LPWA, or Low-Power Wide-Area, is a category of wireless network technologies that enable the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications. LPWA networks have the ability to provide wide-area coverage, low power consumption, and low data rate requirements.

These technologies play a crucial role in enabling the Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT) ecosystem.

LPWA technologies typically support low data rates, often in the range of a few kilobits per second (Kbps) to a few hundred Kbps. This is sufficient for many IoT applications that require periodic data transmission or the transfer of small amounts of data.

Examples of these technologies in mobile networks include NB-IoT (Narrow Band-IoT) and LTE-M (LTE-MTC or LTE-eMTC).

LPWA technologies can operate in both licensed and unlicensed spectrum, depending on the specific technology and deployment requirements.
Licensed spectrum technologies, such as NB-IoT and LTE-M, provide reliable and secure connectivity. While unlicensed spectrum technologies, such as LoRaWAN and Sigfox, offer more flexibility and lower deployment costs.