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That should of been 'was always' going to choose. ESB will tell you themselves, they don't take risks with Irish energy. They innovate on the side to incubate for the future and internationally, but the core network has to be protect for electricity and gas.
Ireland likes to adopt proven, previously deployed at scale technology with relationships and trust established over decades.
There was the feeding frenzy of vendors engaging in 2013 then again in 2015-16, but the programme kept slipping to track UK (without saying it overtly). Lots of vendor activity - SSN (influencing for a long time), meter companies with their own 2G SIMs, Eesye, VF, TF, Erricson etc. Ireland was also going to choose scale telco type offering that integrates effectively into the distribution business side. It's a DNO led deployment, so different considerations to UK. It's a small country too for deployment, some independent Suppliers in UK are supporting more smart meters than are planned for many years yet in Ireland.
Omnetric is a joint venture of Siemens and Accenture. Both are deeply embedded in Ireland over a long time in energy.
Siemens in particular has been engaging extensively there for a decade at least to my direct knowldege. Accenture has a long history of advising ESB.
Yes LTI - Gridstream is a framework for L+G into which they have introduced a number of communication methods over the years, NB-IoT being the latest. Because of its more broad application, that technology does seem to have far wider forward adoption than most communications methods I've observed. Vodafone has been investing extensively in it since around 2015. One of the benefits is that it is essentially 'in-house' to whoever provides it, the deployment is relatively simple and the dependency on others lower. That's not meant to be specific around CC, VF or energy - it's part of the overall business case. Big companies find it easier just to skill-up than rely on others whether it is energy or some other sector.
I shoud perhaps also clarify to avoid any undue concerns that I do not work in a telco, meter company, smart metering comms company (been there a number of times in the past, moved on), energy company or competitor to CC etc - just in technology solutions provision more widely to energy retail markets in UK and around the world.
https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/landis-gyr-secures-major-contract-with-e-on-in-sweden-899725827.html
NB-IoT is being deployed now and supercedes a lot of previous technologies such as 2G, mesh & LoRA. Major telcos and comms platform companies are promoting their solution for it. Interesting in the announcement above that it references replacing the prior communications infrastructure. Unless the government of a roll-out demands a separate comms platform and data hub, telcos and metering companies are seeking to converge the comms into their value, constraining the independent communications platform companies - hence why SSN ended up inside Itron in part.
(I stayed around the group although not posted after the incorrect accusations about my motivations for posting last year. I have prior involvement with CC and am involved deeply in UK/global smarter energy).
Sadly aome are so wrapped in conspiracy you can't see when someone is just a normal contributor. CC has accumulated a lot of people who were related to it in various ways over the years and still in touch with their sector and evolution. As you say I have better things to do. Thanks.
TonyJ - okay I'll drop out then. That's fine. I have had my direct experience with them that made me feel it worth giving some insight. But clearly this board is past logic, so good luck. Track back to my previous input, it was spot on. Now believe what you want. I'm done.
I'm just stating what I said based on my engagements in sector. Like this board, people and investors take all kinds of views. Investors.like to be first and beat each other. They may have other views about potential markets not yet crystallised which was speculation on Thailand earlier. When BD director isn't on web page and photo never used - who knows what is going on behind the scenes? It's the endless process of quiet conversations and half promises. But only orders and their conversion matter over time. JC steadies ship each time he speaks and moves on to next hint of new things, but delivery behind and conversion to revenue and ultimately cash is what company is accountable for.and keeps it moving onwards About to fly, back later.
NAO - governments are always wilfully niaive to make business cases work when they want to, on basis of people will of moved and issues will be highlighted later. Will be lots of talk about benefits, 'no regrets' spend etc. This is typical UK government approach - justify going ahead then agree on problems after. Note, roll out not stopped just financial case under scrutiny. Whatever the twists and turns - CC cannot influence, are not in top rooms and are washed along on the tide. I think it will get there overall but be more complex, longer to get there, more.costly etc. But seeming no will to do anything other and needed to underpin other initiatives - EV, storage, DSR, flexibility, microgrids etc.
If orders are delivered, have no claim against them and are paid in money to UK bank, then like any other revenue it counts and market perception changes. Those are huge ifs though. As I say, who is delivering all this in each country? Which Cyan people are training etc. When I worked in a company where it had smart meter deployment related value, it had to give monthly contract deployments in total and by contract to market. Then market could see conversion. That's really gritty, hard stuff. Being dependent on customers to convert intent is fraught with complication in mature markets and even more in ones CC is in. I was not giving my specific opinion of my own, ai was examining the rationale of share understanding in the market.
There is a lot of opinion on the board and I hold back from posting most of time. But worth giving what I hope is a balanced view here. 1. Three key orders in Ukraine, Iran and Bangladesh. None care easy to deliver and shown progress. Ukraine still tense with Russia. USA pushing at Iran. No easy chance of getting money out of these countries. One appears to have stalled but not been confirmed which. 2. DCC slow to grow and no signs of CC presence or flow into monies. DCC and SMETS meter solutions still evolving. Hard to reach tender last year, why needed? Market discounting DCC for everyone right now until proven at scale. Who really knows! Original Connode licencing on that was probably years ago and no definitive market update for ages on it. Not their fault necessarily but hard then to count into perception. 3. Lighting - I doubt they have been promoting this for a few years globally now due to evolving end country customer architecture needs. Countries also want local solutions. A big ticket play for existing incumbents. Need big financial underpinning and delivery evidence to win big contracts. 4. India - a hard, long term, huge scale, political play. CC best chance was disrupt early, but not converted yet. Cannot rely on statements about intentions in India on smart metering. Most people in business in India but nothing converted at scale. CC working hard in a market that isn't transparent and seems to.eant to place delivery risk in a certain way. No evidence of big CC partners declsring CC inside. CC possibly too small to win on its own 5. Ireland - not involved I envisage. Ireland announced plans last year. Off the radar for CC now it seems. 6. Seem to be promoting original Cyan solution, Connode people not around, CTO gone in a continuous cycle of putting pressure on good people or using illness as reason. Seems others now not around too recently. Feels like cash conservation though no doubt explained in terms of focus. People here say speak to SS at CC - but he is just non executive now isn't he? Core team doing the work seems to have undergone some evolution. Big question - who is doing in field delivery? Without that ongoing at scale, no early path to revenue. Other territories mentioned and sometimes announced but nothing comes - Ghana, Egypt, hints at Thailand etc. I'm sure they are engaging but these are hard places to convert intent into contract and contract into revenue for cash generation. Other emerging markets clearly stalled generally such as SA and Brazil. No money or regulatory structure to deliver in there, many companies minimising effort. Cannot rely on telcos tondo anything creative, so spreads small companies too thinly chasing down lead progression in pilots. Then investor community hates endless pilots so can get stuck. I am not invested here, I am immersed into market and trying to help. Interpret as you will and best wishes to everyone.