NB-IoT Tech in Focus for Smart Meters

Annual tech spend of utilities sector may touch ₹32.5K cr by '27

- SUBHAYAN CHAKRABORTY

Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) is emerging as the preferred connectivity choice for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), aided by India's utilities sector being projected to increase annual technology spend to ₹32,500 crore by 2027, a white paper released by data and market intelligence major IDC has said.

The utilities sector spend has been rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.7 per cent since 2022, when it was ₹14,500 crore.

This surge in investment underscores the sector's commitment to digitization, seen as vital to tackling persistent high aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses, and operational inefficiency.