According to a study by IDC commissioned by Airtel Business, cellular technologies (particularly narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT)) are poised to overtake low-power wide area networks (LPWAN) and traditional radio-based solutions in India’s utility sector over the next four years.
The report projects a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.6 per cent for cellular connections, including NB-IoT, in the utilities space from 2023 to 2027. In comparison, LPWAN technologies such as long-range wide area network (LoRaWAN) and Sigfox are expected to grow at 17.8 per cent, while radio-based systems like radio frequency (RF) mesh are likely to grow at 13.5 per cent.
Further, NB-IoT’s anticipated growth is attributed to its low cost of ownership, availability of standardised chipsets, enhanced security, and high network reliability. These advantages have made it a key enabler in initiatives like the National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM), which targets the rollout of 222.4 million prepaid smart meters. However, only 32.9 million meters, which is around 14.8 per cent, have been deployed so far.
Telcos, including Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi), are betting heavily on IoT to drive their enterprise business. For instance, Airtel Business, in partnership with Secure Meters, has deployed 1.7 million NB-IoT smart meters across Bihar. These meters are integrated with Airtel’s IoT platform, backed by tools such as network feasibility checks and SIM management portals to streamline deployment and connectivity.
