Smart metering white paper
Why cellular connectivity provides the robust, secure foundation for new revenues in smart metering
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LPWA-based smart metering is transforming the energy industry
Smart meter deployments have been underway across the globe for many years with many millions of devices already deployed. Substantial and sustained further growth is expected as utility companies seek more accurate, granular and timely data to operate their businesses more efficiently. By definition, a smart meter must be connected so it can transmit data and therefore the connectivity is a mission critical requirement.
With a wide range of options available, the connectivity decision is increasingly based on the cost, security, coverage, power usage and the potential throughput of the connectivity. Each of these can cause deployments to succeed or fail and therefore must be carefully balanced against each other to create an optimal solution. This white paper discusses the challenges faced by an industry trying to globalize within a fragmented market, as well as the importance of the right connectivity in the deployment of smart meters. Cellular low power wide area (LPWA) networks have a series of advantages to bring to smart meter deployments.
The value of smart meter data and related connectivity infrastructure is well understood and underpins utilities companies’ significant investment commitments. Cumulative investment in advanced metering infrastructure will rise to $127.6 billion by 2025, up from $97.4 billion in 2020. Over that period, total smart meters deployed will rise from about 1 billion to nearly 1.3 billion.
By their nature, smart meter deployments are high volume activities that take time and resources to roll out. Typically projects occur within single countries due to the fragmented nature of the utilities market along national lines. However, there are other challenges to deployment including selecting the network technology to connect the smart meters and then ensuring sufficient coverage and capacity to absorb growth in the market and the increasing amounts of data to manage.
Although there are a range of connectivity options are available to serve smart meters and there is no right answer, LPWA networks have a series of advantages to bring to smart meter deployments. LPWA can help manage communication when devices do not need to be connected constantly which is relevant for smart metering when devices only wake up to report data. Read his white paper to find out more about the smart meter landscape and learn about Quectel’s BC660K-GL LPWA module has been designed to meet the needs of the smart metering industry.