both use power-saving mode (PSM) and extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) to let devices sleep between transmissions. [6][7]
5. Unlicensed sub-GHz bands are shared, so regional rules may cap transmit power or the fraction of time a device may transmit; the LoRaWAN Regional Parameters list these limits per region. [4]

## Sources

1. [What is LoRaWAN](https://lora-alliance.org/about-lorawan/), LoRa Alliance
2. [What is LoRa?](https://www.semtech.com/lora/what-is-lora), Semtech
3. [ITU-T Y.4480: Low power protocol for wide area wireless networks](https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-Y.4480-202111-I/en), ITU
4. [RP002-1.0.5 LoRaWAN Regional Parameters](https://resources.lora-alliance.org/technical-specifications/rp002-1-0-5-lorawan-regional-parameters), LoRa Alliance
5. [Use of Low Power Equipment in the Frequency Band 865-868 MHz for Short Range Devices (Exemption from Licence) Rules, 2021 (G.S.R. 853(E), 10 Dec 2021)](https://thc.nic.in/Central%20Governmental%20Rules/use%20of%20low%20power%20Equipment%20in%20the%20frequency%20band%20865%20to%20868%20MHz%20for%20Short%20Range%20Devices%20Exemption%20from%20Licence%20Rules,2021.pdf), Ministry of Communications (WPC Wing), Government of India
6. [Standardization of NB-IOT completed](https://www.3gpp.org/news-events/3gpp-news/nb-iot-complete), 3GPP
7. [3GPP Standards for IoT (GSMA MIoT, Feb 2016)](https://www.3gpp.org/images/presentations/3gpp_standards_for_iot.pdf), 3GPP