###### Abstract
However, it can enable LPWAN to achieve wider coverage and support for massive machine-to-machine (M2M) services/IoT applications. For example, a 5G mobile network can serve as backhaul connectivity to LPWAN's gateways/base stations (BS). LPWAN is a low power, long-distance range, low energy consumption, and low complexity technology. Expensive infrastructure requirements will be reduced when using LPWAN. This is due to its long-range combined with a star/mesh topology. In addition, spectrum cost will be reduced when LPWAN operates in an optimized licensed spectrum (i.e., a private 5G network with a shared license spectrum) and there is no cost for the unlicensed spectrum. Hence, integrating 5G networks with LPWAN technologies based on novel architecture and security and privacy measures will go a long way to improve smart cities and remote areas applications. Further, poor architecture is deficient in reliable inter-communication protocols which can pose challenges such as radio frequency (RF) and cell edge interferences [4], security and vulnerabilities issues [5], limitation in the support for ubiquity connectivity, and lack of adequate support for emerging technologies. These emerging technologies include Network Function virtualization (NFV); Software Defined Networks (SDN); Network slicing; Advance Interference Mitigation Strategy (AIMS); Mobile Edge Computing (MEC); Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC); Advanced security mechanisms such as 5G Endogenous security; Data/Big Data Analytics; Machine learning/Artificial intelligence algorithm; and new communication technologies such as 5G New Radio, LPWAN, and Heterogeneous network. Consequently, a new state-of-the-art architecture based on emerging technologies is vital to address the stipulated challenges. This paper is inspired by the potential and upcoming requirements of the 5G and LPWAN-IoT architecture to enable billions of IoT devices for improved and secured smart cities and remote area applications. This paper surveys LPWAN-IoT for improved smart cities by considering the following factors in IoT: 5G and LPWAN Integration, Endogenous Security, LEO Satellite, Cell-edge interference, and 5G-based IoT (5G eMTC, 5G NB2-IoT-enhanced, and new radio (NR) reduced capability (RedCap) IoT device). The 5G-based IoT is an enhancement of the existing 4G-based IoT (LTE-M and NB1-IoT). This was recently finalized by the third-generation partnership project (3 GPP) in the latest concluded 5G Release-17 [6, 7]. The contributions of this paper are as follows:  
* Categorize smart cities' applications based on the finding from the exploration and investigation of 5G and LPWAN-IoT with respect to emerging technologies;
* Identify research gaps in the aspect of security based on intensive investigation of security challenges in 5G and LPWAN-IoT. Research gaps such as the need of applying endogenous and cryptographic security in 5G and LPWAN-IoT are unarguable;
* Advocate the remediation of cell-edge interference problem using a special television white space (TVWS) strategy as backhaul connectivity for LPWAN-IoT solutions in a smart city scenario;
* Determine adequate strategy based on emerging technology for joint consideration of the quality of service (QoS)/quality of experience (QoE) in different application requirements and varying end users in 5G and LPWAN-IoT. In this respect, QoS and QoE are considered jointly in an IoT application;
* Identify optimal technologies that will address the ubiquity connectivity bottleneck in the LPWAN-IoT ecosystem. For example, the use of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) such as low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations integration in LPWAN-IoT is advocated. The rest of this paper is organized as follows: In Section 2, related works in literature are discussed. In Section 3, various architectures involving 5G, LPWAN-IoT, and Smart Cities are explored and investigated. In Section 4, security, and vulnerability challenges, including endogenous security, are discussed. In Section 5, further challenges and solutions are presented.