Vodafone Expands its Role in UK Energy 4G Smart Meter Upgrade Project
Mobile operator Vodafone has been awarded a second contract as part of its work with the Data Communications Company (DCC), which is working to upgrade existing Smart Meters in UK homes with Toshiba’s new 4G Communication Hub (details). But under the new deal they’ll also be providing some crucial fixed line data connectivity too.
Just to recap. The ongoing efforts to switch off older 2G and 3G based mobile networks across the UK will ultimately cause problems for the many Smart Meters installed across the rest of England and Wales, which utilise the same technology via O2 (Scotland and the North of England use a different LRR wireless system). Due to this, Vodafone has already been contracted to help upgrade millions of meters to a new 4G connection.
DCC currently plan to begin rolling out the new 4G capable Hubs as standard from summer 2025 (they’re currently still in a live field trial). “Given that 2G/3G networks will be phased out by 2033, that gives us and our partners eight years to ensure connection continuity for around 24 million smart meters – a huge challenge, but one we are confident we will achieve,” said DCC earlier this year.
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As part of that upgrade programme, Vodafone has now secured a second contract. This will see the operator provide fixed connectivity between energy suppliers and DCC’s related Data Service Platform (DSP) — the secure system at the heart of the smart meter network (this receives data from the meters and enables energy companies to access that information as needed).
Chris Lovatt, DCC Chief Executive Officer, said:
“Smart metering is central to Britain’s energy transition to net zero and the DSP is fundamental to the smart system. As part of the transition, it is crucial that we drive the best possible outcomes for our customers and energy consumers. The enhanced design and contracts delivered by this new DSP platform will enable DCC to deliver better value for money, while driving flexibility, stability and security.”
Vodafone joins a collaborative effort that includes IBM, who will build a new cloud-based DSP platform, and CGI, the system integrator and incumbent DSP provider. As a side note, some 20 million UK homes and small businesses have now received a Smart Meter.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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I’m a little confused as to why we need a telco to “provide fixed connectivity between energy suppliers and DCC’s related Data Service Platform (DSP)”. Shouldn’t connectivity be facilitiated via e.g. a VPN or mTLS?
Have a read of the GCHQ report on smart meter security. As demonstrated in Spain/Portugal this week, network stability is dependent primarily on 2 things: voltage and frequency. If a hacker took out 000s of smart meters concurrently, the result could be a badly damaged network which might take months to repair.
You assume every premises will have a broadband connection.
No, it clearly says that this is for communication between energy suppliers (who already have an internet connection) and the DCC (who already have an internet connection).
In my mind mTLS over the internet provides superior security to a fixed link – if you’re going to do mTLS over the fixed link then using the internet gives you better availability, and if you’re not adding additional security over the fixed link then there’s a risk that a well-resourced threat actor could insert themselves somewhere into the link and start performing MITM attacks.
I’m also failing to see why we need every smart meter to have a 4g connection, considering the data rate is so small. It would be much cheaper, energy efficient and (most likely) better to use something like LoRaWAN to transmit and receive readings and updates.
There’s also an abundance of these networks operating already out there, and coverage can be added in a matter of a day in poorly covered locations with much less infrastructure than a 4g network.
I thought they already used some sort of mesh system, or is that just to connect the gas meter to the electric?
I don’t have one myself, don’t want one either.
Because of the issues of having to deal with many network companies.
@Ad47uk They use a LoRaWAN mesh system in the northern half of the country (anywhere north of Lincoln if I remember correctly), south of that currently uses O2 2G/3G. LoRaWAN is used due to the more lower population density. If works well in rural areas but not so good in the cities.
This 4G communications hub needs to be rolled out in Scotland ASAP. The Long Distance 400mhz signal in Rural Scotland is a joke . Thanks to the Shared Rural Network Vodafone 4 g connectivity is excellant.
Come on Octopus etc. and the DCC , get a move on .!!
Agree, the LRR radio signal is useless in many parts of the hilly Lowlands with Smart Meters rendered dumb!
Ah, so Vodafone have to do with it, no wonder there are so many people with smart meter problems.
Eh? Its Slow2 with the contract currently.
It’s currently Telefonica for the mobile bit and Arqiva for the LRR RF bit. Vodafone hasn’t really started yet.
I have no idea why DCC went with LRR in the north and Scotland, and mobile network in the south. There’s no diversity across the two networks, they are just different for the sake. It would make much more sense for LRR and mobile to be used in one full diverse setting, using the best technology according to the site. There’s me though, thinking ahead, that will never do for DCC it seems!
They should probably be 4G and 5G enabled to make them even more futureproof? Seems like an infinite money loop for the telcos the way it’s going…