Heliot Europe has formed a partnership with B4T to equip its smart water meters with Sigfox-0G network connectivity. These meters, known in the industry as B4T’s Jellyfish smart water meter range, enable utility companies, organisations, and consumers to monitor water usage, enhancing the management of leaks and ensuring accurate billing.
B4T’s innovative Jellyfish BRIDGE patent technology upgrades traditionally annually-read water meters, offering the capability for these meters and their users to record data hourly and remotely. This advancement provides water companies and end-users with a more detailed insight into water consumption and leak data.
The Jellyfish meters function by recording and compressing data for efficient transmission, thereby maintaining a long battery life, exceeding fifteen years in the field. The data transmission and connectivity utilise Sigfox’s low-powered wide-area network (LPWAN) technology, adeptly handling underground connectivity challenges that surpass conventional 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi. By converting weak, short-range “drive by” radio signals into a robust, long-range Sigfox radio, the meters transmit data more precisely, providing essential insights for management and billing teams to make informed decisions regarding water systems. For example, in the event of a leak, an alert can be triggered to notify field service teams, or the data can aid in billing processes.
Alex Barter, Managing Director of B4T, states: “The UK faces a significant water challenge, with over three billion litres lost daily due to leaks, amounting to more than a fifth of the total supply. This issue extends beyond mere water wastage. Considering that 3% of the UK’s energy is utilised to distribute water nationwide, the environmental impact of these leaks is substantial. Therefore, employing smart water meters is crucial for water companies to promptly identify and address leak sources. These meters not only reduce water waste but also guide focused investments. For consumers, understanding water usage patterns becomes increasingly valuable, encouraging behavioural changes to lessen daily consumption.”
However, these devices rely on Cloud and IoT connectivity to function effectively. After evaluating various connectivity options, we determined that low power networks like Sigfox offer a transformative cost-benefit model for smart water metering. Our sensors collect water usage data in real-time, which, through machine learning, is transformed into valuable insights. These insights are instrumental in leak detection, prevention, and predictive maintenance.”
Gareth Mitchell, UK Partner Manager at Heliot Europe, comments: “IoT sensors and connectivity solutions are revolutionising industries worldwide, streamlining operations and simplifying lives for businesses and consumers. B4T’s Jellyfish smart water meter exemplifies how IoT, powered by Sigfox connectivity, can transform an industry. With over 260,000 miles of water mains in the UK, many of which are aged, we are excited to continue our collaboration with B4T, helping them expand their operations and provide this technology to water companies and consumers.”
Heliot Europe, the sole operator of the global Sigfox 0G network in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, the UK, Denmark, and Liechtenstein, stands as Europe’s largest 0G network operator. Through Sigfox 0G technology, Heliot Europe delivers a cross-border, seamless, user-friendly, cost-effective, and energy-efficient network, assisting companies in transitioning to digital services in asset tracking, monitoring, and supply chain management. Additionally, low-frequency radio technology presents a cost-effective alternative to existing Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT and CAT-M) solutions.
Heliot Europe also provides access to its global Sigfox 0G ecosystem, featuring nearly 1,000 sensors and analysis tools for data collection and evaluation. The company is a founding member of the 0G United Nations Association, an international consortium of over 55 0G network operators globally.
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