The Wize Alliance says deployment of its smart metering network in the UK is gaining momentum, with recent rollout data showing 97% connectivity across part of the programme.
The rollout is taking place across the South of England as part of Southern Water’s smart metering programme, delivered through the Horizon Water Infrastructure Alliance alongside M Group Water.
According to Wize Alliance, delivery teams installed 21 sites in a single week. The largest single site reached 19,000 connected meters, while overall network performance reached 97% connectivity and 90% completeness.
Connectivity becomes central to smart metering value
Wize Alliance said the UK water sector’s focus is shifting from meter replacement towards the quality and usability of smart meter data.
The organisation said lower connectivity levels can support digital meter reading, but higher daily connectivity is needed to enable leak detection, customer alerts and network analytics.
“When daily connectivity reaches 95% or higher, then the true potential of smart metering is unlocked,” Wize Alliance said in its announcement.
At higher connectivity levels, utilities can build more consistent consumption profiles, detect anomalies and use night-flow data to help identify both customer-side and network leakage.
Smart meter data is becoming increasingly important as water companies work to reduce leakage, improve per capita consumption and support demand management during the 2025-30 AMP cycle.
Wize uses 169 MHz radio technology
The Wize network uses 169 MHz radio technology, which the alliance says is suited to difficult water metering environments such as basements, boundary boxes and buried chambers.
The Wize Alliance technology page describes Wize as a low-power, long-range, bi-directional radio communication technology operating around 169 MHz and based on the European 13757-x standard.
The alliance says the lower-frequency approach supports stronger propagation through walls, soil and concrete than many higher-frequency networks, helping meters transmit from deep indoor or underground locations.
“The result is a network designed not for ideal conditions, but for the practical challenges utilities face every day,” Wize Alliance said.
Trials point to high connectivity
Wize Alliance said UK deployment performance is supported by earlier trial results. Jersey Water, working with Wize, achieved 98.1% connectivity, while Northern Ireland Water reported 98% connectivity in its initial trial phase.
The alliance also pointed to European deployments, including cities in France where it says connectivity is consistently above 95%, and Malta, where the Water Services Corporation has used a Wize network with SUEZ ON’connect for more than 20 years.
The Wize water use-case page says smart meters can support daily consumption information, leak alerts, anomaly detection and improved water network performance.
Data quality and water efficiency
The latest rollout data comes as utilities face pressure to reduce leakage and help customers manage demand. Wize Alliance said high connectivity supports earlier intervention, daily consumption insight and more targeted leakage work.
For customers, the value of smart metering depends on whether meter data can be turned into timely and useful information, such as leak alerts or clearer visibility of daily consumption.
Read more smart water and data-led network coverage in H2O Global News’ Technology and Water Management sections.
FAQs
What is Wize?
Wize is a low-power, long-range radio communication technology operating around 169 MHz, used for Internet of Things applications including smart water metering.
What connectivity level has Wize reported in the UK rollout?
Wize Alliance said the current UK rollout has reached 97% connectivity and 90% completeness across the reported deployment area.
Why does smart meter connectivity matter?
High connectivity allows utilities to collect more consistent data, build consumption profiles, detect leaks and issue timely customer alerts.
Where is the UK rollout taking place?
The rollout referenced in the announcement is taking place across the South of England as part of Southern Water’s programme delivered through the Horizon Water Infrastructure Alliance alongside M Group Water.
