Smart meters to cost the UK billions: 2G switch-off means replacing 12-13 million
Sunset of legacy cellphone tech means forced upgrade for many millions of smart energy meter users
A report from connectivity firm Wirepas reveals that up to 12-13 million smart meters in the UK could become non-functional when 2G and 3G networks are shut down by 2033, with the replacement costing approximately £4 billion ($5.3 billion). Smart meters have faced controversy due to the UK government's poor implementation of the technology, which was targeted for installation in 80% of households by 2020.
However, delays and technical issues, such as meters stopping working when consumers switched energy suppliers, have hindered progress. The issue primarily stems from early meters using 2G or 3G cellular connections, which are being phased out. BT/EE will start closing its network in May 2029, VMO2 in the summer, and Vodafone plans to switch off by spring 2030.
The report identifies two major areas of expenditure: replacing the communications module for newer SMETS2 meters and replacing the entire older SMETS1 meters, which amount to £4 billion in gross replacement costs.
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