CyanConnode, a world leader in the design and development of narrowband RF mesh networks that enable Omni Internet of Things (IoT) communications, has made significant contribution to India’s smart metering rollout and enjoys a market share of 45 per cent in RF deployment for smart metering. CyanConnode India has completed prestigious projects across the nation, and today has an order book of around 6.6 million RF nodes. In this exclusive interaction, we have Ajoy Rajani, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director, CyanConnode India, discussing the company’s achievements in India. He asserts that CyanConnode is continuously enhancing its products and services to meet India’s evolving energy management needs. An interview by Venugopal Pillai.
India’s smart metering ambitions will cover deployment in remote and difficult terrain. Given this, how do you see the growing relevance of CyanConnode’s Omnimesh platform?
Given India’s ambitious smart metering goals, which include reaching remote and challenging terrains, the significance of CyanConnode’s Omnimesh platform is more pronounced than ever. Our platform’s innovative Long-Range RF solution is tailor-made for these scenarios, capable of overcoming geographical barriers and ensuring reliable connectivity across varied landscapes, from urban centers to the most secluded rural and semi-urban areas. Our successful deployment in Shimla, and the recent testing of our long-range RF solution, which complies with smart communication standards, underscores our commitment to addressing the unique challenges of India’s diverse terrain. CyanConnode is dedicated to advancing RF technology and collaborating closely with utilities to fulfill the smart metering infrastructure needs across all regions, ensuring seamless implementation and operation.
Despite the growing preference to RF-based communication solutions to smart meter deployment in India, are there other alternatives that one could consider? Please discuss.
While RF-based communication solutions, exemplified by CyanConnode’s Omnimesh platform, are at the forefront of smart meter deployment in India due to their reliability, cost efficiency, and strong adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs), the complexity of India’s terrain necessitates a composite approach. Recognizing this, aside from RF, technologies such as Cellular and PLC complement the connectivity landscape. This multifaceted strategy ensures comprehensive coverage across urban, rural, and remote areas, leveraging the unique strengths of each technology to provide a seamless, efficient, and robust smart metering infrastructure, thus accommodating the diverse geographical and infrastructural demands of India.
CyanConnode recently tested its “long-range” RF module for smart meters in India. Tell us more. How will this be even more relevant and applicable to deployments in India?
CyanConnode’s recent advancement with the “long-range” RF module is a game-changer for smart meter deployments in India, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where connectivity challenges are prevalent. This long-range RF solution, part of our Omnimesh platform, is engineered to extend coverage up to 5 – 10 km per link, even in the most challenging terrains such as dense, hilly, or agricultural lands. This breakthrough significantly enhances the practicality and effectiveness of smart metering infrastructure across diverse geographical settings.
The ability of this technology to maintain high levels of communication success rate, coupled with its compliance to smart communication standards and ease of deployment, positions it as a critical solution for areas previously considered hard to reach. By enabling robust, secure, and efficient communication over long distances, this long-range RF module facilitates seamless data transmission between energy meters and head-end systems, thus overcoming the limitations associated with cellular technology in these regions.
What is CyanConnode’s current order book and what is the broad geographical distribution of the same? Also, what have been your significant orders, recently won?
CyanConnode’s current order book stands at around 6.6 million nodes, reflecting our extensive reach across 11 Indian states and 16 utilities. This broad geographical distribution underscores our leadership in Smart IoT Communication solutions for AMI infrastructure. Notably, our recent significant orders include 10 lakh Omnimesh Modules for deployment in Nagpur, Maharashtra, from Montecarlo Ltd, and 2.65 lakh Omnimesh Modules for deployment in MVVNL, Uttar Pradesh, from IntelliSmart. These orders highlight our capability to deliver large-scale smart metering solutions, reinforcing our commitment to advancing India’s energy infrastructure with our innovative, reliable, and cost-effective technology.
We understand that CyanConnode would be dealing with public utilities, private utilities and even private sector AMISPs. Do you see any difference whilst dealing with public and private sector entities?
