FREMONT, Calif., April 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The LoRa Alliance®, the global association of companies backing the open LoRaWAN® standard for the Internet of Things (IoT) low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs), today announced its Certification Affiliate option for certifying devices with the LoRaWAN standard. The new Certification Affiliate program offers a path for non-LoRa Alliance members to obtain LoRaWAN device certification. The LoRaWAN certification program includes full protocol testing, interoperability and RF performance, which is critical for open global standards. The Certification Affiliate program will increase the number and breadth of LoRaWAN CertifiedCM devices available in the market to serve the IoT needs of companies and users around the world.
“LoRaWAN Certification is more important than ever to ensure that end-users implement devices that meet all technical and security standards,” said Donna Moore, CEO and Chairwoman of the LoRa Alliance. “With this new program, we are offering an additional path to enable rapid certification of products. While we believe membership in the LoRa Alliance remains the best and most affordable path to certification, this ensures that all companies have access to certification if membership is not an option.”
The Certification Affiliate program allows any device manufacturer to certify its products, ensuring they meet end-user requirements for dependability, interoperability and security as defined by the LoRaWAN standard. Under the Affiliate Certification program, companies receive the following benefits:
- The use of the LoRaWAN Certification Test Tool (LCTT), a precertification test tool allowing device manufacturers to test their product at their own facility prior to sending the device to an authorized test house for certification
- One license for the LCTT is included in the affiliation fee per year, and affiliates have the right to purchase additional licenses
- Use of the LoRaWAN Certified logo on their certified products in compliance with LoRa Alliance policies
- Have certified products included in the LoRaWAN Showcase online catalog of certified products
- Receive LoRa Alliance communications regarding certification
Historically, companies were required to be a member of the LoRa Alliance to certify their devices. However, as certification is key to global adoption, the LoRa Alliance is pleased to offer this new option. The organization still encourages companies to become members of the LoRa Alliance, as the cost to certify is lower and there are many more benefits for member companies.
Comparison of Adopter Member and Certification Affiliate Benefits
| Cost & Benefits | Adopter Member | Certification Affiliate |
| Annual Fee | $6K ($3K for Startups) | $10K |
| Use the LoRaWAN CertifiedCM Mark | Yes | Yes |
| Certificate Fee | Free | $1K per Certified Device |
| Device Featured in LoRaWAN® Showcase | Yes | Yes |
| Devices Promoted by LoRa Alliance® | Yes | No |
| 1 Free LCTT License Per Year | Yes | Yes |
| Additional LCTT License Cost | $2K | $3K |
| Use of LoRaWAN® Mark | Yes | No |
| Use of LoRa Alliance® Mark | Yes | No |
About LoRa Alliance
The LoRa Alliance® is an open, nonprofit association that has become one of the largest and fastest-growing alliances in the technology sector since its inception in 2015. Its members collaborate closely and share expertise to develop and promote the LoRaWAN® standard, which is the de facto global standard for secure, carrier-grade IoT LPWAN connectivity. LoRaWAN has the technical flexibility to address a broad range of IoT applications, both static and mobile, and a robust LoRaWAN Certification program to guarantee that devices perform as specified. The LoRaWAN standard has been deployed by more than 120 major mobile network operators globally, and connectivity is available in more than 140 countries, with continual expansion. More information: lora-alliance.org
LoRa Alliance®, LoRaWAN®, and LoRaWAN CertifiedCM are registered trademarks.