LoRa Alliance Releases 3-Year Roadmap for LoRaWAN
The LoRa Alliance has unveiled a technical roadmap for the further development of LoRaWAN through 2028. The roadmap focuses on new application integrations, plug-and-play features, standardized interfaces, and enhancements for broader network coverage.
Roadmap for the Next Phase of LoRaWAN
The LoRa Alliance has published a new technical roadmap designed to structure the further development of the LoRaWAN standard over the next three years.
The goal is to integrate LoRaWAN more deeply into existing IoT application domains, simplify implementations, and expand network coverage beyond traditional fixed infrastructure.
The LoRa Alliance positions LoRaWAN as an LPWAN technology for IoT applications with long range, low power consumption, and broad international use. The roadmap builds on these very characteristics and addresses technical hurdles that become relevant in larger rollouts, heterogeneous device fleets, and multi-vendor architectures.
Integration into Existing Application Domains
A key focus of the roadmap is on new application integrations. This includes the previously announced development of a mapping structure between LoRaWAN and OPC UA. OPC UA is an established standard for industrial applications and is used particularly in automation and smart industry.
This connection is relevant for system integrators because it can simplify the integration of LoRaWAN data into industrial architectures. LoRaWAN end devices could thus be more easily integrated into existing industrial data models and platforms.
Another planned integration involves networked water meters in North America that use the UI-1203 protocol. In the future, these should be easier to connect via LoRaWAN.
The LoRa Alliance is also planning a Standard Application Data Format for 2028. It is intended to standardize the structure of application codec payloads, thereby facilitating the connection between devices and application platforms without the need for custom integration work.
Plug-and-Play for Devices and Networks
A second focus area concerns plug-and-play features. As early as 2026, new features are expected to support the migration of IoT-connected devices from one network to another. This is particularly important for the lifecycle management of large device fleets when devices need to be moved between different LoRaWAN networks.
Also planned for 2026 is End-Device Capabilities Discovery. This feature is intended to enable a network server to retrieve device properties from external servers. This can reduce the manual effort involved in deploying LoRaWAN devices.
For 2027, the LoRa Alliance announces further improvements to Zero-Touch Device Onboarding. The goal is a more automated onboarding process for end devices. Additionally, DNS-based Network Infra Discovery is intended to reduce the pre-configuration of central network elements such as Network Servers, Application Servers, and Join Servers.
Standardized Interfaces in the LoRaWAN Stack
Two new interface standards are also planned for 2027. The Network Server to Gateway Interface is intended to standardize the API between network servers and LoRaWAN gateways. This should make every gateway compatible with every network server without requiring additional software development or custom integration.
The second interface concerns the connection between the network server and the application server. Here, too, a standardized API is intended to improve interoperability. For solution providers and platform operators, this can simplify the implementation of more open, cross-vendor LoRaWAN architectures.
Expansions for Network Coverage and Operations
The roadmap also includes several enhancements for network coverage. In 2026, Walk-By/Drive-By Reading is expected to enable LoRaWAN devices to communicate efficiently with mobile base stations. These can be mounted on vehicles, moved by drones, or carried by people. This is particularly relevant for devices outside of fixed network coverage.
Satellite Discovery Enhancements are also planned for 2026. They are intended to standardize how commercially available end devices detect LoRaWAN satellite constellations. The enhancement builds on the existing capability to connect LoRaWAN end devices via LEO and GEO satellites.
Crypto Agility is scheduled for 2027. This is intended to expand end-to-end security by enabling support for future cryptographic suites between end devices, network servers, and application servers. Additionally, the LoRa Alliance is planning a LoRaWAN Gateway Certification Program.
Relevance for Scalable IoT Rollouts
For end users, network operators, system integrators, and device manufacturers, the roadmap addresses key scaling issues: less manual provisioning, better interoperability, clearer interfaces, and more flexible network coverage. This shifts the focus from individual LoRaWAN projects to larger, standardized IoT ecosystems.
A Network Analytics API is also planned for 2028. It is intended to standardize how traffic patterns can be monitored and analyzed for network management.
Read more about the LoRa Alliance’s 3-year roadmap and the planned LoRaWAN enhancements at: https://lora-alliance.org/lorawan-news/lora-alliance-unveils-3-year-roadmap-for-scaling-lorawan-globally/