In the digital transformation journey of water utilities, smart metering has become a strategic and indispensable lever. It is no longer just about technological innovation, but a key driver to improve operational efficiency, reduce water losses, enhance service quality, and address increasing regulatory and environmental pressures.
However, the adoption of AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) often faces economic, operational, and organizational barriers: high upfront investments, significant project complexity, the need for specialized skills, and challenges in managing integrated value chains.
In this context, the MaaS (Metering-as-a-Service) model is emerging as an innovative and integrated approach, enabling utilities to access the benefits of smart metering through a fully managed solution with predictable costs over time, overcoming traditional infrastructure investment models.
A model that simplifies, accelerates, and creates value
MaaS fundamentally redefines how utilities approach smart metering projects. Instead of designing, financing, and managing infrastructure internally, utilities can rely on a complete, scalable, and immediately deployable service covering the entire metering value chain:
- Smart meter supply
- Data connectivity and transmission
- Installation, operations, and maintenance
The benefits are immediately tangible:
- No upfront investment
- Positive cash flow from day one
- Subscription-based pricing linked to connected meters
- Performance guaranteed through SLAs
In this model, technological and operational risks are transferred to the provider, freeing utilities from management complexity and allowing them to focus on their core business. Technology thus shifts from being an asset to manage into a scalable, accessible, and rapidly deployable service.
An integrated and winning ecosystem for water metering
The distinctive element of the model lies in the full integration of three complementary and well-established players, operating synergistically as a single system and ensuring operational continuity across the entire value chain.
Maddalena, an international benchmark in metrology, provides reliable smart meters and advanced data management
Netmore, a global telecom operator, ensures carrier-grade LoRaWAN connectivity and data transmission continuity
Sologas, a field operations specialist, manages installation and operational activities through structured and traceable processes
The strength of the solution lies in the seamless integration of competencies, technologies, and responsibilities, eliminating the fragmentation typical of traditional AMI projects, significantly reducing coordination issues, and improving integration and accountability.
For utilities, this translates into a single point of contact, a unified vision, and clear responsibility across the entire value chain.
Flexible technology, gradual migration, maximum interoperability
From a technological perspective, the solution combines advanced mechanical meters and electronic meters, covering a wide range of applications from utilities to residential submetering.
Devices support the main data communication technologies — wM-Bus OMS, LoRaWAN, and NB-IoT — ensuring interoperability, adaptability to different infrastructure contexts, design flexibility, and long-term investment protection.
The coexistence of multiple technologies enables a gradual transition to smart metering, reducing operational risks and facilitating long-term investment planning.
From installation to data: a complete value chain
Within the MaaS model, the process starts directly in the field, following a structured and utility-oriented operational sequence.
It begins with meter installation or replacement, managed through a structured process including appointment scheduling, end-user communication, smart meter deployment, configuration, and activation. This is supported by full lifecycle logistics management, including tracking, returns handling, and disposal.
Once installed and operational, meters start generating reliable and continuous data, enabling accurate remote reading and increased visibility on consumption.
The system is supported by the deployment and management of the LoRaWAN network, including gateway installation, 4G SIM-based backhauling, and continuous monitoring through a 24/7 NOC, ensuring coverage, reliability, and service continuity even across complex and extended territories
The process continues with operational management, including preventive and corrective maintenance, field interventions, and digital reporting, ensuring full traceability and performance control.
Value is ultimately realized through data transformation, via integration with HES and MDMS systems for billing, analytics, anomaly detection, and network optimization.
Tangible benefits for utilities
For water utilities, MaaS delivers measurable and concrete advantages:
Reduced financial risk, with no major hardware and software investments
Increased operational efficiency through outsourcing of complex activities
Faster implementation, accelerating large-scale smart metering deployment
Access to specialized expertise across the entire value chain
Focus on core business, freeing internal resources from non-strategic tasks
Cost predictability, a key factor in regulated environments and long-term planning
Additionally, the model contributes to sustainability goals, resource efficiency, and loss reduction—key priorities in modern utility strategies.
Towards a new metering paradigm
The future of metering lies in collaborative, integrated, and service-oriented models. MaaS, powered by the effective collaboration between Maddalena, Netmore, and Sologas, provides a concrete response to the growing complexity of the water sector: transforming infrastructure projects into services, lowering barriers to innovation, and enabling faster, more sustainable, and scalable digital transformation.
In a context where utilities are required to do more with fewer resources, MaaS introduces a new paradigm: no longer fragmented, internally managed projects, but integrated solutions ready to be deployed and governed—an ecosystem that transforms smart metering into a reliable, scalable, and ready-to-use service.
