Terminology » IoT » Voice Calls Over LoRaWAN: Possibility and Limitations

Voice Calls Over LoRaWAN: Possibility and Limitations

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This article explores the possibility of making phone calls using LoRaWAN/LoRa technology.

What are Voice Calls?

Voice calls are calls that transmit voice signals using either circuit-switched or packet-switched networks. They can be categorized into two main types:

  • Mobile Originated Calls: This refers to the call flow initiated from a mobile device (mobile #1) to the network when dialing another mobile device (mobile #2).

  • Mobile Terminated Calls: This refers to the call flow from the network to the receiving mobile device (mobile #2).

What is LoRaWAN?

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a media access control (MAC) layer protocol, and its network architecture is visualized below:

LoRa network architecture

The LoRaWAN network architecture consists of:

  • LoRaWAN end devices
  • Gateways
  • Servers (Network Server, Application Server, and Join Server)

LoRaWAN operates in various frequency bands globally, including:

  • US (902 to 928 MHz)
  • EU (863 to 870 MHz)
  • China (779 to 787 MHz)

LoRaWAN is primarily used for long-distance, low-data-rate applications within the IoT/M2M (Internet of Things/Machine to Machine) domain, covering ranges from 5 km to 15 km. LoRaWAN devices support three classes: A, B, and C. These devices are designed for very low power consumption, extending battery life significantly.

Is Phone Call Possible Over LoRa/LoRaWAN?

No, it is not possible to make phone calls directly over LoRa/LoRaWAN. This is because LoRaWAN is specifically designed for sending small packets of data at intervals of minutes, not for the real-time, high-bandwidth requirements of voice communication.

Instead, voice calls require cellular network technologies such as:

  • GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
  • 3G (Third Generation)
  • LTE (Long-Term Evolution)