Sigfox SA leads smart water meter shift

Sigfox SA has been chosen as the preferred network to facilitate South Africa’s shift towards intelligent water metering systems 

Chosen by the National Treasury, Sigfox SA stands out for its strength and low-power requirements, forming the backbone of the emerging smart water meter infrastructure. The “RT29” tender, awarded to several System Integrators, aims to upgrade or replace current meters with smart ones, enhancing revenue collection and service delivery. These upgraded meters will utilise the Sigfox IoT network, which spans the nation.

Greg Rood, CEO of Sigfox South Africa, stated, “Water is a basic human right, and we are proud to be associated with provision of such essential services, supporting both revenue collections and provision. The fact that the National Treasury has entrusted Sigfox to monitor and support over 15,000,000 smart water meters in the country underlines how robust the technology is. We expect this to be a catalyst to further grow our local IoT and system integrator ecosystem.”

Rood details the reasons for Sigfox’s selection in supporting smart water meters, highlighting the network’s extensive coverage, the technology’s sturdiness, its low energy use, and the associated SLAs with Sigfox. Globally recognised as a utility-favored technology, Sigfox 0G has a proven record of facilitating large-scale commercial utility projects in South Africa. The advanced Sigfox ultra-narrowband (UNB) signal’s exceptional range and penetration make it the optimal choice for connecting meters installed in difficult locations.

“The Sigfox SA network already covers 91% of the South African population. Should there be a need to extend or densify the network, this can be achieved quickly and cost-effectively,” continued Rood.

Addressing power-related challenges, Sigfox’s technology is a game-changer for smart water meters, which typically do not have external power sources and depend on battery power. The low-power network technology of Sigfox, designed for large-scale IoT support, allows a device to operate on a single battery for more than a decade.

“The technology has an extremely low power reliance. The smart meter devices are sealed and waterproof, with batteries built in. Our devices will last for over 10 years at one reading a day, which far exceeds the three-year lifespan stipulated on the tender. Due to this extended lifespan, it’s practically an ‘install and forget’ scenario, which cuts costs and optimises resources. Sigfox’s benefits also include ease of installation, accuracy and reliability. And the fact that the network is independent means there is no reliance on Wi-Fi or fibre in the ground,” commented Rood.

He emphasises that Sigfox is unique as the sole mass-coverage network supported by an SLA, boosting reliability and offering municipalities an unparalleled return on investment.

“The transition to smart meters supported by Sigfox SA will mean improved collections for municipalities, real-time and accurate billing for customers, and improved management of increasingly scarce water resources,” concluded Rood.