When developing or deploying a LoRaWAN® device, compliance is not just about hardware quality or software performance. A critical part of the process involves aligning with regional parameters—rules that define how LoRaWAN devices must behave in specific radio frequency bands around the world. These parameters are not just technical constraints: they directly affect device certification, legal compliance, and market accessibility.
LoRaWAN regional parameters are specifications published by the LoRa Alliance that tailor the LoRaWAN protocol to national or regional frequency plans. These documents define:
For example, the EU868 band in Europe differs significantly from the US915 band in the United States—not just in frequency range, but also in how transmissions must be regulated.
Get to know more about Regional Parameters in our dedicated article.
When a manufacturer submits a LoRaWAN device for certification (e.g., via the LoRa Alliance Certification Program or a national authority like the FCC or CE), the device must prove compliance with the specific regional parameters for its intended market.
Failure to comply can result in:
Example: A device designed for the US902-928 band must support at least 64 uplink channels and 8 downlink channels with frequency hopping. These requirements are not optional—they are prerequisites for certification.
“Adapting to regional parameters isn’t just about ticking a regulatory box — it’s about building devices that work flawlessly, anywhere in the world. By aligning early with these requirements, we streamline certification, reduce time-to-market, and ensure global interoperability.“
Different certification bodies reference different sets of regional parameters:
These bodies verify that your device’s transmission power, frequency hopping, and channel usage fall within local legal limits, as defined in the LoRaWAN Regional Parameters.
The LoRaWAN Regional Parameters document is updated regularly to reflect regulatory changes or improve network performance. Each version is versioned (e.g., RP2-1.0.4, RP2-1.0.5, etc.).
Understanding how regional parameters affect device certification is essential for any company building or deploying LoRaWAN devices globally. It’s not just a technical detail—it’s the gateway to regulatory approval, interoperability, and market access. A well-certified device is not only compliant but also more reliable and widely deployable.
About Actility
Actility, one of the co-inventors of LoRaWAN® technology and a founding member of the LoRa Alliance, is the leader in industrial-grade low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) connectivity and IoT tracking solutions. Actility’s ThingPark™ platform, which supports multi-radio connectivity (LoRaWAN®, NB-IoT, LTE-M), powers the majority of public networks and numerous private and enterprise networks worldwide. Through its subsidiary Abeeway, Actility offers patented ultra-low power, multi-radio trackers and comprehensive indoor and outdoor geolocation services. Additionally, the ThingPark Market boast the largest catalog of LoRaWAN® devices, gateways, and solutions available.
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