“The mobile network operators are set to benefit from an estimated $1.8 trillion Internet of Things(IoT) revenue opportunities by 2026.”- GSM Association
The Internet of Things(IoT) rapidly evolved from a novel concept to a widely innovative technology adopted by different industries. Among these, telecom companies like Jio, Airtel, and Vi bring the revolution in the telecom sector. According to the report by Kaspersky, 71% of IT and telecom companies adopted IoT technology worldwide. In the projection, this agency claimed that the total number of IoT devices will reach 38.6 billion by 2025. Based on this data, the biggest companies in other sectors, like power generation and supply, also want to adopt IoT technology.
Recently, Airtel Business, the B2B arm of Bharti Airtel, announced that it will power over 20 million smart metres for Adani Energy Solutions Limited(AESL). In the press release, Ganesh Lakhminarayanan, CEO of Airtel Business (India), said, “India’s smart metering programme is one of the most significant policy reform measures undertaken by the Government. These metres are critical building blocks for smart grids and fundamental enablers for the digitalisation of the power sector. Airtel expects its NB-IoT technology to play a significant role in the utility space to connect and manage smart metres at scale with enhanced coverage, high reliability and security. We look forward to a long and fruitful association with the Adani Group, supporting them in their endeavours to digitise utilities.”
According to Reuters, Airtel will deliver reliable and secure connectivity for all of Adani’s smart metres via its robust nationwide communication networks. The company has transformative smart metering solutions powered by NB-IoT, 4G, and 2G. These will help AESL with real-time connectivity and uninterrupted transfer of critical data between smart metres and headend applications.
The solution will be powered by Airtel’s IoT platform, Airtel IoT Hub, enabling smart metre tracking and monitoring with advanced diagnostic capabilities and analytics. As per the sources, Adani Energy Solutions has an order book of over 20 million smart metres from the power utilities of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Maharashtra.
After an announcement, Adani Energy Solutions Limited marks this partnership with Airtel as a crucial step in transforming how power is delivered using advanced technology like IoT. Kandarp Patel, CEO of Adani Energy Solutions Limited, said, “Our partnership with Airtel marks a critical step towards realising the vision of a smarter, more efficient grid for all. This strategic tie-up leverages the best of both worlds: our deep domain expertise in the T&D sector and Airtel’s robust nationwide network and comprehensive suite of IoT offerings, including NB-IoT and 4G LTE.”
Smart Metering Intervention in India
According to the data published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in report 2024, it approved 197.92 million prepaid smart metres, 5.2 million distributor transformer metres, and 188,491 feeder metres worth Rs 1.3 trillion(approx $15.61 billion). The decision was taken under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme’s prepaid smart metering intervention, which boosted the Government’s support towards implementing IoT and other technologies in power transformation and tracking.
In the prepaid smart metre program, the ministry overlaid an estimated Rs 1.5 trillion with the government budgetary support of Rs 230 billion. The Government’s target is to install 250 million prepaid smart metres. For this, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy joined with prominent power supply companies like Adani and Reliance to achieve its target in the shortest possible time.
An Airtel & Adani’s Exemplary Partnership
Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom service provider, has been catering to people’s communication needs for decades. With an evolution of telecom technologies like IoT, the company upgraded itself and brought the fastest network in India. Adani Energy, the industry giant in its sector, is looking to leverage Airtel’s network across India to facilitate providing smart metres to its customers. According to the report on IoT Now, Airtel IoT Hub facilitates the requirements for smart metres and helps AESL establish seamless data transmission without interruption.’
The prospects of IoT rapid growth and implementation make the biggest Indian firms collaborate with other companies with IoT infrastructure. Adani Energy, which is expected to extend its offering in the future, will look for more industry players like Airtel to streamline its power transmission network by adding IoT-enabled devices.
