Nationwide LoRaWAN network backhaul over LTE450:
How Cibicom deployed an IP67 Robustel LoRaWAN gateway solution for hard-to-reach sites in Denmark
Étude de cas – Faits marquants
Emplacement
Denmark
Industrie
Smart City, Network operator / IoT connectivity (LoRaWAN)
Produit(s)
- Robustel R3000-LG LoRaWAN Gateway
Important product note: This project was delivered using the Robustel R3000-LG LoRaWAN Gateway, which is now a legacy product. The current replacement model is the Robustel R1520LG.
Client final
Cibicom – https://cibicom.dk/
Cibicom is an independent network operator and Internet Service Provider (ISP) that advises on communications solution design, coverage calculations, and rollout planning. They support mission-critical operations, service, and installation in masts and buildings, and offer multiple communication technologies including fibre, LTE450, LoRaWAN, 4G, and radio links. Cibicom monitors installations via a 24/7 Network Operations Center (NOC), enabling end-to-end responsibility from installation through operations and maintenance.
Partenaire de déploiement
M2M Nordic (Denmark) – https://m2m.dk/
M2M Nordic worked closely with Cibicom’s technical team on product selection and accessories (including antennas and power supplies), and provided practical guidance around configuration. A key part of M2M Nordic’s role was maintaining the working dialogue with Robustel as the gateway manufacturer during a complex deployment programme.
Défis
Cibicom was expanding a nationwide LoRaWAN network and needed a Danish supplier of high-quality gateways that could provide support and assist in dialogue with manufacturers. Gateway quality was critical because equipment is often installed in difficult-to-access locations (for example at the top of a mast or on third-party properties) and supports critical solutions delivered to Cibicom’s customers.
Résultats
Cibicom operates a nationwide LoRaWAN network and provides complete IoT solutions for Danish businesses, enabling services based on data from sensors, buildings, or vehicles across many industries. The deployed gateway solution supports the collection of data from LoRa devices (such as meters, street lighting, and sensors) and forwards it through Cibicom’s LTE450 network to Cibicom server systems and onwards to customer back-end systems or third-party platforms.
Building a LoRaWAN network that can operate in the real world
Nationwide LoRaWAN networks are infrastructure projects. They don’t live in lab conditions, and the hardest part is rarely the radio protocol itself. The hard part is deploying reliable gateways where they must be installed masts, rooftops, and remote outdoor locations then keeping them operational for years with minimal physical intervention.
For Cibicom, gateway choice matters because the network underpins critical customer solutions and must be serviceable through a structured operational model. That includes dependable backhaul, resilient power considerations, and a deployment approach that can scale while remaining maintainable through their round-the-clock monitoring operations.
Défis commerciaux
A LoRaWAN network is only as strong as the gateways that anchor it. If gateways are unreliable, difficult to maintain, or poorly supported, the result is higher operational risk and higher cost-to-serve especially when sites are hard to access. Cibicom’s objective was to keep expanding coverage across Denmark while maintaining the reliability required for mission-critical IoT services.
1. Hard-to-access sites raise the cost of failure
Cibicom’s gateways may be installed in locations where access is complex—such as mast tops or third-party properties. In these environments, equipment quality becomes a direct operational risk because physical intervention is costly and slow.
Day-to-day, a single unreliable gateway can create repeat maintenance cycles and undermine confidence in the network. For a nationwide rollout, this scales into a meaningful operational burden if not solved early through robust design and component selection.
2. Nationwide networks require dependable, mission-critical backhaul
Collecting LoRaWAN data is only half the job; it must reliably reach server systems and customer applications. Cibicom needed backhaul that aligned with their mission-critical operating model, including power resilience characteristics appropriate for critical services.
Operationally, consistent backhaul reduces outage windows and simplifies monitoring. It also allows Cibicom’s NOC operations to take responsibility for the full chain from field collection to downstream delivery.
3. Large rollouts need local supplier support and manufacturer alignment
Cibicom specifically sought a Danish supplier that could provide support and help in dialogue with manufacturers. In complex deployments, configuration support, accessory selection, and fast issue resolution are as important as the hardware itself.
This becomes especially important when the solution must be repeated at scale. The deployment approach must be standardised, but flexible enough to handle variations in sites, accessories, and operational requirements.
Présentation de la solution
After assessing the market for LoRaWAN gateways, Cibicom implemented solutions from multiple suppliers, including a solution delivered through M2M Nordic. The deployment used a Robustel LoRaWAN gateway (legacy R3000-LG) installed inside an IP67 enclosure for outdoor placement. The gateway included an LTE450 module, allowing Cibicom to use its own mission-critical LTE450 network for backhaul, including >24 hours of emergency power capability as described by Cibicom.
In addition to the gateway, the enclosure included power supply and antenna connectivity for both LTE450 and LoRa 868 MHz, delivered as part of the overall solution. Field data collected via the LoRaWAN gateway is transmitted to Cibicom’s server systems over the LTE450 network and then forwarded to customer back-end systems or third-party platforms.
Why M2M Nordic Chose the Robustel R3000-LG
- Outdoor-ready deployment design: IP67 enclosure supports placement in exposed outdoor environments.
- Mission-critical backhaul alignment: LTE450 module enabled use of Cibicom’s own LTE450 network for backhaul, including emergency power capability as described by Cibicom.
- Complete “kit” approach: Enclosure included power supply and antenna connectivity for LTE450 and LoRa 868 MHz.
- Local support and manufacturer coordination: M2M Nordic supported product/accessory selection and configuration guidance, and maintained dialogue with Robustel during delivery.
Principaux résultats
Before deployment, the key challenge was finding a gateway solution that could be installed in difficult locations and still be operated reliably as part of a nationwide LoRaWAN network. After deployment, Cibicom could collect operational data from a wide range of LoRa devices and deliver it through their LTE450 network into their server systems and onward to customer applications. This supports Cibicom’s ability to provide complete IoT services across multiple industries while maintaining an operational model anchored by their 24/7 monitoring approach.
“It’s been very satisfying to work with M2M Nordic. There have naturally been challenges along the way, as there always are in projects with high complexity. But we’ve benefited from M2M Nordic continuously managing the dialogue with Robustel, which produces the gateway used,” – Torben Larsen, IoT Solution Architect at Cibicom.
- Broader data collection capability: Supports collection from LoRa devices such as meters, street lighting, and sensors.
- Reliable backhaul via LTE450: Enables transmission from field gateways to Cibicom server systems using Cibicom’s LTE450 network.
- Operational delivery to end systems: Data is forwarded onward to customer back-end systems or third-party platforms.
- Deployment fit for difficult sites: Outdoor IP67 enclosure supports placement in exposed, hard-to-reach environments.
“This case clearly illustrates how M2M Nordic didn’t only deliver a hardware component—we contributed to the overall solution with our knowledge and know-how. We’re always available with our competencies so that, together with our customers, we implement the right solutions for the benefit of everyone involved,” – John Skovby, Partner at M2M Nordic.
Produits phares
Robustel R1520LG LoRaWAN Gateway