CyanConnode’s experience in partnering with AMISPs and both government and private utilities has enriched our understanding and approach towards diverse customer needs. Each entity, regardless of being public or private, presents unique demands and problem-solving approaches. Our commitment to aligning with our customers’ goals has enabled us to adapt and deliver solutions effectively across the board. Consequently, the distinction between dealing with public and private sector entities is minimal in our operations. Our ability to learn from each implementation and tailor our offerings accordingly ensures that we meet the specific requirements of each customer, reflecting our flexibility and dedication to serving the evolving needs of the energy sector.
CyanConnode, as we appreciate, would be closely working with several domain-specific partners in smart meter deployment projects. Please discuss the various types of product and service partners that you engage with?
CyanConnode engages with a diverse array of partners in smart meter deployment projects, encompassing various domains to ensure comprehensive and efficient solutions. Our collaboration spans:
- MDM (Meter Data Management) Partners: Essential for data analytics and management, facilitating efficient energy use and operational insights
- Cloud Service Providers (CSP): Key for secure data storage and processing, supporting scalability and reliability of smart metering infrastructure
- Meter OEMs: Manufacturers of smart meters, critical for the hardware component of our solutions
- MCU Manufacturers: Providers of microcontroller units for meters, integral for the functionality and intelligence of smart metering systems
- System Integrators: Specialists who ensure the seamless integration of our solutions within existing utility infrastructures, enhancing operational coherence and efficiency.
- Security Partners: Providers of cybersecurity solutions that safeguard our systems and data from cyber threats, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of consumer data.
- Regulatory and Government Bodies: We work closely with these entities to ensure compliance with local and international regulations, aiding in navigating the legal complexities and maintaining high standards of regulatory compliance.
Are some partnerships exclusive?
The decision to enter into exclusive agreements with partners is made based on the criticality of their function to our projects. Exclusive partnerships are considered when a partner’s product or service is crucial for the success of a deployment, necessitating close collaboration and possibly proprietary integration. Detailed planning across multiple levels and departments is crucial to our strategy, focusing on cost efficiency, process optimization, timely procurement, and delivery of nodes. This meticulous approach allows us to navigate the complexities of smart meter deployment while ensuring the highest standards of service delivery and customer satisfaction.
CyanConnode, as we understand, currently has two large orders in Bihar and Maharashtra. What challenges do you anticipate during implementation?
For the large-scale smart metering projects in Bihar and Maharashtra, where CyanConnode is set to implement communication infrastructure for 1 million smart metering points each, several challenges are anticipated based on the unique conditions of each location:
- Demographic and Geographic Variability: Each state has distinct demographic and geographic features that influence installation logistics. For instance, rural areas might require different deployment strategies compared to urban settings due to differences in infrastructure and housing density.
- Environmental Considerations: We account for local weather patterns during the project timeline to minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth workflow throughout the installation phase.
- Public Resistance: Introducing new technologies requires building trust and understanding within the communities. Effective communication and community engagement along with Discom, local management and AMISP are crucial to overcoming these hurdles and ensuring community buy-in.
- Infrastructure Challenges: The existing electrical infrastructure, whether overhead or underground, affects the ease of installation and the technical approach needed. Overhead cabling might be more accessible, but it is also more susceptible to environmental damage, while underground cabling can be more challenging and costly to install.
- Meter Positioning and Clustering: The physical placement of meters, whether isolated or in clusters, can influence the efficiency of installation and data communication. Clustering meters can facilitate easier maintenance and data collection but may require more complex network management.
Addressing these challenges requires meticulous planning and adaptation to the local context. CyanConnode leverages its extensive experience and adapts its strategies, accordingly, focusing on tailored solutions that address the specific needs and conditions of each project area. This approach ensures that despite the anticipated challenges, projects remain on track for successful implementation and operation.
In this context, how has CyanConnode’s experience in successful project implementation in Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, positively influenced subsequent projects?
