LoRaWAN and Compliance with General User Radio Licence (GURL) Conditions

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a low-power wireless technology widely used by battery-powered sensors that transmit small amounts of data at low data rates.

These characteristics enable high receiver sensitivity allowing for communications over considerable distances while using very low transmit power, making the technology well suited to frequency bands covered by the Short Range Devices (SRD) GURL as shown in Figure 1.

All LoRaWAN transmissions operating under a GURL must comply with the applicable GURL conditions; both data transmissions and device activation (join) transmissions. For devices using the European 868 MHz band plan, join requests typically occur on 868.1, 868.3 and 868.5 MHz. To comply with the New Zealand SRD GURL, transmissions on these specific frequencies must not exceed the permitted EIRP limit of 3 dBm (-27 dBW). Other conditions also apply, see the licence for details.

Devices operating in the 915–928 MHz band must also comply with the relevant SRD GURL requirements, including Special Condition 23.

All conditions included in GURLs are prescribed to protect other licensed radio services from harmful interference. It is essential for the long-term sustainability of the radio spectrum that these conditions are complied with.

Before this equipment is supplied in New Zealand, ensure it bears the required R-NZ radio label and that a completed Supplier Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) is in place.

SRD GURL: 

Radiocommunications Regulations (General User Radio Licence for Short Range Devices) Notice 2022(external link) — New Zealand Gazette

Radiocommunications (Compliance) Notice 2020(external link) — New Zealand Gazette

Radiocommunications (Radio Standards) Notice 2025(external link) — New Zealand Gazette