Network evolution: enabling 4G connectivity

Now in over half the homes in Britain, smart metering is supporting consumers in managing their energy usage, enabling innovation and efficiency for energy suppliers and network operators, and helping the UK deliver its net zero targets.

The smart meter network, designed, built and operated by the Data Communications Company (DCC), is one of Europe’s largest telecommunications networks and continues to grow as more meters are connected; it will reach over 100 million devices in 33 million premises at scale.

To maintain secure and stable connectivity, is essential that the smart meter infrastructure evolves over time alongside technology, as part of routine and planned maintenance for the enduring smart meter system.

The DCC has collaborated with Vodafone, Toshiba, Accenture, CGI and Deloitte to upgrade the smart meter network with a cost-efficient 4G Communications Hub solution so that homes and small businesses continue to benefit from smart metering as 2G/3G sunsets by the end of 2033. This is part of a planned upgrade which will see DCC harness the capability of 4G and beyond, improving operational performance and driving value for energy consumers.

The first 4G Communications Hubs are being installed from December 2024 to February 2025, with mass roll-out from summer 2025.

A customer and engineer stand beside one of the first 4G Communications Hubs to be installed

Energy suppliers began installing the new 4G Communications Hubs this week. One of the first installations in the central and south regions took place in Biddulph, Staffordshire, by E.ON.

Phil Gilbert, Director of Net Zero Delivery at E.ON said:

“Smart meters are a crucial component in the work to deliver Net Zero targets in Great Britain. They allow households to take control of their own energy usage and carbon footprint and help suppliers to balance demand across our national energy infrastructure. As a responsible energy supplier, we continually work to maintain our smart meter fleet and ensure they operate as expected. Therefore, we are delighted to be one of the first suppliers to be piloting the installation of these new 4G Communications Hubs.”

Gav Parrott, Director of Products and Networks at DCC said:

“At DCC we are continuously looking to ensure our technology is fit for the future, and it’s fantastic that DCC's customers, energy suppliers, have started to successfully install the new 4G Communications Hub in consumers’ homes.

"This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of DCC colleagues, our partners and customers, and marks a major moment in the history of the smart metering roll-out.”

To streamline and simplify the installation process, a Dual Band Communications Hub solution has been developed for use in all premises, extending the reach of the Home Area Network and delivering a simplified installation process for energy suppliers, compared to the current solution which offers both a Single and Dual Band Communications Hub.

Thomas Cunliffe, COO M2M Solutions Division at Toshiba, who manufactured the new 4G Communications Hub, commented:

“It has been a privilege for Toshiba to design and build the 4G Dual Band Communications Hub for the DCC. We are immensely proud of not only the 4G end-product but also the way the team at Toshiba has collaborated with all the partners within the Programme. Our global supply chain is ready, and we look forward to ramping up production volumes for the mass roll-out next year.”

Smart metering is an essential component of the UK’s journey to net zero, helping households to reduce their own carbon footprint, while facilitating grid balancing and flexibility by delivering near real-time information on energy consumption and performance.

This upgrade will ensure that energy consumers benefit from continued smart metering services in their home, allowing them to manage energy usage, benefit from flexible and time of use tariffs, and easily and quickly switch supplier.