Vodafone is helping French water and waste services company Suez accelerate the global roll-out of remote water meter-reading using NB-IoT.

The aim is to bring over two million NB-IoT meters into service by 2030.

Remote reading of smart water meters is an essential tool in reducing water consumption. It cuts the volume of water consumed by up to 15% by detecting leaks and monitoring use. 

To be fully effective, remote reading must rely on a high-performance communication network, offering good coverage and a 15-year battery life. NB-IoT, a scaled-down version of 4G, meets these requirements. It uses less energy and is an effective way of connecting with smart water meters in underground or insulated locations.

Vodafone is at the forefront of rolling out NB-IoT cellular technology and an international service provider, and is partnering Suez, a provider of smart water meters with six million units deployed worldwide.

NB-IoT technology complements Suez’s offering, allowing it to support its customers more effectively. Suez has expertise across the entire value chain, from smart meters to data analysis, and has chosen the UK as the launch market for the Suez-Vodafone service. The service will then be rolled out gradually for users in France, Italy, Spain and New Zealand.

“The global partnership that we are launching with Vodafone improves the service we offer, allowing us to provide all our customers worldwide with a comprehensive and agile service that adds a great deal of value in both technical and economic terms,” said Patricia Villoslada, Suez (www.suez.com) senior vice president. “This makes full use of NB-IoT’s potential in terms of meeting network performance requirements and reducing water consumption.”

Giorgio Migliarina, interim CEO of Vodafone Business (www.vodafone.com), added: “Vodafone is a pioneer and leader in connecting IoT-enabled sensors, for monitoring water quality and consumption to warning citizens of impending earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and wildfires. Our global partnership with Suez, a leader in the field of intelligent smart water meter reading, strengthens our position in this growing and important market.”

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