CyanConnode’s successful implementations in Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have provided crucial insights that have shaped our approach to subsequent projects. Starting with the Indore Smart Metering project in 2018, where we initially installed 75,000 RF nodes and later expanded due to our consistent delivery of over 99% SLAs, we became responsible for the largest RF-based smart metering implementation in India at that point of time. This project demonstrated significant improvements, including a 24 per cent increase in billing efficiency and a 22 per cent reduction in AT&C losses, showcasing a return on investment within 2.5 years. These are the numbers that were published and verified by PFC in its report on deployment of smart metering in Indore published in 2019.Our solution’s impact led to us being awarded an additional order for 55,000 nodes in the same project, followed by another significant order for 350,000 nodes in the next phase.
Similarly, in Himachal Pradesh, we tackled challenges such as harsh weather and difficult terrains in our first deployment of the Omnimesh RF infrastructure in a hilly region. Despite these obstacles, we maintained over 99 per cent SLAs and achieved remarkable coverage with RF nodes reaching up to 4.2 km in Shimla. We also tested our “long-range” RF module for smart meters in Shimla reaching a distance of around 9.5 km on a single link.
These experiences have honed our capabilities in managing diverse conditions and enhancing our operational strategies, ensuring CyanConnode remains a leader in smart metering solutions.
With much of India eventually getting digitally “connected” thanks to smart meters, there could be security-related issues. How are these being generally addressed by CyanConnode and its ecosystem partners?
At CyanConnode, we address the security challenges linked with smart meter digitization by implementing a comprehensive, multi-layered security approach, akin to the “Swiss Cheese Model” of cybersecurity. In this model, multiple layers of defense are deployed to cover potential vulnerabilities that might exist in a single layer. We use advanced encryption protocols to secure data in transit, rigorous access controls to restrict data access, and continuous updates to address software vulnerabilities. Additionally, we integrate robust physical security measures and sophisticated intrusion detection systems to monitor network behavior.
By anonymizing or encrypting sensitive data and adhering to international security standards like ISO27001, we ensure each layer of defense addresses different aspects of security risks. We also conform to all relevant industry standards, ensuring our practices align with the highest benchmarks for security in the smart metering industry. Regular security audits and a comprehensive incident response plan are in place to swiftly address any breaches. Our approach allows us to provide secure and resilient smart metering solutions, essential for maintaining the integrity of India’s evolving smart grid infrastructure.
India has planned to roll out 25 crore smart meters over the next 4-5 years under RDSS. Given this, how do you see the years ahead for CyanConnode in India?
As India executes the roll out of 250 million prepaid smart meters over the next 4-5 years, CyanConnode is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth. With a decade of experience in India, a deep understanding of the local demographics and geography, and a track record of consistently delivering Service Level Agreements (SLAs), we currently hold the largest RF deployment share in the country — about 45 per cent. Our extensive on-ground expertise and leadership in communication solutions for smart metering sets us apart. Moving forward, we plan to maintain and extend our market leadership by continuously enhancing our products and services to meet India’s evolving energy management needs.
CyanConnode has entered its tenth year in India this year. How do you see the next ten years? Do you feel India could make a significant contribution to CyanConnode’s global business?
India stands as our largest and most significant market, with extensive deployments that showcase our RF technology’s capability to support diverse utilities. Looking ahead, the RF canopy we’ve developed for discoms for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) purposes offers potential beyond electricity smart metering. It can be extended to support Gas and Water metering — the next big segment — and other IoT applications crucial for urban development, such as smart street lighting and EV charging infrastructure. This extension aligns perfectly with India’s Smart Cities Mission, providing essential services without requiring significant additional investment.
Furthermore, as the country’s infrastructure evolves, we anticipate an expansion into other utility metering, including gas and water. This progression will not only diversify our portfolio but also increase our contributions to improving India’s utility management systems, demonstrating our commitment to India’s long-term development in smart utilities. These expansions and integrations are expected to significantly contribute to CyanConnode’s global business, reinforcing our leading position in the IoT and smart metering industry.
All project images seen in this interview relate to CyanConnode’s RF node deployments in India.
