TTNs

TTN, short for The Things Network, is a global, community-driven initiative to provide open, accessible LoRaWAN network coverage for Internet of Things devices. The network operates through a distributed set of gateways and servers that allow researchers, developers, and hobbyists to prototype and deploy IoT solutions at low power and long range.

Core components include LoRaWAN gateways, The Things Stack network servers, and application servers. Gateways collect radio packets from devices and forward them to the network servers over the internet; network servers route data to application servers where developers build devices and services. The Things Stack, the open-source software that underpins TTN's servers, includes modules for device registration, data routing, and join/authentication, with support for private and public deployments.

TTN emphasizes openness and collaboration. Participants contribute gateways, software, and documentation; data is managed through user-defined applications, and users retain control over their data. The platform supports both public community networks and private deployments for organizations.

Globally, TTN networks span many countries and regions, enabling use cases in agriculture, environmental monitoring, smart cities, and industrial IoT. The ecosystem also serves as an educational resource, helping students and developers learn about wireless networks, IoT, and edge-to-cloud data flows.

History: The project began in the mid-2010s as a grassroots effort to democratize LoRaWAN access. It evolved into The Things Stack and a global community of users and contributors, sustained by volunteers, organizations, and partners.