The telecommunications giant has joined forces with Arqiva, specialists in broadcast infrastructure, and business consultants Detica to take advantage of the proposed smart metering initiative.

Under the scheme, by 2020 28 million homes and businesses will have smart meters installed. These will enable users to monitor how much energy is being consumed – vital to businesses aiming to keep overheads of business gas and electricity as low as possible as it then means steps can be taken to use energy more efficiently.

Smart meters will also help utility companies make their networks more efficient, and may lead to the introduction of specially tailored energy package based on customer usage data.

BT is proposing a long range radio scheme, which a BT spokesperson told Telecoms.com “can provide truly nationwide coverage and dependable reception indoors.” This makes it more reliable than mobile telephone communications.

Smart meters were first introduced as standard in the UK in 2008.

Read the full article in Telecoms.Com.