The platform and it is currently being applied to the future-proofing of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) communications for Utilities. Omnimesh has offered RF Mesh Networks since its launch in June 2018. The expansion of the Omnimesh range of products with Cellular capability will both complement RF Mesh connectivity and further increase the functions of the communication solution to meet market demands.
The new Omnimesh Cellular products deliver secure end-to-end communication across both public and private carrier networks. To meet a range of market requirements, the products are available in all cellular regions and bands, and support all the 2G, 3G, 4G, and emerging 5G standards, including NB-IoT and Cat-M1 IoT Cellular technologies.
The new Omnimesh Dual SIM Cellular Network Interface Card (CNIC) delivers point-to-point Cellular connectivity and automatically selects the best available Cellular network. The CNIC has been designed to be installed into a standard smart meter so that utilities can optimise their AMI deployments by choosing the right mix of RF Mesh and Cellular connectivity for their deployment environments and AMI requirements. A single Omnimesh Head End Server (HES) can simultaneously manage both CNIC and RF Mesh enabled smart meters. This approach offers a cost-effective solution that enables Utilities to collect meter data and control meters seamlessly through the integration of a single Omnimesh HES into a Meter Data Management System (MDMS).
The new Omnimesh Integrated Gateway (IGW) supports both Cellular and RF Mesh connectivity and acts as a gateway to the Omnimesh HES for a local population of smart meters. The IGW has been designed to be installed into a standard smart meter which has several advantages, including strengthened tamper-proofing, ease of integration, increased deployment efficiency, reduced total cost of ownership, and improved network coverage and resilience.