Why water utilities choose cellular AMI for long-term resilience

Fixed networks require significant expertise to build and manage, and a shrinking workforce is making it difficult to replace knowledgeable experts when they retire. Additionally, emerging cybersecurity threats make fixed networks a heavy load for utilities to bear.

In comparison, a cellular-based solution for AMI systems offers the reliability and stability that utilities need. Cellular AMI minimizes potential network downtime to support utilities in collecting meter reads without interruption, enhancing resilience now and in the future.

For teams that don’t have experts on staff to maintain expensive infrastructure—or utilities of any size that want to save money and better utilize their human resources—cellular-based Network as a Service (NaaS) is a solution that can support utilities for decades.

Moving from a capital expense to an operational cost

Traditional fixed network systems require annual maintenance and battery replacement roughly every seven to 10 years and are often only under warranty for one year. In contrast, cellular NaaS solutions require zero upkeep from the utility. The network service provider fully manages all the infrastructure upgrades and ongoing maintenance.

How does it work? Cellular-based NaaS is a turnkey solution that includes the communication network as part of the hardware package, so the monthly fees utilities pay don’t need to include a cost for installing and maintaining a network because it is already in place. In other words, the communications aspect of AMI moves from a capital cost to an operational cost.

There are service providers that offer NaaS agreements for fixed networks, but most won’t offer longer contracts. As a result, cellular NaaS also provides more long-term budget predictability.

Cellular providers are also experts at maintaining a wireless network and have proven they can respond well to disasters. If a tower goes down, they can quickly deploy a temporary mobile tower while repairs are made to the permanent structure.

Another upside of switching to a cellular-based NaaS solution is the ability to upgrade to smart meters at a pace or sequence that makes the most sense for the municipality. This can include a phased approach to bring specific routes online over a planned period—starting with commercial and industrial customers, which account for most of the revenue—or simply replacing older meters with smart meters as needed.

In addition to being a long-lasting solution that is monitored, managed and maintained on a utility’s behalf, cellular NaaS systems are incredibly flexible. Utilities can deploy their system with a set number of meters and easily expand as their operations grow to accomplish accurate meter reads throughout. With a fixed network, utilities must build out additional infrastructure to support new neighborhoods before the AMI system can come online.

Why you should ignore consumer cellular marketing

Perhaps the biggest misconception about cellular solutions is the frequency at which networks change and how that might impact metering applications. Consumer advertising for the cellular market has muddied the waters. However, the reality is that modern AMI endpoints operate on low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs), which are purpose-built for IoT applications such as smart water metering.

In other words, there is no need for high speeds or ultra-wide bands. The data transfer is reliable, secure, accurate and timely. Data is sent over a network designed to assure long-term forward and backward compatibility, thanks to 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP™)—a global body that sets standards for the cellular industry.

When utilities evaluate cellular-based NaaS, they should consider:

• What is the experience in the industry? Is the solution a proven one? Is it secure?
• How long is the price guaranteed?
• What is the total cost of ownership? This should be plotted and compared to current costs for an existing fixed network—including accounting for truck rolls, non-revenue water and customer service calls—that would be eliminated or reduced. Also, compare the lifecycle cost versus a fixed network NaaS, being sure to include any unexpected costs that aren’t covered.

Water utility managers and municipal finance professionals are being bombarded by “smart” solutions, but many of them come from a combination of vendors. One key advantage of our NaaS solution is that a single provider manufactures the meters, endpoints and the software, then offers it in a one-contract package solution that’s easy for utilities to adopt.