Sigfox SA has been chosen to support South Africa’s transition to smart water meters.
Sigfox SA was selected by the National Treasury to underpin the new smart water meter system. This tender, referred to as “RT29” and awarded to various System Integrators, will see current meters either adapted or replaced with smart meters to enhance revenue collection and service delivery. All new meters will operate on the nationwide Sigfox IoT network.
Greg Rood, CEO of Sigfox South Africa, said: “Water is a basic human right, and we are proud to be associated with provision of such essential services, supporting both revenue collections and provision. The fact that the National Treasury has entrusted Sigfox to monitor and support over 15,000,000 smart water meters in the country underlines how robust the technology is. We expect this to be a catalyst to further grow our local IoT and system integrator ecosystem.”
Rood explained that Sigfox was chosen due to its extensive network coverage, technological robustness, low power consumption, and the service level agreements (SLAs) associated with Sigfox. The Sigfox 0G network is favoured by utilities worldwide and has a proven track record in supporting large commercial utility deployments in South Africa. The superior range and penetration of Sigfox’s advanced ultra-narrowband (UNB) signal make it ideal for connecting meters often installed in challenging environments.
“The Sigfox SA network already covers 91% of the South African population. Should there be a need to extend or densify the network, this can be achieved quickly and cost-effectively,” Rood said.
Sigfox technology also addresses potential power challenges, as smart water meters typically lack access to external power and rely on batteries. Sigfox’s low power network technology, designed to support IoT at scale, allows a device to operate on the same battery for over 10 years.
He added: “The technology has an extremely low power reliance. The smart meter devices are sealed and waterproof, with batteries built in. Our devices will last for over 10 years at one reading a day, which far exceeds the three-year lifespan stipulated on the tender. Due to this extended lifespan, it’s practically an ‘install and forget’ scenario, which cuts costs and optimises resources. Sigfox’s benefits also include ease of installation, accuracy and reliability. And the fact that the network is independent means there is no reliance on Wi-Fi or fibre in the ground.”
He noted that Sigfox is the only mass coverage network supported by an SLA, enhancing reliability and delivering exceptional ROI for municipalities.
“The transition to smart meters supported by Sigfox SA will mean improved collections for municipalities, real-time and accurate billing for customers, and improved management of increasingly scarce water resources,” Rood concluded.
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