Why NB-IoT connectivity technology is suitable for smart meters in India

New Delhi: As debate rages in the country over state-run Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) excluding the 5G-ready connectivity technology for installing crores of new smart electricity meters, experts said on Tuesday that the roll out of Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) connectivity technology is now being widely adopted by both enterprises and consumers globally.

After A backlash, PGCIL has delayed the last date of its tender to install one crore smart electricity meters — that pushes for dated, obsolete second generation (2G) and RF mesh frequency — from August 30 to September 9.

Industry experts said that with the number of active NB-IoT connections now rising into the millions, economies of scale are increasing, creating a virtuous circle that will drive wider deployments.