Berlin's city-wide LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) provides low-power, long-range Internet of Things connectivity across the entire metropolitan area, forming a critical piece of the city's digital infrastructure that enables thousands of connected sensors and devices to transmit data affordably and reliably. The network supports a diverse array of smart city applications, including air quality monitoring stations that track pollution levels across different neighbourhoods, parking occupancy sensors that guide drivers to available spaces and reduce circling traffic, waste bin fill-level sensors that optimise collection routes and reduce unnecessary truck journeys, and building energy consumption monitors that help facility managers identify efficiency improvements. Operated as open infrastructure accessible to both public agencies and private innovators, Berlin's LoRaWAN network dramatically lowers the barrier to IoT deployment by eliminating the need for expensive cellular data plans that would otherwise make large-scale sensor networks economically unfeasible. This open access model encourages experimentation and innovation, allowing start-ups, researchers, community groups and municipal departments to deploy IoT solutions at minimal cost and test new applications in real urban environments. The network's low power requirements mean that battery-operated sensors can function for years without maintenance, making it practical to instrument even remote or difficult-to-access urban locations. Berlin's LoRaWAN infrastructure also supports the development of the city's broader smart city data ecosystem by providing a standardised, reliable data transport layer that feeds into open data platforms and urban dashboards. The network demonstrates how investment in shared, open IoT connectivity infrastructure can catalyse a flourishing ecosystem of smart city applications that benefit from network effects and collaborative innovation.
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