Renesas launches an NB-IoT device for smart metering systems in India

Renesas’ objective is to serve the growing smart metering market. This goal aligns with the Indian Government’s Smart Meter National Programme (SMNP), which plans to upgrade 250 million conventional meters over the next five years. In addition to its suitability for smart meter applications, the RH1NS200 chipset can also be utilized for low-power use cases such as asset tracking, lighting and security.

“This leading-edge NB-IoT solution is a prime example of tailoring our design and manufacturing strengths to meet the unique needs of this market,” says Sailesh Chittipeddi, the executive vice president and general manager for IoT and Infrastructure Business Unit at Renesas.

To expand its semiconductor presence in India, Renesas collaborated with several Indian service providers. For example, the company works with Tata Elxsi to implement NB-IoT-based solutions on India’s leading telecom carriers’ networks. Renesas has previously partnered with Tata Elxsi to set up an electric vehicle innovation center.

“We are pleased to have partnered with Renesas to design and develop NB-IoT solutions and reference designs targeting smart applications ranging from water and energy meters to asset tracking,” says Manoj Raghavan, the chief executive officer and managing director at Tata Elxsi.

IoT Analytics’ Smart Meter Market Report suggests the projected worldwide smart meter market will reach $13.7 billion by 2024. In turn, global semiconductor manufacturers and telecommunication operators are offering advanced wireless connectivity devices for smart metering systems.

Renesas recently launched two new cellular-to-cloud development boards, CK-RA6M5 and CK-RX65N, which feature 32-bit microcontrollers and are certified by Azure. These boards allow remote management of IoT devices by working with Microsoft Azure.

Article Topics

energy management  |  IoT  |  NB-IoT  |  Renesas Electronics Corporation  |  smart meter  |  Tata  |  wireless