BT has secured a contract with Northumbrian Water to supply a low power IoT network which can boost efficiency through improved operational insights.
Approximately 150 sensors will be deployed across the network and will monitor things such as water flow, quality, and pressure. These sensors will be connected via a LoRaWAN (low power, long range, wide area network) and feed back data to BT’s IoT platform.
Chris Sims, Managing Director of Strategy, Marketing and Digital at BT, said:
“We are really excited to be deploying our IoT platform and LoRaWAN network to provide the connectivity and insight needed to deliver a truly integrated Smart Water network for Northumbrian Water.
It’s a great example of how the Internet of Things can be used to deliver a better experience to customers. And with 5G on the horizon, which will provide benefits such as lower latency, higher speeds and greater reliability, we’re thrilled to work with one of the most innovative water companies in the UK to fully realise the transformational benefits of IoT.”
Using the IoT platform, Northumbrian Water will have access to a visual representation of the entire network. Any potential issues can be dealt with quickly to reduce cost and prevent disruption of services for customers.
The use of a LoRaWAN ensures sensors have a long battery life while functioning across Northumbrian Water’s vast infrastructure
Nigel Watson, Group Information Services Director for Northumbrian Water, commented:
“We’re delighted to be working with BT on this pilot project in Sunderland, which is just another example of how we apply innovation to our everyday work. It represents a real step forwards towards the Smart Water network of the future transforming the level of insight we have into our network’s operations and driving improvements for customers.”
BT and Northumbrian Water’s project will be deployed over three distinct areas of Sunderland.
(Photo by Fikri Rasyid on Unsplash)
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