Spectrum Optimization of Low Power Wide Area Network Utilization in Smart Cities

Abstract

The discovery of this great technology known as Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) has significantly altered the way we live in a positive way. It is a technology with low power and long range capabilities with impacts that cannot be overemphasized. The impacts range from making cities better with quality living, the environment with quality air and humidity, efficient waste disposal systems, smart metering systems, and traffic free road management to more efficient transportation. Our research focused on the optimization of the unlicensed spectrum occupied by LPWANs using cognitive radio and its utilization in smart cities. In this research, we proposed the spectrum sharing model and carried out our simulations using MATLAB. We discovered that the spectrum sharing model brought about an increase in channel capacity and a decrease in latency, which are basic parameters that determine the performance of the spectrum. After the research, there was a significant improvement in spectrum performance leading to higher quality of service (QoS).