BT rejects GPRS for meter reading

BT has plans to build a system that will allow companies to wirelessly read meters in tune with government recommendations.

BT is teaming up with Arqiva and consultancy Detica and plans to use US-based Sensus' FlexNet long range wireless solution that operates in the 400MHz band (which has good building penetration characteristics).

Unsurprisingly the UK mobile network operators aren't too pleased as the original plans were to use GPRS connectivity which would have meant at least 26m GPRS systems installed by 2020 which would be a massive boost to one or more of the networks.

BT may not be successful and another consortium may still win the contract.