The Challenge of Meter Connectivity and the Importance of a Multi Technology Approach
News | 10/6/2025
The challenge of meter connectivity and the importance of a multi-technology approach
In recent years, the digitisation of water networks has accelerated significantly. Smart meters are one of the key tools in this transformation, enabling more efficient, transparent and sustainable management of the service. However, not all meters are able to communicate with the same effectiveness in every area of the territory served. Understanding why this is the case and adopting an appropriate technological strategy is now a priority for water service operators.
The principle of communication for smart water meters
The value of a smart meter is not limited to measuring consumption: its real power lies in its ability to transmit data reliably and continuously to a central system. This transmission can take place through various communication technologies, each with specific characteristics, limitations and costs. The most common in the water sector are:
Radio frequency (RF or wM-Bus): ideal for high-density urban areas, it allows data collection via local concentrators or walk-by/drive-by reading;
NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things): uses the cellular network to ensure widespread coverage even in difficult environments, such as underground manholes or suburban areas;
LoRaWAN: long-range, low-power technology, particularly effective in rural areas or over long distances;
GPRS/2G/4G: still used in some implementations, it represents a transitional solution towards more efficient IoT standards.
When the meter does not communicate: the variables at play
One of the most critical aspects of smart metering projects is communication coverage. Despite advanced technology, environmental and infrastructural conditions can compromise signal transmission.
The main causes of failed communication are:
Meter location (in deep manholes, basements or shielded areas);
Terrain morphology (hills, valleys, historic buildings or dense urban centres);
Network quality and availability (lack of NB-IoT coverage or low LoRaWAN gateway density).
Radio interference and regulatory limits on transmission power.
As a result, there is no “universal” technology: each meter must be chosen according to the installation area and operating context. This is where communication network design comes into play.
The importance of site surveys and multi-technology design
Before planning a large-scale installation, operators should conduct a technical analysis of the territory – or site survey – to map coverage and identify shadow areas.
This phase is crucial for defining which technology to use in each area:
RF/wM-Bus in compact urban areas, where concentrated reading reduces operating costs;
NB-IoT or LoRaWAN in suburban or hard-to-reach areas, to ensure direct and continuous data transmission;
Hybrid solutions in mixed territories, combining multiple protocols in a single interoperable infrastructure.
The multi-technology approach allows coverage levels close to 100% to be achieved, drastically reducing “non-communicating” meters and ensuring real-time data availability.
Sustainability
Benefits for water service providers
A well-designed smart metering infrastructure generates tangible benefits for providers and the entire value chain:
Operational efficiency: reduction in manual readings and corrective maintenance activities;
Data continuity: constant availability of information for predictive analysis and resource optimisation
Better customer experience: accurate data for billing and transparent communication with users;
Environmental sustainability: timely monitoring of leaks and more conscious management of water resources.
Terranova Smart Metering: an agnostic approach for a connected network
The complexity and heterogeneity of technologies, models and brands of meters in the field make it essential to have platforms capable of communicating with devices from different manufacturers, regardless of the protocol or communication channel used.
Terranova's Smart Metering platform fully meets this need: it is agnostic with regard to manufacturers, meter models and communication technologies.
This feature allows operators to:
integrate heterogeneous meter fleets (RF, NB-IoT, LoRaWAN, GPRS, etc.) into a single platform;
standardise data collection and management, regardless of the underlying technology;
maintain the flexibility needed to evolve the network over time, adopting the most suitable solutions for different territorial scenarios.
In this way, Terranova provides concrete support to utilities in building a smart, scalable and truly interoperable water network, transforming technological diversity from a critical issue into a strength.
Towards an increasingly connected and intelligent water network
The future of the water sector depends on the ability to integrate technology and territory. It is not just a matter of “installing smart meters”, but of building an intelligent network in which each device communicates as efficiently as possible according to its context.
For operators, adopting a flexible and technologically neutral approach is key to ensuring the success of digitisation projects. The goal is not coverage per se, but the continuity and reliability of data, which is essential for modern, sustainable and service-oriented management.
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