【产通社，10月18日讯】IMS Research最近报告“2011年全球智能电表市场（The World Market for Smart Electricity Meters–2011）”显示，集成有蜂窝通信模块的先进电表市场，将从2010年的260万台，增加到2016年的950万台，其中美国和英国将占大多数交货量。在美国，通信技术已经将每台电表数据计划方面的成本降低到每月1美元以下。查询进一步信息，请访问http://www.imsresearch-usa.com。

According to Rolando Campos, the author of the report, “The US and UK are forecast to experience the largest volumes of cellular shipments through 2016 for distinct reasons. In the US, telecoms have reduced the cost of data plans for meters significantly to about $1 (or less) per meter, per month. Utilities that wish to reduce up front capital expenditures by over 40% and reduce operating expenses are finally realizing the benefits of using public cellular providers.” Operating costs are lowered by reducing or eliminating the networking and maintenance staff needed to maintain a metering network. In the US, a larger percentage of the opportunity for new smart meter installations (i.e. endpoints not under contract) will likely come from smaller utilities that have spread-out populations in diverse geographies. Smaller utilities have less capital and often do not enjoy the tax write-offs that come with large fixed-capital intensive projects. Campos adds, “as telecoms providers lower the total cost of ownership for a cellular-based smart metering solution, not only will small utilities in the US switch to a cellular option but larger utilities in the US and throughout the world may begin to seek ways to collaborate with local telecoms to make cellular a more viable option.”

The UK is forecast to have the largest cumulative volume of cellular smart meters in the world from 2010 to 2016. Cellular solutions are key in the UK due to the general structure of the utilities and grid operators, whereas a meter change-out may happen piecewise, making cellular M2M devices the likely solution. There are already plans for some suppliers to ship cellular meters next year and as telecoms in the UK begin to see the business opportunity in the US mature, telecoms providers in the region are likely to follow suit and make pricing per meter more competitive.              
If you would like an interview with an expert in this area, please contact Rolando Campos, Analyst, at Rolando.Campos@imsresearch-usa.com or +1 512 302 1977.