The Internet of Things: Building a sustainable, affordable and resilient future for utilities

The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow rapidly, with billions of devices coming online and transforming industries such as energy, manufacturing and urban infrastructure. As this expansion accelerates, it is becoming increasingly clear that relying solely on traditional, centralized connectivity models, particularly those built around cellular networks, may not yield the optimal solution. The unique demands of IoT, including ultra-high reliability, dense device populations and diverse deployment environments, often require more flexible, resilient and decentralized approaches to achieve sustainable scale.

The Challenges of Cellular for IoT

Cellular networks, primarily designed for mobile use cases like smartphones, are not always well-suited to the low latency, ‘always on’ needs of IoT devices. Building and maintaining tower-based infrastructure is capital intensive. Additionally, patchy rural coverage, urban blackspots and vendor lock-in with mobile network operators (MNOs) make it difficult to ensure reliable and sustainable connectivity at scale.

Critically, centralized cellular systems gives network control to third-party operators, reducing a utility’s ability to govern or optimize its own infrastructure. For long-term utility modernization, such as AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure), this lack of control becomes a strategic disadvantage for Discoms.

India’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) underscores this reality. The target is to install 250 million smart meters by 2025. But as of June 2024, fewer than 15% have been deployed. High connectivity costs and inadequate rural infrastructure remain key hurdles.

Mesh Networks: A Scalable and Affordable Alternative

Decentralized mesh-based networks offer a more sustainable and adaptable approach. In a mesh architecture, each device communicates with its neighbours and relays data across the network, effectively building and strengthening the infrastructure as more devices, e.g. smart meters, are added.

These networks often operate over unlicensed spectrum, such as the 865–868 MHz band in India, an underutilized resource recognized by TRAI as well-suited for low-power, wide-area IoT communications.

By using this band, utilities can avoid spectrum licensing fees, reduce operational costs such as airtime subscriptions and deploy infrastructure more affordably and quickly, with less reliance on traditional cell tower coverage.

Governance and Energy Independence

One of the most significant advantages of decentralized mesh networking is governance. Utilities regain control of their network instead of outsourcing critical infrastructure to telecom providers. This not only lowers long-term costs but enhances security, flexibility and reliability, key pillars for national infrastructure. With RF mesh, utilities are no longer just customers of mobile network operators.

Instead, they, or their chosen AMI system integrators or service providers, effectively become the network operators themselves. This level of governance is especially critical in the energy sector, where utilities must develop future-ready systems that support real-time diagnostics, remote disconnection, reduced energy losses, and rapid network recovery following power outages.

While mesh networks are often associated with non-cellular technologies, it's important to recognize that LTE Cat-1, a popular cellular standard, has played a significant role in the evolution of IoT connectivity. Originally developed as a lower-bandwidth variant of LTE for mobile devices, LTE Cat-1 was the first cellular technology tailored to suit IoT requirements. It remains a widely adopted option within the broader connectivity mix, though it still relies on infrastructure originally designed for mobile phone services.

Moreover, a key architectural advancement, the ‘in-meter gateway’ enhances the flexibility and coverage options of decentralized RF mesh networks. Traditionally, Data Concentrator Units (DCUs) served as dedicated gateways between smart meters and head-end systems, introducing additional cost and installation complexity. In contrast, in-meter gateways integrate this functionality directly into a ‘hybrid’ meter, supporting RF mesh along with cellular, or other connectivity standards natively. This streamlines deployment, reduces hardware and maintenance costs, and improves scalability for large-scale rollouts.

Real-World Deployments

India is already seeing promising results from hybrid models. Around 1 crore smart meters are connected via decentralized mesh networks, particularly in areas where cellular coverage is limited or costly. Providers like Tata Power and Adani Electricity are deploying both RF mesh and cellular networks in parallel, using each where it performs best.

In dense urban areas, RF mesh has achieved up to 99.9% SLA performance. Its resilience and adaptability make it well-suited for both crowded cities and remote regions, aligning with India’s diverse energy deployment needs.

A Balanced, Sustainable Future: Mesh + Cellular

No single technology can meet all the demands of IoT. Both cellular and RF mesh have distinct and complementary strengths. RF mesh offers clear advantages in terms of control, resilience, and cost-efficiency, particularly in static, high-density or infrastructure-limited environments.

For Discoms, this means investing in a network that will outlast the meters themselves, while remaining insulated, at least in part, from the commercial priorities of mobile network operators, which often focus on maximizing returns from mobile phone services.

Cellular provides a widely available, well-understood infrastructure that is relatively easy to deploy. While its coverage may not be exhaustive, especially in rural or congested areas, it remains a trusted and familiar option. However, the ongoing operational costs can make cellular a relatively expensive choice, particularly for large-scale deployments like smart metering.

An intelligent blend of both technologies creates a reliable, affordable and sustainable connectivity strategy. This hybrid approach ensures coverage and control, while future-proofing infrastructure against evolving demands.

The future of IoT infrastructure lies in decentralization, not just for technical reasons, but for economic, operational and environmental sustainability. When smart meters and devices also serve as part of the network infrastructure, through mesh and in-meter gateways, utilities can govern their own systems, reduce dependence on external operators and deploy cost-effective solutions that scale.

This isn’t just a change in technology, it demonstrates a rethinking of control, sustainability and resilience. It’s this kind of forward-looking approach that will define the next generation of energy infrastructure in India and beyond.

By Ashish Sahay, Sales Director & Country Manager, Wirepas India