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Rank 1
Windrushvalley
Rank 1
November 27, 2018
Solved

If there's no mobile signal in my area, should I still get a smart meter fitted?

  • November 27, 2018
  • 57 replies
  • 31257 views
is there any point in my having a smart meter installed as there is no mobile signal from any network where I live? Can smart meters communicate over WiFi or WiFi Calling for example?
Best answer by Transparent

Updated on 22/10/25 by Ben_OVO

 

Great question to ask about the practicalities of installing a smart meter in locations with poor mobile signal. Newer ‘SMETS2’ smart meters work over a different kind of signal so, sometimes, they can communicate well even if you’re in a poor mobile signal area.


There’s a slight difference on the way your smart meter will communicate with us depending on where you live. If the signal’s patchy we can sometimes install an aerial to boost the signal and ensure that we receive the readings from your meter. Check the way your meter will communicate and the compatibility of an aerial on the table below:

 

 

North - Meter Point Administration Numbers (MPANs) starting 15, 16, 17, 18, 23)

 South - MPANs starting 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22

Communications (comms) hub appearance

Two lights - Wide Area Network (WAN) and (HAN) Home Area Network

Five lights - 2nd is WAN and 4th is HAN

Signal

Uses radio signal - doesn’t depend on mobile signal strength

Uses mobile signal

Aerials

Aerials can’t be installed on North comms hubs

 SKU1 hubs are fitted if an engineer thinks an aerial is not required
T1 and T2 aerials can be fitted onto SKU2 hubs. Members will see "SKU2 Cellular + Mesh" on the top-right of SKU2 hubs

 


Unfortunately if there’s no WAN signal at all in the area your meter is located we wouldn’t be able to offer you a smart meter currently. However, it’s worth checking back in future as the signal in your area is subject to change. 

If you’ve already had the meter installed and are experiencing signal issue, we’d recommend carrying out a smart meter health check for your meter type below and contacting our Support Team with the results:

 

 

 

OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

57 replies

Transparent
Rank 20
TransparentSolved
Rank 20
November 30, 2018

Updated on 22/10/25 by Ben_OVO

 

Great question to ask about the practicalities of installing a smart meter in locations with poor mobile signal. Newer ‘SMETS2’ smart meters work over a different kind of signal so, sometimes, they can communicate well even if you’re in a poor mobile signal area.


There’s a slight difference on the way your smart meter will communicate with us depending on where you live. If the signal’s patchy we can sometimes install an aerial to boost the signal and ensure that we receive the readings from your meter. Check the way your meter will communicate and the compatibility of an aerial on the table below:

 

 

North - Meter Point Administration Numbers (MPANs) starting 15, 16, 17, 18, 23)

 South - MPANs starting 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22

Communications (comms) hub appearance

Two lights - Wide Area Network (WAN) and (HAN) Home Area Network

Five lights - 2nd is WAN and 4th is HAN

Signal

Uses radio signal - doesn’t depend on mobile signal strength

Uses mobile signal

Aerials

Aerials can’t be installed on North comms hubs

 SKU1 hubs are fitted if an engineer thinks an aerial is not required
T1 and T2 aerials can be fitted onto SKU2 hubs. Members will see "SKU2 Cellular + Mesh" on the top-right of SKU2 hubs

 


Unfortunately if there’s no WAN signal at all in the area your meter is located we wouldn’t be able to offer you a smart meter currently. However, it’s worth checking back in future as the signal in your area is subject to change. 

If you’ve already had the meter installed and are experiencing signal issue, we’d recommend carrying out a smart meter health check for your meter type below and contacting our Support Team with the results:

 

 

 

OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

Save energy... recycle electrons!
    L
    Newcomer
    leprous
    Newcomer
    May 15, 2023

    Hi,

    I really want a smart meter so I can export energy back to the grid. However, my energy supplier tells me that there is no SMWAN Coverage in my area, so will not offer me a Smart meter.

    Smart meters are installed in houses in the wider area (1km) and  I have a 3G/4G signal inside my house from Three (as I am based in the South of Britain, I guess I would be using the Telefonica network).

    1. Does the Smart metering signal only use certain mobile providers?
    2. Is the SMWAN Coverage data accurate and should it be updated?
    3. Can I ask my Energy provider to test the signal at my property?

    Thanks

    L
    Newcomer
    leprous
    Newcomer
    May 15, 2023

    Hi,

    I really want a smart meter so I can export energy back to the grid. However, my energy supplier tells me that there is no SMWAN Coverage in my area, so will not offer me a Smart meter.

    Smart meters are installed in houses in the wider area (1km) and  I have a 3G/4G signal inside my house from Three (as I am based in the South of Britain, I guess I would be using the Telefonica network).

    1. Does the Smart metering signal only use certain mobile providers?
    2. Is the SMWAN Coverage data accurate and should it be updated?
    3. Can I ask my Energy provider to test the signal at my property?

    Thanks

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    May 15, 2023

    Hey @leprous !

    I can answer those for you. :)

    1. Yes, the Southern Territory (and also the Central Territory that got rolled into Southern) use the O2 Network as part of the Cellular based Telefonica WAN (Three is not part of this system I’m afraid). For the Northern Territory, it’s a Long-Range Radio based system running on the Arqiva WAN for which no mobile networks are involved
    2. Generally, yes. I think it’s heavily influenced by O2 coverage in general and is updated regularly
    3. I believe you can ask for this. They’ll usually do it remotely first but some might agree to send an engineer out to test the signal on-site. The signal is always tested on-site during an install, upgrade or replacement job as part of the installation process.

    You are indeed in the Southern Territory if you’re in the South of Britain, so you’d be under the Telefonica WAN.

    Three isn’t part of Telefonica - it’s owned by Hutchinson 3G UK Ltd (with a very complicated chain of ownership above that!) instead and they use their own infrastructure.

    Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
      L
      Newcomer
      leprous
      Newcomer
      May 15, 2023

      Many Thanks, very informative. I think I need to check my O2 coverage.

      N
      Rank 8
      Nick Challacombe
      Rank 8
      May 15, 2023

      Its hardly worth the bother 4p per Kwh they pay, better off to buy a battery to use your solar power overnight or to charge your car.

      L
      Newcomer
      leprous
      Newcomer
      May 15, 2023

      This seems like it could be beneficial to you then: https://octopus.energy/smart/flux/

      Blastoise186
      Super User
      Blastoise186Super User
      Super User
      May 15, 2023

      It won’t be any use if there’s no WAN Coverage though. :)

      Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
      M.isterW
      Rank 6
      M.isterW
      Rank 6
      May 16, 2023

      Its hardly worth the bother 4p per Kwh they pay, better off to buy a battery to use your solar power overnight or to charge your car.

      Octopus pay me 15p per kWh and if you're on their Flux tariff you can get about 40p.

      1992 4 bed detached house. Solar PV + battery, Zappi EV charger, Mitsubishi Ecodan ASHP and i-life2 fan assisted radiators.... No gas 😊
      juliamc
      Rank 20
      juliamc
      Rank 20
      May 16, 2023

       @M.isterW - I’ve just looked that up and it’s a great deal if you have the battery capacity. I’d get 36.85p if I could export during the peak hours!  

      Show more replies
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