A new water meter offering uses Internet of Things (IoT) technology and advanced data analytics to help utilities measure and manage water consumption.

The intelligent solution from Spanish telecoms company Telefónica and water meter specialist Arad is designed to enable water companies to better understand consumption patterns and manage the scarcity and quality of water resources.

The solution combines electronic meters with advanced metrological capabilities, IoT connectivity and a device management platform with advanced data analytics capabilities.

Based on NB-IoT (narrowband IoT) and CAT-M1 technologies, it is specifically designed for Massive IoT which allows for the connection of billions of devices and machines to the internet.

According to Telefónica’s IoT division, the solution collects and processes the data generated by the water meters, with advanced analytics providing, among other things, predictive maintenance and remote detection of incidents. It also facilitates the use of consumption profiles, demand predictions and customisation of supply to customers.

“This agreement will provide both groups with technological cooperation and new business opportunities in the NB-IoT and Massive IoT sectors thanks to the advantages brought by new technologies, such as LPWA (low-power wide-area), which enable, among others, longer battery life or better signal penetration in complex environments,” said Gabriel Yankovitz, Arad Group CEO.

“This is a very important step in the digital transformation of utilities,” added Vicente Muñoz, chief IoT officer at Telefónica. “Not only will it allow them to save costs and increase revenues, but also provide greater satisfaction for customers who are increasingly demanding the digitalisation of this type of services and a more sustainable management.”

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