Spanish operator group Telefónica has launched what it claims to be the first platform that integrates M2M communications and metering infrastructure management. The group said that the Connected Metering Platform will help both communications operators and utilities firms to enhance their smart metering deployments.

The platform enables businesses to better monitor and supervise their M2M business and smart metering capabilities, according to Telefónica. It simplifies utility firms’ operational processes by automatically managing meter-related communications, the firm said, and by exploiting operational data from a business point of view.

The main benefits of the platform are reduced operating costs, service level improvement, independence from meter and communications hardware vendors, compliance with security policies and the ability to adapt to utilities’ operations and business process, claimed Telefónica.

The platform is built on top of Telefónica’s M2M technology and assets, and has been designed in a modular and scalable manner, the firm said, enabling utilities firms to unleash more value from their existing or planned Advanced Metering Infrastructure investments.

“Smart meters are a first step towards the smart grid of the future which will transform the provision of utility services,” said Carlos Morales, director of M2M and cloudat Telefónica Digital. “With our Connected Metering Platform we have listened to the needs of utilities companies and created a flexible, scalable and integrated service to support their smart meter deployments.”