NetID is a 24-bit value used for identifying LoRaWAN networks. It is assigned by the LoRa Alliance. It is used by networks for assigning network-specific addresses to their end-devices (i.e., DevAddr) so that uplink frames sent by those devices even when they are roaming outside their home network can be forwarded to their home network.

You need to have a NetID if you are operating a LoRaWAN network and you are collaborating with the other networks (i.e., supporting roaming).

If you have a non-collaborating network, then you can use the 0x000000 or 0x000001 NetID values. These values are reserved and can be used by any LoRaWAN network that does not have an assigned NetID.

NetIDs are assigned by the LoRa Alliance to its members. To qualify for a NetID, please be sure to satisfy all of the conditions described in the LoRa Alliance ® Member NetID Policy and Terms  before applying for a NetID. The application process is initiated by sending an email to netid@lora-alliance.org.

NetID assignments for LoRa Alliance members are tied to your membership tier. Therefore, an assignee must keep its membership active in order to keep using the NetID(s). Expired membership, or a change in membership level would lead to a change in NetID status.  As outlined below, non-members may apply for a specific type of NetID on an annual fee basis.

There are different types of NetIDs (Types 0 through 7), which differ based on the size of end-device address space they support (see LoRaWAN® Backend Interfaces Specification v1.1.0 for details). Currently Sponsor members are eligible for one Type 0 and one Type 3 NetID, contributor members are eligible for one Type 3 and one Type 6 NetID, and adopter and institutional members are eligible for one Type 6 NetID.  The grant of Types 0, 3, and 6 NetIDs to members according to membership level is a membership benefit with no additional fee.  Members of LoRa Alliance at all membership levels are additionally eligible for allocation of blocks of sixteen Type 7 NetIDs based upon payment of an annual fee and subject to the terms of the Member NetID Policy.

Unused NetID types (Types 1, 2, 4, 5) are reserved for future use. They may be used when the currently assigned types are fully consumed or NwkIDs generated from NetIDs start to collide.

Certain Sponsor and Contributor members are holding Type 0 NetIDs which were granted prior to May 19, 2017 under the initial NetID scheme.  Member companies may retain the Type 0 NetIDs issued prior to May 19, 2017 as long as they continue to maintain their status as a Contributor or Sponsor member.

You can retain your currently assigned NetIDs and request an additional NetID based on your new membership level. For example, an adopter member holding a Type 6 NetID would keep that NetID and would have the opportunity to apply for a Type 3 NetID when upgrading to contributor level.

Except for the limited exception noted in Question 5 above, any NetID from your past membership level (i.e., Type 0 if you were a Sponsor, and Type 3 if Contributor) is taken away. The company must reapply with the current NetID policy available for the NetID in relation to the new member level status. Once the application is received, LoRa Alliance will process accordingly and will provide assignment of the new allocation.

For example, a Sponsor member receiving its Type 0 NetID on or after May 19, 2017 downgrading to Contributor level would lose its Type 0 NetID, retain its Type 3 NetID, and have an opportunity to apply for a new Type 6 NetID.  A contributor member downgrading to adopter level would lose its Type 3 NetID (as well as any Type 0 NetID issued prior to May 19, 2017) and retain its Type 6 NetID.  In the context of a member changing Alliance membership level, the member has a six-month grace period to migrate its devices using the released NetID to another NetID that has been assigned.  

Your assigned NetID granted pursuant to membership tier are taken away and returned to the available pool of NetIDs to be reassigned to another member (after a three-month grace period).  A non-renewing member may elect to retain up to two blocks of 16 Type 7 NetIDs as a non-member LoRaWAN® Network Affiliate upon execution of a nonmember LoRaWAN NetID Application and Agreement.   Following the termination of Alliance membership, such allocation of the Type 7 NetIDs will be subject to the terms of the LoRaWAN® Network Affiliate Policy and Terms and shall be subject to the non-member annual fee. 

Non-members of LoRa Alliance are eligible for allocation of up to 32 (16 at a time or 32 at once) Type 7 NetIDs based on payment of an annual fee and execution of a binding agreement with LoRa Alliance under the LoRaWAN Network Affiliate program. 

Each NetID allocation to non-members is granted for one year, and is automatically renewed provided that the non-member network operator remains in full compliance with the NetID Agreement including without limitation the terms of the LoRaWAN Network Affiliate NetID Policy and pays the continuing applicable annual fee for the NetIDs (which fee may be changed by LoRa Alliance from time to time on a prospective basis). 

If the LoRaWAN Network Affiliate fails to pay applicable ongoing fees or the allocation of NetIDs is terminated due to failure of the network operator to follow the LoRaWAN Network Affiliate NetID Policy, the NetID allocated to the network operator will be returned to the free pool with allocation of the freed NetID to another requesting network operator at the sole discretion of LoRa Alliance.  Participation as a LoRaWAN Network Affiliate does not constitute membership in LoRa Alliance and does not establish any rights for the non-member to participate in activities or use any logo, trademark or certification mark of LoRa Alliance.

Your devices cannot be served by any other collaborating network. Network collaboration (i.e., roaming) is based on the NetIDs assigned by the LoRa Alliance.  Use of arbitrary NetIDs would lead to increased collisions in the address space of the arbitrary NetID.  Use of arbitrary NetIDs is additionally in violation of the LoRa Alliance® Member NetID Policy and Terms and the LoRaWAN® Network Affiliate NetID Policy and Terms.