How To Accelerate LoRaWAN - Alper Yegin

Alper Yegin, CEO of the LoRa Alliance, joins the show to share strategic insights into the future of LoRaWAN as a utility-grade connectivity layer for IoT. With over 100 million LoRaWAN devices already deployed and 50% annual growth rates, Alper highlights how businesses can leverage certification, collaboration, and plug-and-play architecture to thrive in this evolving LPWAN landscape. This episode is essential listening for anyone building in IoT infrastructure or deploying scalable IoT monitoring solutions.Key PointsAwareness and education—not competing technologies—are the biggest threats to LoRaWAN’s growth. Many failed deployments result from misunderstanding how to use the protocol properly.The LoRa Alliance’s certification process has been streamlined and made more affordable, helping device makers win RFPs and expand into global markets more efficiently.LoRaWAN’s roaming and integration across public, private, and satellite networks is paving the way for a globally unified, plug-and-play IoT connectivity experience.Businesses deploying LoRaWAN in smart buildings benefit from long-range, battery-efficient, low-cost, and license-free radio infrastructure—making it ideal for facilities like stadiums, retail chains, and office complexes.Strategic collaboration within the LoRa Alliance is accelerating product quality and ecosystem adoption, with members often working together—even as competitors—to grow the entire IoT pie.Businesses MentionedVerizon: Deployed LoRaWAN at State Farm Arena for facility management across the entire venue.AT&T: Launched a facility service called Connected Spaces, exclusively using LoRaWAN.MachineQ (Comcast subsidiary): Installed LoRaWAN sensors in over 10,000 Starbucks locations for cold chain monitoring.Rentokil: The world’s largest pest control firm is adopting LoRaWAN to monitor hard-to-reach building areas.Shell, Total Energies, Chevron: Using LoRaWAN in oil and gas facilities for temperature, valve, and vibration sensing.Veolia: Operating 5 million live LoRaWAN water meters across France.Yorkshire Water: Deploying 1.3 million LoRaWAN-connected water meters in the UK.Memorable Quotes“Reality on the ground is ahead of the perception. There are a lot more deployments than meets the eye.”“Plug and play is key. You should be able to buy a device, turn it on, and it just connects—anywhere in the world.”“If people use LoRaWAN incorrectly and think it doesn’t work, it sets them back years. Education is critical.”Find Our GuestAlper Yegin - LinkedInLoRa AllianceHelium Global IoT Coverage - Want to know if Helium coverage exists where you need it? Check out this map!Helium Foundation - The Helium Foundation's IoT Working Group (IOTWG) has generously provided support for the first 6 months of shows, please go check them out and consider using the Helium LoRaWAN as a primary or backup on your next deployment. With over a quarter million gateways deployed worldwide, it's likely that you have and can use Helium coverage.Support The Show - If you'd like to support the MetSci Show financially, here's where you can donate on a one-time or an ongoing basis. Thank you!MetSci Show - If you'd like to use our IoT or AI Data Value calculators, or you'd like to contact me, the MetSci Show site is the best way to do it. MeteoScientific Console - Use LoRaWAN - The MeteoScientific Console allows you to use LoRaWAN today. As long as you have Helium coverage (and you probably do, about 90% of populated areas in the world have a gateway within 2 miles), you can onboard a sensor. You can always check coverage at https://explorer.helium.com and switch to the "IoT" tab in the top right.