The Smart DCC, which operates the secure network that carries smart meter data in Great Britain, has said its next-generation 4G Communication Hubs are being installed in homes as part of a testing phase, with a full roll-out scheduled for summer 20251. New 4G Communication Hubs have been going in since December 20241.
The Communications Hub is a small device that typically sits alongside the electricity smart meter and transmits data to the DCC network by connecting to the smart meter wide area network1. The DCC says it has collaborated with Vodafone, Toshiba, Arqiva and CGI to develop and deploy the 4G-based hubs, and has signed a 15-year agreement with Vodafone to bring 4G connectivity to the network1.
"Currently, these are being installed in homes as part of a testing phase and a full roll-out is scheduled for summer 2025."
The network is divided into three areas in Great Britain: north, central and south. In the central and southern regions, smart meter data is transmitted using 2G/3G cellular and wireless mesh technology provided by Virgin Media O2; in the northern regions it is transmitted over long-range radio provided by Arqiva1.
The DCC states that smart meters will continue to operate as normal after the 3G switch-off, switching seamlessly to the 2G network, and that its data requirements are less than 2Mb per month per household1. It says initial analysis shows no customer impact and minimal overall service impact from the 3G switch-off1.
On the 2033 sunsetting of 2G, the DCC says not all smart meters will need replacing. Second-generation smart meters that rely on 2G/3G will require a replacement Communications Hub to communicate with 4G networks, work it says is under way. Any remaining first-generation SMETS1 meters not already upgraded to SMETS2 will need to be physically replaced before 2033, in line with SMETS1 communication provider contracts, because they were designed with an integrated 2G Communications Hub1.
| Item | Position stated by the DCC |
|---|---|
| New 4G hubs installed from | December 20241 |
| Full roll-out scheduled | Summer 20251 |
| 3G switch-off effect on meters | Switch seamlessly to 2G1 |
| Data requirement per household | Less than 2Mb per month1 |
| 2G sunset date | 20331 |
| SMETS2 meters needing 4G | Replacement Communications Hub1 |
| SMETS1 meters not upgraded | Physical replacement before 20331 |
Why it matters for households
Smart meters send readings over a network that sits outside the public internet, so a home's meter connectivity does not depend on its broadband1. The move to 4G hubs is about keeping that separate link working as older cellular networks are retired, which underpins remote readings and the billing that follows from them. The DCC's position is that the 3G switch-off itself should pass without householders noticing, because meters fall back to 2G1. The larger change is the 2033 date: some homes will need a new Communications Hub fitted alongside the electricity meter, and first-generation SMETS1 meters that have not been upgraded will need replacing altogether1. The DCC has not reported how individual households will be told which category their meter falls into, or who pays for the work.
What happens next
Mass deployment of the 4G Communication Hubs is scheduled from summer 20251. The DCC says it is working with Government on plans to upgrade devices to stay connected before the 2033 transition date1. No timetable beyond those dates has been reported.
Sources1 cited
- Do smart meters use 3G? | Smart DCC, smartdcc.co.uk