The Sultanate’s digital partner of choice, Ooredoo, showcased its pioneering smart meter technology at this year’s Energy and Water Exhibition. Organised by the Public Authority for Water “Diam” at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, Ooredoo highlighted how this vital industry is being transformed using its unique multi-access Internet-of-Things (IoT) and network based on LoRaWAN technology.
Sultan bin Ahmed Al Wahaibi, Chief Business and Wholesale Officer at Ooredoo, said, “We pride ourselves in having led Oman’s transition to electricity smart metering since 2016, investing in the latest solutions to enable the country to ‘be digital’. As the only telecoms operator participating in the exhibition, our aim was to showcase our best practices and the potential of what is yet to come. Diam’s trust in our capabilities will continue to drive our efforts to support the digitalisation of this key sector.”
Ooredoo, in association with the National Electricity and Energy Centre for Diam, rolled out its IoT-based smart water meters in Musandam in January this year. Today, the new digital solution has eliminated the challenges faced by utilities providers when collecting meter readings, especially in isolated locations. The smart water meter automatically collects consumption data and transfers it to a central database for billing, troubleshooting and evaluation, thus enabling Diam to obtain accurate meter readings remotely. The benefits of the technology also extend to natural resource preservation as it also saves water by spotting leaks. This state-of-the-art project follows the Authority’s ambitious plans to establish smart cities across Oman. Following the successful deployment of the system in the Sultanate’s strategic strait Governorate, Diam is looking to implement smart meters in the capital Muscat.
Ooredoo is the first telecoms operator in Oman and the GCC to join the non-profit association LoRa Alliance. This membership enables the company to collaborate with other IoT service providers, chip manufacturers, solution developers and other businesses serving the industry’s requirement to push the technology forward.