LoRaWAN in India: the essentials
- India uses the 865-867 MHz band (IN865) for licence-free LoRaWAN, delicensed under GSR 564(E). Hardware configured for EU868 or US915 is not appropriate.
- LoRaWAN suits small, infrequent messages such as soil moisture, tank level, temperature and meter readings, with battery life of years when designed properly.
- You own the network: no per-device subscription once gateways are in place, which changes the economics at scale.
- Coverage must be planned, not assumed. Terrain, antenna height and building density decide range far more than datasheet figures.
What we deliver
- Sensor nodes: STM32L0 or STM32WL based, with deep-sleep firmware, adaptive data rate and sensor drivers.
- Gateway selection and siting: link budgets, antenna and mast advice, backhaul over Ethernet or cellular.
- Network server: ChirpStack or The Things Stack, private or hosted, with device provisioning and keys.
- Application integration: MQTT or HTTP to your database, dashboard or ERP.
- Field testing: RSSI/SNR surveys and packet-loss measurement before full roll-out.
Design decisions that determine success
| Decision | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Device class (A, B, C) | Class A is lowest power; Class C listens continuously and needs mains power |
| Spreading factor and ADR | Higher SF extends range but costs airtime and battery |
| Uplink interval | Fewer messages mean longer battery life and less congestion |
| Confirmed vs unconfirmed uplinks | Confirmations improve reliability but consume duty cycle and energy |
| Antenna and enclosure | Poor antenna placement can cost more range than any radio setting |
When LoRaWAN is not the answer
LoRaWAN is poor for high data rates, firmware streaming or low-latency control. For devices deep inside buildings or where you do not want to run any infrastructure, NB-IoT may fit better. We compare the two in detail in LoRaWAN vs NB-IoT in India.
Sectors
- Agriculture and plantation monitoring across Kerala's terrain; see industries.
- Water, tank-level and utility metering.
- Cold chain and warehouse temperature monitoring.
- Campus, building and asset tracking.
Sources and further reading
- LoRa Alliance — LoRaWAN specification and regional parameters including IN865.
- Department of Telecommunications — Delicensing of 865-867 MHz (GSR 564(E)) — The Indian regulation permitting licence-free use of the band.
- ChirpStack — Open-source LoRaWAN network server documentation.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Regulations and product availability change; confirm current rules with the issuing authority before you commit to a design.