Airtel & Adani forge mega partnership: Powering 20 million smart meters across India

Airtel's NB-IoT, 4G, and 2G-powered IoT solutions to boost Adani energy's smart metering connectivity

In a strategic move towards advancing India’s smart metering program, Airtel Business, the enterprise arm of Bharti Airtel, has joined forces with Adani Energy Solutions to deploy 20 million smart meters across the country. The collaboration aims to leverage Airtel’s cutting-edge IoT solutions for seamless real-time connectivity.

Under the partnership, Airtel will provide connectivity through its extensive nationwide communications network for all of Adani Energy Solutions’ smart meter deployments. Airtel’s smart metering solutions, fueled by NB-IoT, 4G, and 2G technologies, will ensure uninterrupted transfer of critical data between smart meters and head-end applications, empowering Adani Energy Solutions to efficiently manage its order book of smart meters from power utilities in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Uttarakhand.

Ganesh Lakshminarayanan, CEO of Airtel Business, emphasised the significance of India’s smart metering initiative, stating, “Airtel expects its NB-IoT technology to play a significant role in the utilities space to connect and manage smart meters at scale with enhanced coverage, high reliability, and security.”

Kandarp Patel, CEO of Adani Energy Solutions, highlighted the synergy between the two companies, stating, “This powerful combination will enable us to seamlessly deploy our current order book of over 20 million smart meters across India, empowering millions of consumers with real-time consumption data and control, while simultaneously driving down inefficiencies in the distribution network.”

The collaboration follows Bharti Airtel’s recent strategic partnership with IntelliSmart, emphasising the telecom giant’s commitment to expanding its presence in various sectors through IoT solutions. As of June 2023, Airtel has connected more than 20 million devices through its IoT solutions, catering to industries such as automobile, energy, utilities, logistics, and manufacturing.

With the government aiming to replace 250 million conventional electric meters with smart prepaid meters by March 2026, Airtel’s collaboration with Adani Energy Solutions aligns with the broader vision of a smarter, more efficient grid for the nation.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET Edge Insights, its management, or its members

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