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CC
It is highly unlikely that you will suffer a lack of mobile signal as standard 4G network covers 99% of the UK population.
However, from time to time, you will have to move your position to obtain that signal, for example nearer a window whilst indoors. If you have never experienced this situation, please let me know what mobile phone you are using as I would like one.
Meters are of course static, and it is just not practical to relocate a meter, even when there is good mobile signal just a few feet away.
https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/mobile-phone-coverage/
JW
As at January 2019, only 250,000 second-generation smart meters had been installed onto the Data Communications Company’s secure network. The latest SMS order will accelerate SMETS2 deployments.
Accelerated SMETS2 deployments is good news for Cyan because sooner or later the Telefonica Communications Hub with RF will be rolled out in volume.
In due course, we will discover the number of second-generation smart meters that are in ‘Not Spots’, in the central and southern regions, (the Telefonica contract). The range is predicted to be between 10% and 30%.
https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/news-and-insights/industry-insights/connected-quarter-of-a-million-smart-meters/
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-4291166/Not-smart-New-energy-meters-won-t-work-1-3-homes.html
https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/products-services/design-and-assurance/communications-hubs/
LT1
With regard to the SMETS2 Telefonica Communications Hub, there are three Variants, “SKU1” GPRS with one antenna, “SKU2” GPRS with one antenna and RF, and “SKU3” GPRS with two antennas and RF.
I believe that where SUK2 is installed in a ‘Not Spot’, it will need to communicate with another SUK2 or SUK3 which has access to GPRS signal.
I believe that at present very few, (if any), SUK2 or SUK3 have been installed.
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.slideplayer.com%2F34%2F10243641%2Fslides%2Fslide_4.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fslideplayer.com%2Fslide%2F10243641%2F&docid=QT8vlmFxD84BFM&tbnid=M5K5WVWO7p4w2M%3A&vet=10ahUKEwiOnMmA1ovhAhWrxaYKHQOAApUQMwhAKAAwAA..i&w=1040&h=720&bih=958&biw=1920&q=Telefonica%20Communications%20Hub%20variants&ved=0ahUKEwiOnMmA1ovhAhWrxaYKHQOAApUQMwhAKAAwAA&iact=mrc&uact=8
CB
Thank you for conceding the point and to confirm as at Jan 2019, Indian smart meter deployments by network type were as follows:
PLC 49.9k
GPRS 51.2
RF 91.3
I totally agree with you that EESL are building a serious order book. The point I make is they have suffered several setbacks, so that is why there have been so few deployments. There is no doubt they will do every think possible to remedy the issues they have suffered from and if EDF can get PLC to work in India, then they are off to the races.
CB
I apologise if I have given “outdated information” and please can you point me to where I can find evidence that those “figures were put up 10 months ago”?
In the meantime, please see National Smart Grid Mission, Ministry of Power, Govt. of India Status of Smart Grid Pilots & NSGM Smart Grid Projects dated February 2019:
http://www.nsgm.gov.in/sites/default/files/SG-Projects-Status-February-2019.pdf
Thank you for your assistance.
CB
As a Newbie to this thread, I agree that EDF gives EESL creditability, which it has lacked after the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corp. Ltd, (KEONICS), fiasco.
To reiterate the facts, at the beginning of January 2019, less than 200,000, (two hundred thousand), smart meters have been deployed in India. Communication networks have been split as follows:
PLC 49.9k
GPRS 51.2
RF 91.3
In evidence please see: https://www.digianalysys.com/india-deploys-200000-smart-meters-15-lakh-to-be-deployed-in-2019/ (NB 8 has not been deployed and 10 & 11 are RF).
If you dispute the above, please can you help by guiding me to the information upon which you rely?
It could be that EDF provides EESL with a French GPRS/PLC solution along the lines of Linky. Please see https://www.smart-energy.com/features-analysis/smart-meters-101-frances-linky-electricity-meters/
However there are alternative solutions, for example, the UK Government selected a GPRS/RF solution for the Southern and Mid Regions, (see https://news.o2.co.uk/press-release/telefonica-uk-signs-1-5bn-smart-meter-deal/) and an RF solution for North of England and Scotland, (see https://www.arqiva.com/overviews/smart-metering/smart-metering/)
In my view, notwithstanding some contestants have been warming up for many years, the starting gun for India has just been fired, and I am sure, as in any race, there will we winners an losers.
LTI
Further ….. additional research reveals that EDF is proposing a GPRS/PLC solution, perhaps leveraging their Linky solution?
https://www.smart-energy.com/features-analysis/smart-meters-101-frances-linky-electricity-meters/
It will be interesting to see if EDF can deliver an Indian PLC solution, where others have failed.
