Uplink Performance under High Traffic Demand in Massive LoRaWAN

Abstract LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is an innovative and mature solution for IoT (Internet of Things) applications. It allows network devices to transmit their data whenever necessary, without the need for any coordination or scheduling mechanism, by employing the multichannel P-ALOHA (PureALOHA) random access protocol. However, in massive LoRaWAN scenarios, transmissions on the same channel often result in collisions, significantly reducing throughput and quality of service. In this context, this work aims to analyze the performance of the uplink of a massive LoRaWAN through computational simulations for different operation conditions and propagation scenarios. To obtain more realistic and representative results, signal propagation losses are estimated by combining the COST231-Walfisch-Ikegami (COST231-WI) model with the TMM (Terrain Modeling Module), the DEM (Digital Elevation Model) and the DTED (Digital Terrain Elevation Data) of the OPNET Modeler simulation platform. The results obtained in the analyses carried out highlight the challenges imposed on the LoRaWAN in terms of scalability and energy efficiency, especially in environments with high device density.