The LoRa Alliance has announced several developments aimed at expanding and enhancing the LoRaWAN Certification Programme as of June 2024. These developments include:
- Introduction of LoRaWAN Relay feature testing as part of end-device certification
- Accreditation of DEKRA’s Atibaia, Brazil facility as a LoRa Alliance Authorised Test Lab (ATL), the first in Latin and South America
- Launch of the LoRaWAN Web Certification System (LWCS), which automates the certification process
- Implementation of LoRa Alliance member self-testing for end devices
These updates reflect the maturity of the LoRaWAN Certification Programme and provide OEMs with multiple certification approaches, ensuring devices meet market requirements. Achieving certification allows products to be featured in the LoRaWAN Marketplace, an online resource where end users can research and find certified products and services.
“The simple fact is that IoT needs certified devices to ramp to billions of sensor deployments,” said Donna Moore, CEO and Chairwoman of the LoRa Alliance. “The tremendous benefit of certification – knowing that devices are correctly configured and will perform as intended – truly underlies the market’s trust in a technology’s ability to scale. LoRaWAN already has the most certified devices and the largest variety of certified devices in the LPWAN space, and the programs announced today follow through on our commitment to continuously accelerate and simplify the certification process for end-device manufacturers. Additionally, we’re excited to have a new ATL in Brazil to expedite the certification process in that region.”
Adding the Relay feature to LoRaWAN Certification testing ensures end devices comply with this critical feature as defined in the LoRaWAN standard. Relay is particularly important for utilities and satellites, amplifying and extending the reach of LoRaWAN signals, enabling communication over greater distances and through obstacles such as buildings and terrain. Introducing LoRaWAN relays into a network architecture allows for easy expansion and scalability without additional gateways.
Relay certification testing adds to the programme’s rapidly growing number of optional feature tests, such as firmware updates over the air (FUOTA) and static context header compression (SCHC), designed to ensure certified devices fully comply with all aspects of the LoRaWAN standard.
The accreditation of DEKRA’s Atibaia, Brazil facility, near São Paulo, as a new ATL for LoRaWAN end devices signifies the strong growth of LoRaWAN in the Latin America and South America regions. A local ATL means members no longer need to ship products outside the continent, saving time and costs when seeking LoRaWAN Certification. This move supports the area’s rapidly growing membership and aims to promote increased device manufacturing in the region.
“DEKRA’s designation as the first LoRa Alliance authorised test lab in South and Latin America marks a significant step forward in enabling global market access for LoRaWAN devices. Our commitment to fostering a safe and secure worldwide adoption of LoRaWAN technology, while supporting local and international customers, is now strengthened by our lab in Brazil, which will continue growing with testing and certification services in the region,” explained Juan Carlos Soler, VP of Business Lines of Digital & Product Solutions at DEKRA. “Backed by our extensive testing and certification expertise, we stand ready to assist customers in obtaining LoRaWAN Certification and related electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), radiofrequency (RF) and product safety testing to ensure optimal device performance across diverse network environments.”
“Everynet has been working towards the creation of a strong and dynamic local LoRaWAN ecosystem since 2017. Today, Brazil’s ecosystem is a reality, and this initiative from the LoRa Alliance, enabling the first ATL for South America, is aligned with the vibrant scenario we observe for LoRaWAN and IoT in general in the region,” said Gustavo Zarife, Country Manager Brazil at Everynet. “As a LoRaWAN pioneer, Everynet worked together with the LoRa Alliance to expand the certification program to Brazil and Latin America. As a next step, Everynet will work closely with the local ecosystem to accelerate the adoption of LoRaWAN Certification, and, therefore, increase the quality of available devices. LoRaWAN is here to stay, and the future is bright.”
The LoRa Alliance’s new LWCS is a major step forward in reducing paperwork and simplifying the certification process. Creating and using an LWCS account enables seamless digital communications between the member certifying, the ATLs, and the LoRa Alliance, reducing human error and unnecessary administrative time by automating the certification process. LWCS supports traditional certification via an ATL, certification by similarity, and certification by self-testing.
The new Member Self-Testing Programme allows LoRa Alliance members to become authorised to self-test their own devices and submit the test results directly to the LoRa Alliance to request device certification. This approach streamlines the device certification process and decreases time to market for new certified devices while maintaining the highest standards of quality and performance. To ensure the programme’s quality, the LoRa Alliance will continuously audit authorised members’ capabilities.
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