LoRaWAN-5G Integrated Network with Collaborative RAN and Converged Core Network

Heterogeneity is a key feature of 5G and beyond networks for Internet of things applications in various fields. Regarded as the leading low power wide area network, long range wide area network (LoRaWAN) is expected to accomplish 5G's massive machine-type communications target by integrating it into 5G network. In this paper, we design and implement a LoRaWAN-5G integrated network with a collaborative Radio Access Network and a converged core network. We built a 5G-based LoRaWAN gateway that communicates with 5G new radio. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first LoRaWAN gateway that uses 5G network as its backhaul. Moreover, the LoRaWAN servers are deployed within the core network of the 5G testbed, enhancing the security and privacy of LoRaWAN data. This hybrid network has been deployed to monitor the heating system of rooms in James Watt South Building at the University of Glasgow, demonstrating the stability, high flexibility and low deployment cost of the network.