Siemens' Communications Group SA and Norwegian service provider, Telenor Cinclus, have signed a contract for the delivery of 680 000 wireless modules.
According to Siemens, the contract is worth an amount in the 'double-digit millions'. The modules will be part of a solution with which Telenor Cinclus will enable energy companies to read their electric meters automatically.
Due to legal requirements, it will have to be possible to read electric meters once a month in Sweden beginning in June 2009. The country's government wants this regulation to speed up the pace of deregulation in the Swedish energy market, increase competition among energy providers and make it easier for consumers to switch to cheaper providers. The transmission of the data from the meters to Telenor Cinclus will be handled by 680 000 TC65 and MC55 modules from Siemens.
"This contract is a breakthrough in the area of remote wireless meter reading," said Norbert Muhrer, president of Wireless Modules at Siemens Communications.
"We expect very fast growth in the global market for automated remote meter reading. In Sweden alone, about five million meters will have to be upgraded by 2009. The solution supported by Siemens will work over existing mobile networks, so it will involve no additional costs for new infrastructure."
"Wireless meter reading will create a whole new business model for mobile communications providers - one with a very large market potential," comments Ivar Grothe, managing director of Telenor Cinclus.
For more information, please visit http://www.siemens.co.za/.
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