CRA and TEKTELIC build a LoRaWAN® network coverage across the Czech Republic

The Internet of Things (IoT) become more and more popular and has led to the deployment of many useful applications for a range of businesses in different vertical markets using wireless networks.

Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) meet various IoT requirements such as energy efficiency, low cost, large coverage, and large-scale deployment.

Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN®) networks are one of the most driving LPWAN technologies globally due to the possibility of building private networks using the unlicensed band spectrum.

The Challenge

České Radiokomunikace a.s. (CRA), is a leading Czech provider of a unique television, radio, and Internet infrastructure, is successfully building the nationwide coverage network based on LoRaWAN® technology in the Czech Republic, which allows the deployment of limitless applications areas across the country. The main strategic goal is to support the high demand for smart networks within the Czech Republic.

CRA aims to create an Internet of Things (IoT) platform that brings together multiple IoT technologies and combines them with a full-covered LoRaWAN® IoT network in the Czech Republic. It is made to cover all customer needs related to message delivery from their devices to LoRaWAN network operators. With the help of IoT services and LoRa network operators, customers receive data from different devices from one IoT network platform, where they also manage their individual sensors, applications, gateways, and solutions.

Solution

CRA chose the TEKTELIC KONA Macro Gateway for the nationwide deployment as it is an ideal solution for operators and enterprises that require a very scalable low-cost LoRaWAN® gateway that minimizes network TCO while improving coverage and capacity. With both the cellular modem and GPS antennas embedded internally the KONA Macro is targeted at network sites that dictate a small form factor and low power consumption. It has a high availability carrier-grade design with support for in-service configuration and software updates, and excellent out-of-band rejection of Interference from other networks such as Cellular and Paging.

The frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as super-hot or extremely cold weather conditions is no issue for the KONA Macro Gateway. This TEKTELIC IoT Gateway has a wide temperature range with an operating temperature of -40℃ up to 60℃ to cover both poles of climate extremes.

CRA successfully used Gateway TEKTELIC KONA Macro since 2018. According to CRA experience, one of the main advantages of the gateways belong operational stability and high performance on the radio unit of the gateway. Moreover, all KONA Macro gateways contain robust cavity filters, which reduce their intersection of unwanted signals, especially those of the mobile operators.

Thus the CRA network enables precise geolocation, using a combination of TDoA and RSSI technologies to achieve an exceptional compromise between energy-intensive GPS and inaccurate RSSI technology. Through CRA own tests, they have found that it achieves accuracy within polygons of tens of meters, which is sufficient primarily for use-cases such as geofencing, tracking in logistics, supply chain, security, etc.

Water Metering 

CRA has successfully launched also several IoT use cases, among which is Water Metering. Smart metering is a fastly developing sphere, so it is a wise choice to join this world and develop building infrastructure. During a pilot testing, CRA verified the possibility of sending up to 90% of all data over one of the IoT networks. The mobile application IoT.water enables the implementation of physical readings even if Water Meters are not equipped with remote transmission. The transmitter is a radio module enabling two-way communication between IoT networks, the Receiver, and the Mobile Application.

The IoT.water mobile application works on the Android OS and can be uploaded to any mobile device with this OS. The mobile application enables communication with the Transmitter during setup and installation, downloading data from the internal memory and, of course, reading data from walking or travel mode. The mobile application transmits the acquired data via the GSM network to the information system for further possible use.

Waste Management 

Another successfully deployed solution for Waste Management is Sensoneo. The main issue is to enable cities and companies in the Czech Republic to optimize costs, increase environmental friendliness and improve the quality of life. With its Smart Waste Management technology, Sensoneo is revolutionizing the way it manages waste management.

About TEKTELIC Communications Inc.

TEKTELIC Communications is a premier supplier of complete end-to-end IoT solutions, with a focus on the development of Gateways and Devices designed for Carrier-Grade reliability, mass scalability and the lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). TEKTELIC leverages its world-class IoT products to create enhanced value for its clients with key design considerations being implemented to ensure the longest battery life and highest performance on the market while managing customer budgets with cost-effective solutions. A strong commitment to quality, engineering, and service excellence assure clients that TEKTELIC’s IoT solutions will meet the current and future needs of their business.

Conclusion

CRA with its aim to provide a good quality coverage across the country, together with TEKTELIC developing carrier grade equipment were able to provide an 80%-coverage in the country (of the total 95 %), giving raise to various IoT solutions. As a result, the nationwide LoRaWAN® network is bringing a new opportunity to local companies to deploy their own IoT application and use cases, also allowing Czechs to have more data about their surrounding environment, improve operational efficiencies, make smarter decisions, reduce costs, and smartly manage their environmental impact.

The advanced geolocation feature is enabling CRA technology partners to develop power-saving asset tracking solutions. Especially rental companies, which can use almost any LoRaWAN® device for asset condition monitoring, combined with our unique geolocating service. Such a unique value proposition is a great market differentiator sought after by both active customers and CRA technical team taking care of all devices operated by the national network.

To learn more about CRA, please visit: https://www.cra.cz

To learn more about TEKTELIC’s complete End-to-End IoT solutions, please visit: https://tektelic.com/ or contact info@tektelic.com

Image credits: Designed by William Zhang / Unsplash