This deployment will be the country’s first NB-IoT solution on a narrow band with a 2G and 4G fallback option, ensuring continuous transfer of vital data and real-time connectivity.
On Monday, Bharti Airtel (Airtel) announced a partnership with Secure Metres for the deployment of narrow band (NB-IoT) services that will use smart metres to power 1.3 million homes in Bihar.
According to a statement from the firm, this deployment will be the country’s first NB-IoT solution on a narrow band with a fall-back option that will work on 2G and 4G, ensuring real-time connectivity and uninterrupted transfer of crucial data. Smart metres and other IoT devices are made possible by the low-power, wide-area NB-IoT radio network technology created by 3GPP.
“IoT is one of the fastest-growing business segments for Airtel Business. This venture into NB-IoT strengthens our credentials as the largest cellular IoT player in the country and places us firmly as a partner of choice for Discoms looking to invest in smart meters. We look forward to being an active player in India’s energy transition,” Ajay Chitkara, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel, says.
The business added that the NB-IoT proposal also includes its advanced IoT platform, “The Airtel IoT Hub,” which has been tailored to meet the demands of advance metering infrastructure service providers (AMISPs). Airtel’s NB-IoT platform is future-ready and adaptable to 5G, according to the firm.
AMISPs can better plan their metre deployments with the use of its enterprise-grade feasibility tool. It added that Airtel’s network is prepared for pan-India NB-IoT deployment and that additional functionalities include customer life cycle management and advanced analytics tools like diagnostics, live sessions check, and real-time data usage, among others.
“With Airtel’s support, we were able to seamlessly connect and monitor our meters, resulting in greater efficiency and cost savings for secure and for our customers in North Bihar,” Ananya Singhal, Joint MD, Secure Meters, states.
