For many water utilities, meter reading still requires physical access to the installation site, with consumption data becoming available only at specific reading intervals.
The water utility serving several municipalities in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, chose to take a direct step from this traditional model to a cellular Advanced Metering Infrastructure, without taking the classic intermediate step based on a local radio reading with wM-Bus or similar short range technologies.
By connecting each meter directly to the remote system, the utility can move beyond periodic readings for billing and create the basis for more continuous monitoring and proactive water management.
Maddalena is an Italian company specializing in water metering and smart metering solutions. With ElecTo SONIC NB-IoT, Maddalena combines ultrasonic metering technology with cellular connectivity, enabling water meters to communicate directly with remote systems over public mobile networks.
In 2026, the local utility began this transition across its supply area, which covers 16 municipalities in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Approximately 1,300 ElecTo SONIC NB-IoT meters form the first phase of a broader multi-year modernization programme.
Instead of organizing on-site analogue readings, the utility can receive data directly from each connected meter.
This creates a direct path from traditional meter reading to a cellular AMI approach.
Moving directly from analogue reading to cellular IoT reduces the need for a dedicated local operations and makes reliable connectivity a central part of the metering solution.
A smart water meter may remain installed in the field for many years, often in challenging locations such as basements, technical rooms or underground meter pits.
Connectivity therefore needs to work as an integral part of the product, without requiring a different configuration for every installation site or network operator.
The objective is to make cellular connectivity as transparent as possible during deployment and throughout the meter’s intended operating cycle.
Where NB-IoT connectivity is unavailable, the ElecTo SONIC ’s wireless M-Bus capability also provides an alternative local reading option.
1NCE supports this approach by simplifying the cellular component of the ElecTo SONIC NB-IoT deployment.
Each meter incorporates an embedded MFF2 SIM and can use supported operator networks and cellular bands without requiring the utility to manage the underlying mobile network complexity.
Rather than configuring the product around one specific local operator, Maddalena can provide a more standardized connectivity setup, reducing customer-specific network parameters and simplifying field deployment.
The connectivity term has been aligned with the utility’s intended 12-year operating cycle, while the meter’s specified battery life provides additional design margin under the applicable configuration and operating conditions.
For Maddalena, this combination of integrated connectivity and standardization is essential when scaling smart metering solutions across installations, customers and markets.
The deployment shows how ElecTo SONIC NB-IoT and 1NCE can support a direct transition from on-site analogue reading to cellular AMI. While installation is still ongoing, 98% of the installed meters have already established a network connection:
From on-site analogue reading to direct remote communication
Approximately 1,300 connected meters in the first deployment phase
98% of installed meters connected during the ongoing rollout
A standardized setup designed for simpler field deployment
A foundation for monitoring, alarms and future operational services
"For us, the real value of NB-IoT is simplicity. We can connect the meter directly to the utility’s digital infrastructure using public cellular networks, without having to build and manage a dedicated communication network. Together with 1NCE, this makes the whole approach almost plug-and-play. We can focus on the smart metering solution instead of the network behind it."
— Valerio Carta, Head of IoT Business Development, Maddalena.
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