
Cellular connections to outpace LPWAN, radio in Indian utilities: Airtel Business-IDC study
NB-IoT
), are likely to outpace the growth of low-powered wireless access network (LPWAN) and other radio technologies in India's utilities sector over the next four years, according to the findings of a study conducted by the International Data Corporation (IDC), commissioned by
Bharti Airtel
's enterprise arm.
The growth of NB-IoT will be supported by a low-cost of ownership, standardised wireless chipsets and modules, security, and reliability and availability, the study found.
The Airtel Business-IDC study found that the growth rate of cellular connections, including NB-IoT, in the utilities segment is expected to increase by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.6% between 2023 and 2027. By contrast, the LPWAN, including LoRaWAN and Sigfox, and radio (including RF mesh) segments are expected to grow at annualised rates of 17.8% and 13.5%, respectively, over the same period.
In India, NB-IoT is being extensively utilised under the
National Smart Grid Mission
(NSGM), which envisages the conversion of 222.4 million meters into prepaid smart meters. However, just 32.90 million smart meters, or about 14.8%, have been deployed across India, according to the latest data available on the NSGM dashboard.
'Telecom service providers in India are further investing in upgrading the underlying network infrastructure, including 4G and NB-IoT networks. This improved connectivity will encourage the adoption of cloud platforms and services, offering greater scalability and flexibility for utilities companies,' IDC analysts Nikhil Batra and Swathi Arunaa said in the report.
NB-IoT provides cellular-based connectivity with wide coverage and low power consumption, making it ideal for large-scale smart metering deployments, the analysts said.
'By investing in reliable connectivity solutions, utilities can ensure the seamless integration of AMI and smart metering into their operations, thereby driving the success of India's National Smart Grid Mission,' according to the analysts.
The country's top telecom carriers, Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi), are all bullish on the growth prospects of IoT which has become central to their enterprise segment strategy.
Gopal Vittal, vice chairman & managing director of Airtel, at the telco's most recent post-earnings conference call said, 'We continue to add muscle to our digital portfolio with cloud…cybersecurity, financial services, IoT and CPaaS and all of these are getting additional investments.'
For instance, Secure Meters in partnership with
Airtel Business
has successfully deployed 1.7 million NB-IoT smart meters across Bihar. Secure has developed its own smart meters with NB IoT communication module, head end system, and meter data management system, which have been integrated with Airtel's IoT platform to ensure seamless cellular connectivity.
This large-scale deployment is supported by Airtel's (NB-IoT/GPRS) network, and includes a network feasibility tool and a SIM services management portal to assist Secure in effectively planning and implementing smart meter installations.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India Today
39 minutes ago
- India Today
Apple is selling truckloads of old iPhones in India, but why are people picking them over new Androids
If you try to guess the popularity of various phones in the Indian market by the spec sheets alone, you would assume that the latest Androids would be on top. Android flagships arrive every few months with bigger sensors, faster charging, folding displays, and long feature checklists. Yet, if you look at the sale data in the segments where iPhone is available, people are seemingly picking an iPhone, even if it is an older iPhone. They are ignoring the latest shiny Android, and if the price is similar they are going for the iPhone that was launched in 2023, or 2022, or even at the data, for example. According to IDC, the iPhone 16 as well as the iPhone 15 were the most shipped smartphone models in the country in the first half of 2025, contributing 4 per cent of overall shipments. The iPhone 16 was launched last year in September. The iPhone 15 was launched around the same time in 2023. And beyond these two, even older models like the iPhone 14 and even the iPhone 13 continue to be in stock across offline and online is this popularity and availability of older iPhones, which is helping Apple grow its size in India. According to IDC, Apple's total iPhone volumes in India grew 21.5 per cent year-over-year to 5.9 million units in the first half of 2025. So, what makes an older iPhone more appealing to consumers compared to a week or months-old Android phone, which has superior specs sheet, and more features? If you look at it casually, you might feel that it is nothing but the brand pull, and the brand pull is indeed there. But look closer, and we can start to understand why consumers continue to pick a 2-year-old iPhone over the latest Android. Performance that doesn't fall off a cliffThis is the biggest reason. Apple's Bionic chipsets are a quiet advantage that keeps older iPhones relevant. A 2 to 3-year-old Bionic chip still feels snappy in day-to-day use. Not only are A16 or even A17 faster in benchmarks compared to most of the current mid-range premium Android chipsets, but they also feel snappier in use. The performance consistency shows up in simple things users notice: apps open quickly, cameras launch instantly, and background processes don't bog the phone down. Even as Android vendors deploy monster core counts and high clock speeds, iOS tends to extract steady performance due to its vertical integration of hardware and software. When buyers test a discounted previous-gen iPhone in store, the perceived speed gap versus similarly priced Android phones often isn't there by a very big margin and that is a powerful nudge toward software support and day-one updatesExtended OS and security support is another reason older iPhones keep selling. Apple routinely pushes major iOS updates for five or more years, and those updates roll out on the same day to all eligible models. For a buyer choosing, say, an iPhone that is two generations old, the reassurance of multiple years of updates left in the tank matters more than a faster charging tech they may never fully use. On Android, support windows are improving at the top end, but the promise isn't as universal once you drop into the mid-range premium pricing segment, where many older iPhones now sit after ecosystem effect is realadvertisementServices and accessories lock-in gets talked about a