LoRaMPP: Optimizing IoT Messaging Efficiency Using Unlicensed Spectrum

The growing demand for scalable, low-power, and flexible communication in the Internet of Things (IoT) has highlighted the limitations of existing LoRa-based protocols, particularly in infrastructure-less or energy-constrained environments. This paper presents LoRaMPP (LoRa Multi-purpose Protocol), a novel hybrid communication framework designed for energy-efficient IoT messaging over unlicensed spectrum. LoRaMPP supports dual-mode operation–gateway-based WAN communication and peer-to-peer (P2P) or mesh networking–enabling seamless adaptability across smart cities, remote agricultural zones, and disaster-prone areas. The proposed system introduces an adaptive MAC layer, flexible packet structure, lightweight mesh routing, and mobile user access via USB Type-C or BLE. It incorporates power optimization techniques including duty-cycled sleep scheduling, adaptive spreading factor (SF) selection, and collision-aware backoff mechanisms. Security is enhanced with optional AES-128 encryption and message integrity checks. Comprehensive evaluation on ESP32-based nodes with SX1278 transceivers, as well as custom simulations across varied environments, demonstrates up to 12% higher packet delivery ratio (PDR), 39% lower indoor latency, and battery lifetime extension of up to 6.8 months compared to existing protocols such as LoRaWAN, LoRaMesh, and DoLoRa. LoRaMPP was evaluated using ESP32-based nodes and SX1278 transceivers, and benchmarked against LoRaWAN, LoRaMesh, and DoLoRa. Results demonstrate improved packet delivery ratio, reduced energy consumption per byte, and lower latency, especially in infrastructure-less settings. By combining the robustness of LoRaWAN, the decentralization of LoRaMesh, the energy awareness of DoLoRa, and the accessibility of PicoWAN, LoRaMPP offers a unified and practical solution for modern IoT deployments requiring resilience, energy efficiency, and offline operability.