Telefonica O2 UK to support national M2M network

Telefónica’s UK operation, O2, on Wednesday struck a deal with security and smart metering firm G4S to deploy a remote management and monitoring system for a national smart meter network.

In a multi-million pound deal over three years, O2 UK will provide (machine to machine) M2M technology, including around 200,000 SIM cards, to connect smart meters across the UK to G4S’ data centre. G4S will use O2’s SMS gateway to relay information from its smart meters to its data centre and back again, while outbound messaging will allow G4S to monitor the working order of its smart meters remotely, reducing the cost of maintenance and servicing as well as carbon emissions associated with travel.

The deal marks O2’s first foray into the smart metering market and follows G4S’ recent announcement that it has signed a three year contract with British Gas Business to deliver end-to-end smart gas and electricity metering services in Wales, the Midlands and the South of England.

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