Singtel announced a collaboration with smart metering solutions provider EDMI
Singapore telecommunications firm Singtel and global smart metering solutions provider EDMI Limited have announced a collaboration to develop a smart electric metering infrastructure for Singapore.
The partners said they have successfully tested smart electric meters on Singtel’s nationwide Cat-M1 cellular internet of things (IoT) network. The combination of smart meters with the IoT network enables the secure wireless transmission of real-time meter readings at regular intervals to the power grid. It also allows electricity suppliers to monitor electricity consumption and forecast demand more accurately, Singtel said.
“Giving electricity suppliers real-time data on electricity consumption allows them to optimize the distribution of electricity to certain areas and times of the day especially when demand is peaking,” said Andrew Lim, Business Group Managing Director at Singtel’s Group Enterprise. “The pairing of smart meters with our IoT network will give consumers more accurate meter readings and ultimately bring cost savings.”
Singtel currently provides machine-to-machine connectivity for EDMI’s digital electric meters in Singapore. With the Energy Market Authority planning to roll out smart meters in the second half of 2018, the partners aim to offer their IoT-driven smart metering solutions across the city’s residential, commercial and industrial areas, the two partners explained.
Singtel’s Cat-M1 IoT network went live in September 2017. It has been conducting trials with over 20 potential partners at an IoT innovation lab that was set up with Ericsson earlier in the year.
“Apart from the energy sector, Singtel’s IoT network can bring innovation and boost efficiencies across industries including healthcare, manufacturing, environmental services and technology,” Lim said.
In August, Singtel announced the roll out of its nationwide cellular IoT network.
The telco said that the network will support CAT-M1 and NB-IoT technologies which will allow businesses to benefit from applications with low-power consumption, deep coverage and multiple connections.
Since 2016, Singtel has been exploring IoT usage with local companies and large corporations across a diverse range of applications, including environmental sensing, asset tracking, waste management and monitoring of medicine consumption.
The Singapore telco is also active in the 5G space. In October, Singtel and Ericsson announced plans to jointly establish a center of excellence (CoE) to facilitate 5G development and deployment in the Asian nation.
The two partners said the new 5G center will require an initial investment of $1.7 million over the next three years. The companies also said the new facility will support Singapore’s smart nation initiatives. The 5G center will also be open to Optus, an Australian telco controlled by Singel.
Ericsson and Singtel also said that the center will carry out 5G demos, live field trials and host collaboration with third parties.
