4G smart meter patent licensing programme launched

Joint licensing solution provider Avanci has launched a new programme to simplify the licensing process for the growing 4G smart meter market.

With 2G and 3G on their way out in many countries around the world, 4G cellular technologies are set to become more widely used for the IoT and other markets such as smart meters.

Avanci’s programme offers a single license covering the 4G, 3G, and 2G essential patents of the current 39 licensors in the programme as well as those of any that join in future, at a one off fixed rate of $3 per meter.

Excluded are smart meters that communicate solely using the NB-IoT and/or LTE-M subsets of the 4G standard, as are the next-generation 5G smart meters.

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“We are delighted to launch our latest IoT programme,” said Marianne Frydenlund, Vice President and head of IoT licensing at Avanci, welcoming EDMI as the first 4G smart meter licensee.

Roy Kirsopp, CEO at EDMI, comments that the company joined the programme to assure customers and partners that “EDMI takes its licensing obligations seriously. An Avanci license gives us authorised, licensed access to a broad range of 4G technology patent owners in a simple and efficient manner.”

Avanci’s programme, the first of its IoT offerings and aimed at meter manufacturers and grid operators, is based on its 4G vehicle licence programme, which now has more than 145 million connected vehicles by 50 licencees and 57 licensors covered by a single licence.

Avanci also has a 5G vehicle licence programme in place, as well as an aftermarket programme, and says that at this stage it is exploring the potential for a 5G smart meter programme.

The idea behind the programmes is to reduce the complexity and transaction costs of licensing and thus improve predictability for all parties.

In a statement, Avanci quotes analyst firm Transforma Insights as forecasting more than 15 million 4G smart meters to be sold in 2023 and over 160 million during the next 10 years.