Elster (NYSE: ELT) signed a collaboration agreement with AT&T (NYSE: T) that will allow the company’s smarter metering hardware to take advantage of AT&T’s wireless communications network.
The combined offering enables utilities to integrate distribution area networking from AT&T’s cellular data network with Elster’s EnergyAxis® advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) solution.
Using existing cellular networks for smart grid communications allows utilities to avoid building their own proprietary networks.
Information on energy consumption and usage from the end-user will be collected and managed in real time by Elster’s smart meters. The information is then aggregated and transported securely over AT&T’s high speed networks.
“Momentum within smart grid has been picking up at a rapid pace for us,” said Chris Hill, Vice President, Advanced Enterprise Mobility Solutions, AT&T Business Solutions. “With this agreement with Elster, we are excited about the potential to expand our Smart Grid offerings beyond North America.”
Elster says it now 80 complete EnergyAxis systems deployed worldwide.
AT&T offers utilities machine-to-machine (M2M) pricing plans designed specifically for Smart Grid systems. AT&T also collaborates with smart grid technology companies Current and Silver Spring Networks.
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