Proven deployment of 10,000 wM-Bus converters for EED

Proven approach from practice: from EED to water utility projects

Digital metering has become one of the key priorities for utilities, and water utilities are no exception. Increasing demands for data availability, communication security, and operational efficiency lead towards open and scalable systems capable of handling thousands of devices in real environments.

At a conference focused on the water industry, Lukáš Smetana presented lessons learned from a project in which 10,000 wM-Bus concentrators were commissioned and 850,000 meters connected within ten months. This scope illustrates the real demands of large-scale deployment in urban environments, including heterogeneous meters, varying building structures, and multiple suppliers involved.

Although the project was driven by EED directive requirements, it was chosen as a case study precisely for the water sector. The methodology that enables a large-scale rollout is equally transferable to water metering scenarios, for example, in digitalising bulk or boundary meters. The principles of preparation, planning, and coordination are the same regardless of the utility type. What matters is the quality of the process, not the label of the technology.

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This idea defines the whole project: success does not lie in a one-off technical solution but in systematic change management capable of handling the diversity of devices and environments.

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Technical foundation: open standards and long-term sustainability

At ACRIOS Systems, we have long focused on developing converters for LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, and wM-Bus, with an emphasis on durability, energy efficiency, and low total cost of ownership (TCO).

In practice, our devices are involved in reading approximately 1.5 million meters across Europe, which provides valuable benchmarking across markets and technologies. It also confirms that the focus on open standards and customer-managed encryption keys is the right choice in terms of both security and independence.

This experience naturally translates into project management: a well-designed technical foundation is essential, but the outcome depends on the integration of preparation, deployment, and operations.

Inventory and validation tests as the starting phase

Every rollout begins with a thorough inventory. In the field, it is common to encounter meters from different manufacturers, with varying protocol versions and communication modes (C/T/S), different transmission intervals, inconsistent key management, and occasionally depleted batteries.

Without an accurate overview of meter types, parameters, available documentation, and their long-term behaviour, it is impossible to plan network density or installation schedules reliably. Therefore, the inventory process naturally continues into validation tests using real device samples, ensuring that network design is based on data, not assumptions.

Selecting the right communication strategy

The next step is defining the communication strategy. LoRaWAN proves effective in environments where meter replacement is planned or where quality network infrastructure already exists. However, in areas with extensive wM-Bus/OMS installations, a bus-based architecture delivers higher value: local concentrators collect building telegrams and forward them to the backend via NB-IoT.

This approach leverages the existing meter base without large-scale replacements and allows quick coverage of “blind spots” by placing concentrators strategically, thus shortening the time to achieve operational benefits. The technical choice therefore becomes part of the rollout logistics, the project advances in layers and densifies the infrastructure based on real performance data.

Data-driven densification and cost optimisation

Deciding on the rollout speed and density is critical. In some areas, it is sensible to install a higher number of units immediately to ensure stable readings from day one. Elsewhere, it is more effective to start with lower density and, after a short monitoring phase, add concentrators where data shows the need.

This data-driven approach reduces the number of site revisits and optimises capital expenditure, as every additional installation is based on measurable parameters – read success rate, signal quality, and building layout – rather than estimates.

Open architecture as a foundation for long-term control

Another key link between technology and management is the system architecture as a whole. “All-in-one” solutions may start quickly but often come with closed interfaces, proprietary layers over standards, and limited control over keys or data. In the long term, this leads to higher costs and dependency on a single supplier.

An open architecture, built on standards, transparent APIs, customer-managed encryption keys, and the flexibility to combine devices and platforms, requires careful integration and discipline in SLA management, but in return provides sustainability, negotiation power, and freedom of choice.

This system-level decision then manifests in daily operations: easier component replacement, faster innovation, and a lower risk of technological dead ends.

Team coordination and real-time supervision

A large-scale rollout is a team discipline. The process involves meter and concentrator manufacturers, mobile network operators, backend integrators, application providers, and installation companies. If a clear responsibility matrix, unified acceptance criteria, and a defined role of a project coordinator (or orchestrator) are not established from the outset, delays and inefficient back-and-forth between teams are likely to occur.

In the described project, active supervision followed immediately after preparation: daily reports on read success rates and latencies, monitoring of “silent” meters, and a clear escalation path. The same principles should be applied to water metering projects to ensure predictable quality management over time.

Device readiness and efficient logistics

Device readiness before dispatch plays a key role. When manufacturers supply units with preloaded configuration (wM-Bus mode, intervals, profiles, keys), active SIM cards, and tested NB-IoT connectivity, along with exported production metadata (SN–ICCID/IMEI–profile–configuration), field installation becomes significantly faster and less error-prone. Subsequent operation is then stabilised by secure firmware updates (FUOTA) and battery telemetry, enabling proactive maintenance planning and reducing operational costs.

Methodology applicable to water utilities

Bringing all these steps together, from inventory and strategy selection to data-driven densification, open architecture, and continuous supervision, forms a methodology that enabled the deployment of 10,000 concentrators and 850,000 meters within ten months.

This same methodology is fully applicable to projects in the water utility sector, particularly those focused on digitalising bulk meters and integrating data collection without vendor lock-in. The key is continuity: thorough inventory enables a sound strategy, a sound strategy accelerates deployment, open architecture simplifies integration, and ongoing supervision stabilises operations.

If you are planning a digital metering rollout in the coming months, we offer professional consultation to assess your current state and design an appropriate strategy or next steps. The goal is predictable deployment with strong data quality, security, and long-term sustainability.