Semtech Corporation, a leading supplier of high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms, announced that a state-of-the-art metering solution based on Semtech’s LoRa® devices has been developed as part of the MeDa project for one of Germany’s leading energy companies with Seluxit, a leading developer of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. The MeDa meter leverages a number of the advantages of the LoRaWAN® protocol enabling consumers to change wasteful energy habits and save money.

“Seluxit chose Semtech’s LoRa platform due to the number of significant advantages the platform provides for the smart metering vertical market,” said Daniel Lux, Co-Founder and CEO at Seluxit. “LoRa allows our customers to more closely monitor how they are consuming utilities in real-time. Shortly after installing one of our LoRa-based smart metering solutions, like the MeDa meter, customers typically get insight into their energy consumption pattern, which enables them to change appliances and/or habits and see a reduction in energy waste and total cost. As a global key supplier for the smart metering market, Seluxit is committed to providing solutions that reduce energy waste and create more sustainable energy grids worldwide.”

The MeDa meter leverages LoRa-based solutions from Seluxit to provide real-time data monitoring of energy usage and proven connectivity to the Cloud for long-range data transfer. Additionally, Seluxit’s modem encrypts all data transfers as an element of compliance with Germany’s data security and privacy regulations. The meter’s long range capabilities allow end users to monitor energy usage remotely, even in large high-rise buildings. By closely monitoring energy consumption, customers can change wasteful energy habits and reduce their energy-related spending.

The MeDa smart meter solution uses a proprietary protocol stack that not only uses LoRa modulation for long range, but also FSK modulation at shorter distances, at a higher data rate. This is possible due to the versatility of the Semtech hardware. The higher data rate provides the end user even more detailed information about their energy consumption. The same hardware as used in the MeDa project will support LoRaWAN later this year.

“LoRaWAN is quickly becoming the de facto leader for IoT, and its long range, low power and ease of integration into existing infrastructure are clear advantages in the smart metering space,” said Marc Pegulu, Vice President of IoT for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group. “For developers and system integrators, LoRaWAN simplifies development and accelerates IoT applications to market.”