lot, but it's more than blue bubbles. Effortless pairing with AirPods, Apple Watch for solid health tracking, AirDrop for instant file transfers, Face ID support for security and continuity features across iPad and Mac make an older iPhone feel like a ticket into a larger experience. This is particularly compelling for first-time iPhone buyers in markets like India who may snag a previous-gen model during festive sales, then add accessories over time. Even if an Android flagship offers a top-end chip under the hood at an affordable price and faster charging support, the day-to-day convenience of the Apple ecosystem is what people likely that age gracefullyApple rarely chases headline specs, but the camera processing on iPhones remains consistent year to year. That means an older iPhone still delivers reliable photos and video with natural colours, stable exposure, and trustworthy HDR, exactly what casual photographers want. The lack of gimmicks is a feature here and not a bug. For Reels, Shorts, and WhatsApp stories, usable video with dependable stabilisation matters more than extreme zoom, and iPhones (new and old) continue to be the safe bet for most users. The iPhones, particularly the older ones, do lack a lot of camera hardware, such as multiple lenses, that new Android phones offer. But for most users the missing elements don't matter that much because they get basic, solid photography and videography from the one or two iPhone lenses. advertisementBattery longevity and resale valueLongevity isn't just about updates. iPhones typically hold battery health reasonably well, which is mostly because of the well-polished software and hardware. Add best-in-class resale value to that equation and the effective ownership cost of an older iPhone drops dramatically. Many buyers plan for a 2 or 3-year cycle. The iPhone helps with that. More significantly, the iPhones fetch better value in exchange offers when it is time to upgrade. For example, a user who gets the iPhone 15 this year will get a better exchange value for it compared to the similarly-priced OnePlus or Vivo phone in 2027 when they are looking to buy their next phone. advertisementRetail math favours older iPhonesThe sticker price is only part of the story. For several years now, Apple has been following a policy of reducing the prices of its older iPhone every year when it launches new generation devices. The company has created an ecosystem where there are always some good offers going on with the old iPhones. Banks and retailers often bundle no-cost EMI, cashback, and trade-in bonuses around iPhones. Apple also sweetens the pot with exchange programs and student benefits in select channels. When these offers stack on top of official price drops for previous-gen models after a new launch, the "old" iPhone moves into the same price band as mid-range premium Android phones without feeling mid-range in day-to-day use. For instance, when the iPhone 16 was just 3 months old, it started receiving around Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 discount on online the bottom line is specs create buzz but buyers are choosing basics-done-right over the flashy features. And on that count. The older iPhones still offer a polished, cohesive experience at the right price and for most people, that is what likely matters.- Ends


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Russia's Lavrov to hold talks with Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on August 21
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will hold talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on August 21, a spokesman for Lavrov's ministry said on Wednesday. Moscow and New Delhi have talked up their "strategic partnership" since U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month announced higher tariffs on imports from India because of its purchases of Russian oil. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program More to come.


Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Economic Times
Deeptech startup Comminent raises $2 million from Transition VC
Internet of Things (IoT) communications startup Comminent has raised $2 million in funding from Transition VC to scale up its technology for smart city infrastructure projects in India. ADVERTISEMENT The company currently focuses on the smart metering segment, and plans to expand into large-scale deployments such as smart street lighting and water metering, founder Amarjeet Kumar told ET. It is targeting revenue of around Rs 300 crore over the next three years. Founded by Kumar and Vikas Kashyap, who have worked in the communications industry, Comminent develops standards-based, device-agnostic last‑mile communication systems to address reliability and interoperability issues in large infrastructure rollouts. Its product range includes RF mesh modules, edge gateways, and a network management stack. According to the company, its systems can integrate with various device types and utility platforms, enabling utilities, OEMs, and developers to deploy solutions more technology is designed with the aim of supporting India's smart electricity meter programme, under which the government aims to install 250 million units over the next four to five years. The rollout is currently happening in Gujarat, and within this fiscal year, the company aims to install about 4-5 lakh smart meters in homes, Kumar said. Smart meters are part of ongoing efforts to modernise electricity distribution and improve billing efficiency for company will use these funds to expand its operations and technology development and to support upcoming deployment projects. It also wants to hire personnel for different roles, including sales and technical positions, as well as another layer of management as the rollout gathers pace, Kumar said. ADVERTISEMENT The company claims its communications platform works with multiple hardware manufacturers and utility systems, avoiding the vendor lock‑in that can slow down smart city projects. Beyond electricity metering, Comminent is also in discussions with clients in the water and lighting sectors to try its technology in other urban infrastructure applications. Transition VC, the sole investor in this round, focuses on clean and sustainable technology ventures. "In a country like India, where the government aims to deploy hundreds of millions of smart meters by 2027, the need for a resilient, future-proof RF mesh technology delivering unmatched reliability while significantly lowering operating expenses costs has never been greater,' Raiyaan Shingati, cofounder and managing partner of Transition VC, said in a statement. ADVERTISEMENT