The Department of Energy and Climate Change is set to decide this summer which communication technology will support the rollout of smart meters to every home and small business by 2020. A recent announcement offers encouraging news for people living in rural areas.
The Government has selected a supplier to deliver its £150 million Mobile Infrastructure Project (MIP). This initiative will extend cellular mobile phone services, built on open standards, into rural “not spots” that currently have no coverage.
The new infrastructure will interconnect with the networks of the UK’s four major mobile operators, bringing mobile services to around 60,000 premises that today lack reliable coverage.
This move strengthens the Government’s aim to position the UK as a leading digital economy and underscores its commitment to innovation through open standards. It also highlights the broader success of the smart meter programme, one of the largest energy infrastructure efforts in the UK since the development of North Sea gas.
Smart meters form a crucial foundation for a smarter energy system. By giving households and small businesses clear, timely information about their electricity and gas use, smart meters empower consumers to monitor, manage, and—if they choose—reduce their energy consumption.
Choosing a smart meter solution that uses existing cellular networks, rather than a proprietary technology, offers several advantages: it is more future-proof, less reliant on dedicated radio spectrum, and can be deployed and operational from day one.
Improved mobile coverage in rural areas further increases the appeal of a cellular-based approach to smart metering, making the technology more reliable and accessible for communities outside urban centres.
Overall, the combination of expanded mobile infrastructure and a cellular smart meter solution promises to enhance connectivity, support consumer energy management, and reinforce the UK’s digital and energy infrastructure goals.