O2 to support G4S smart-meter network
Telefónica O2 UK has signed a multi-million-pound contract with G4S Utility Services, a security solutions group and smart-meter operations service provider, to simplify the remote management and monitoring of the company’s smart-meter network in Britain.
The new partnership marks Telefónica O2 UK’s first move into the smart metering market, which is set for huge growth as utility providers roll out smart meters in households to meet the government’s 2020 deadline for 100-per cent smart metering coverage. In a multi-million pound deal over three years, Telefónica O2 UK will provide machine-to-machine technology, including around 200,000 SIM cards, to connect smart meters across the UK to G4S’ data centre.
G4S will use Telefónica O2 UK’s SMS gateway to securely relay information from its smart meters to its data centre and back again. Outbound messaging will allow G4S to monitor the working order of its smart meters remotely, reducing the cost of maintenance and servicing as well as carbon emissions associated with travel. The deal will also see Telefónica O2 UK providing G4S with the connectivity to run the annual testing of its disaster recovery process.
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