IoT solutions provider for the energy sector, Comsel System, has deployed Telit's ME910C1-E1 NB-IoT module for smart metering applications on CK Hutchison's 3 network in Sweden. This solution is one of Europe's first commercial smart metering deployments on a live LTE NB-IoT network, setting the stage for utility companies in Sweden and the rest of the world to leverage the standard's advanced features, including a decade-plus battery life and reliable connectivity deep inside buildings and underground.
Comsel System specializes in IoT product design and development for the energy sector. It added Telit's ME910C1-E1 to one of its existing smart meter solutions previously based on a 3G series of the xE910 family, enabling it to connect flawlessly to 3's NB-IoT network. This successful trial is already driving new business for Comsel, starting with Swedish utilities.
The ME910C1-E1 supports LTE-M and NB-IoT features designed to meet the unique needs of IoT applications such as smart metering. These include:
- Power Saving Mode (PSM) and extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX), which enable IoT devices to wake up periodically to deliver only small amounts of data to the network and then go back to sleep. This power efficiency has the potential to extend battery life beyond 10 years, which is critical for smart meters that typically need to remain in service for at least a decade.
- Enhanced in-building penetration, with smaller coupling loss compared to other cellular standards. This ensures reliable connectivity even when meters are located deep inside buildings and underground utility vaults.
Featuring the industry's popular 28.2 x 28.2 x 2.2mm LGA form factor, the ME910C1-E1 is a dual mode LTE-M/NB-IoT member of Telit's best-selling xE910 module family. This common form factor, electrical interfaces and programming interfaces enable IoT vendors to upgrade their existing 2G and 3G xE910-based products with the ME910C1-E1 quickly and inexpensively.
In the project, Comsel delivered Zodiac smart metering terminals with support for NB-IoT/M1. In addition to the NB-IoT/M1-terminals, it also delivered Zodiac 3G-/4G-terminals for smart energy metering. The solution gives the customer a Service Level Agreement (SLA) of up to 100% and has a high degree of security. The Telit ME910C1-E1 module is included in these products.
Telit performed field tests together with Comsel System for a couple of months in this smart metering project in Skåne. The tests, which leveraged 3's NB-IoT network guard-band implementation, showed that coverage increased dramatically for locations where it is normally weak like in basements and inaccessible locations in sparsely populated areas.
Click here to learn more about Telit's NB-IoT Module.