CC LoL ??, BUT …..
Fact 1: In 2017 EESL placed an order for 5m meters with Karnataka State Electronics Development Corp. Ltd, (KEONICS), a company that has “never manufactured any kind of meters in the past”. As a consequence the Uttar Pradesh deployment failed:
https://www.livemint.com/Companies/yfNgKn9BU9TUZI8CTKpDPP/EESLs-reverse-auction-for-5-million-smart-meters-under-a-cl.html
Fact 2: As at January 2019, less than 200k smart meters have been deployed in India, break down by type is as follows; PLC 49.9k, GPRS 51.2 and RF 91.3. In evidence please read:
https://www.digianalysys.com/india-deploys-200000-smart-meters-15-lakh-to-be-deployed-in-2019/ (NB 8 has not been deployed and 10 & 11 are RF)
If in doubt of the above evidence, you could corroborate EESL’s circumstances by contacting Saurabh Kumar, EESL’s Managing Director. His email is: skumar@eesl.co.in and his LinkedIn Page is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saurabhkumareesl/
EESL awarded contracts to suppliers who had no experience of manufacturing smart meters, so it’s not surprising they are failing to deliver the installation of 5m smart meters.
https://www.livemint.com/Companies/yfNgKn9BU9TUZI8CTKpDPP/EESLs-reverse-auction-for-5-million-smart-meters-under-a-cl.html
I believe this relates to the EESL 2017 contract for 10m smart meters.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/power/eesl-to-procure-10mn-prepaid-meters-to-be-deployed-in-u-p/articleshow/61777679.cms
Unfortunately, the project has been failing and I believe less than 1,000 meters have been successfully installed. In my opinion, it is near impossible to get PLC to work in India.
CB
Standard 4G network covers 99% of the UK population, please see:
https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/mobile-phone-coverage/
I think a better interpretation is that up to 30% of smart meters could be in a ‘Not Spot’.
Every mobile phone user I know, suffers ‘Not Spots’, from time to time.
CB in answer to your query:
A ‘Not Spot’, ‘Dead Spot’ or ‘Dead Zone’, is a place where there is no cellular signal.
For example, you live in an area with good cellular signal and you can make mobile phone calls from every room in your house apart from the kitchen, which has no cellular signal, a ‘Not Spot’.
Unlike mobile phones, smart meters are static, and it is not practical to relocate a meter that is sited in a ‘Not Spot’, (in the above example moving the smart meter from the kitchen to the living room).
‘Not Spots’ can be very small areas, (less than a cubic meter), and are three dimensional, for example there maybe cellular signal at 1.5m from ground level but not at 0.5m.
Please see:
https://www.wilsonpro.com/blog/what-is-a-cellular-dead-zone-and-how-do-i-fix-it
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-4291166/Not-smart-New-energy-meters-won-t-work-1-3-homes.html
LTI
There is no IP in a unique identifier. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unique_identifier
If there were any IP in the modules, it would be commercial suicide to licence it to the Chinese!
Jwood, I think you will need to clarify with CC!
I believe $4m is the minimum contract value and if BI only manufactures one module, then BI is still obligated to pay $4m. I also believe that if BI manufactures more modules than the number of modules that equate to $4m, then BI must pay for those extra modules.
I also think that BI will need to bid for Utility contracts in partnership with CC, where (i) BI will supply the smart meters (with the integrated CC modules) and also the gateways and (ii) CC will provide the headend software and support.
LTI, I don't believe the IP is in the module or the unique identifier, which is simply to identify the module, (should two modules have the same unique identifier then the Headend Software will notify CC accordingly). I believe the IP is in the Head End Software and that a recurring royalty will be received from the end customer (Utility) each time a module goes live, eg. BI will pay a one-off fee each time a module is manufactured and the Utility will pay a recurring royalty when the smart meter goes live.
Jwood, remember the modules require Head End Software to operate, (Ominimesh), I believe on their own, they are useless. I also believe that each module manufactured has a unique identifier which Ominmesh either accepts (if valid) or rejects (if not valid). Therefore I believe BI cannot simply sell zillions of modules, they need an end customer (utility) who will presumably pay CyanConnode a licence fee/royalty for Ominimesh.
"Beijing Instruments will pay a license fee each time a RF module and/or gateway unit is manufactured"
I believe $4m is the minimum contract value so if BI only manufactures 1 module in 24 months then BI still has to pay $4m, if however, BI manufactures more modules than the minimum number, (minimum number of modules x Y = $4m), then they have pay for each module manufactured above the minimum number.