Now in over half the homes in Britain, smart metering is supporting consumers in managing their energy usage, enabling innovation and efficiency for energy suppliers and network operators, and helping the UK deliver its net zero targets.
The smart meter network, designed, built and operated by ESMIG member, Data Communications Company (DCC), is one of Europe’s largest telecommunications networks and continues to grow as more meters are connected; it will reach over 100 million devices in 33 million premises at scale.
To maintain secure and stable connectivity, it’s essential that the smart meter infrastructure evolves over time alongside technology, as part of routine and planned maintenance for the enduring smart meter system.
The DCC has collaborated with Vodafone, Toshiba, Accenture, CGI and Deloitte to upgrade the smart meter network with a cost-efficient 4G Communications Hub solution so that homes and small businesses continue to benefit from smart metering as 2G/3G sunsets by the end of 2033. This is part of a planned upgrade which will see DCC harness the capability of 4G and beyond, improving operational performance and driving value for energy consumers.
The first 4G Communications Hubs are being installed from December 2024 to February 2025, with mass roll-out from summer 2025.
Energy suppliers began installing the new 4G Communications Hubs early December with one of the first installations taking place in Biddulph, Staffordshire, by E.ON.
Find out more on DCC’s website here.