Balancing LoRaWAN® Infrastructure and Capex

How to balance capex while maintaining best infrastructure

The Hidden Impact of ESR Height in LoRaWAN Deployments In the realm of smart infrastructure and IoT—especially in LoRaWAN®-based deployments—the success of a project often hinges on decisions made far from the sensors themselves. One such critical yet often underestimated factor is the height of the mounting infrastructure—particularly when deciding whether to utilize self-owned buildings or invest in dedicated telecom towers for gateway installations.

While leveraging existing infrastructure may seem like a cost-effective shortcut, this decision can trigger a domino effect on network performance, coverage, maintenance, and ultimately, total cost of ownership.

The Pitfall of Self-Owned Infrastructure

Using infrastructure already part of utility or water networks—for example, as seen in one of our recent projects—can seem financially prudent at first. However, without strategic assessment, this choice can lead to unintended challenges:

1. Reduced Coverage Radius

LoRaWAN® operates with long-range, low-power communication, which heavily depends on line-of-sight (LoS). Low-mounted gateways are more vulnerable to:

• Signal obstruction from nearby buildings or trees

• Terrain-induced shadowing

• Multipath interference and packet loss

The result?

Smaller coverage zones and the need for more gateways to ensure consistent area coverage.

2. Increased Gateway Count = Increased Capex To make up for the limited coverage, additional gateways are often needed. Each gateway adds:

• Power supply and network backhaul (fiber/4G)

• Ongoing maintenance and access provisions

• Hardware and installation expenses

These accumulating costs can outweigh the one-time investment in a well-placed tall tower or leasing from a telecom provider.

3. Maintenance & Operational Drawbacks

Self-owned infrastructure is often not designed to support telecom hardware. Common issues include:

• Lack of safety provisions for technicians

• High ambient temperatures and exposure

• Risk of accidental disconnection or damage during routine site maintenance

• Insufficient space for structured cabling, surge protection, or proper mounting

All of these contribute to higher operational costs and reduced network reliability.

So Why Still Use Self-Owned Infrastructure?

Despite the challenges, client-owned infrastructure can still be effectively utilized—with proper planning and smart design.

Avoid Telco Tower Costs

Building or leasing telecom towers involves significant investment, civil work, and regulatory approvals. By using your own infrastructure:

• Eliminate high recurring lease fees

• Leverage assets already under your or your client’s control

• You avoid construction and permit delays
  

Faster Deployment

No bureaucratic hurdles, faster execution.This leads to quicker go-live timelines for your IoT project.

Modular and Scalable

Instead of relying on one massive tower, you can deploy smaller, cost-efficient gateways distributed across your network. With careful planning, this approach becomes both technically viable and financially sustainable.

Final Thoughts: Choose Smart, Not Just Cheap

Opting for low-height infrastructure over dedicated telecom towers isn’t merely a budgetary decision—it’s a network design trade-off. The key is to:

• Assess the true impact on performance and reliability

• Consider long-term operational and maintenance expenses

• Weigh short-term savings against potential increases in Capex

With a balanced and strategic approach, you can turn constraints into advantages—delivering robust and reliable LoRaWAN® connectivity, even using modest infrastructure.

Whether you're deploying smart water meters, asset tracking, or BMS solutions, the outcome depends not just on where you install your gateways, but what you install them on.