Smart metering, leak detection, and energy monitoring all depend on one thing: reliable communication. For utilities rolling out thousands of devices across remote and harsh environments, cellular connectivity offers a scalable answer. But off-the-shelf modems often don’t fit the bill.
That’s where custom industrial cellular modems—like Siretta’s ZETA range—are enabling faster rollouts, longer lifespans, and better data reliability.
Utility Networks Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All
Water, gas, and energy utilities all share a common challenge: they operate critical infrastructure, often in hard-to-reach locations. Standard modems can present problems:
• Wrong power input range
• Unreliable signal in rural areas
• No support for legacy interfaces (e.g., RS232)
And when you’re deploying 10,000 units in the field, every workaround adds up in time and cost.
Tailored Modems for Utility Use Cases
Siretta works with utility providers to adapt modems specifically for field requirements:
- Power-optimised designs for battery or solar setups
- High-gain antenna support for weak signal zones
- Firmware pre-loaded with your AT command sequences
These aren’t extras—they’re enablers for long-term ROI.
Aerial view of water treatment factory at city wastewater cleaning facility. Purification process of removing undesirable chemicals, suspended solids and gases from contaminated liquid.
Case Example: Remote Pump Station Monitoring
A national water utility needed reliable, low-maintenance connectivity for pump stations in rural areas. Off-the-shelf cellular devices had inconsistent performance and required manual setup.
Siretta provided a custom version of the ZETA modem with:
- Industrial temperature tolerance
- Board integration/adaptation
- Serial interface integration ready for their PLCs
The result? Faster deployment, reduced setup errors, and consistent communication from day one.
The result? 98% uptime, reduced site visits, and better visibility across their network.
Lower OPEX, Faster Time to Value
For utilities operating under regulatory pressure and tight budgets, the combination of low-power operation, robust construction, and plug-and-play deployment makes a real difference.
With custom modems:
- Engineers don’t need to adapt their systems to fit the modem
- Install times are slashed
- Data reliability improves from Day 1
Looking Ahead: Built for Change
With PSTN switch-offs, 2G sunsets, and the rise of NB-IoT and LTE-M, future-proofing your communications infrastructure is essential.
So, what does this all mean?
In the utility sector, downtime is costly, and reliability is everything. A customised modem doesn’t just connect your assets—it protects your investment.
Talk to Siretta about building a modem that works your way.
https://www.siretta.com/products/customisation-services-2/
