Dr. Neuhaus Telekommunikation GmbH has been selected by EANDIS and INFRAX to provide smart communication gateways for a smart metering pilot project in the region of Flanders, Belgium. The communication gateways will enable automated two-way communication between central systems and electricity and gas meters from multiple vendors. The pilot project is scheduled to roll-out approximately 36,000 smart communication gateways in 2012.

EANDIS and INFRAX are Flemish distribution grid operators. EANDIS operates about 2.5 million electricity metering points and 1.5 million metering points for gas; INFRAX operates about 700,000 metering points for electricity and 280,000 metering points for gas. Both companies have been engaged in smart metering projects since early 2009. The pilot project is a next step towards the goal of a large-scale roll-out of smart metering services to their customers.

Dr. Neuhaus is developing and manufacturing the communication gateways that will enable EANDIS and INFRAX to set up wide-area communication via power line (PLC), DSL/LAN networks and mobile networks. The architecture will merge proven technology and components with new concepts developed by EANDIS, such as filtering and multiple gateways for PLC communication.

The products also will feature interfaces for local configuration and administration, as well as for feedback possibilities of consumption values to consumers.

The open and Linux-based software platform of the communication gateways allows for a flexible integration of a broad range of domestic and industrial supply meters and other sensors.

For more information, visit www.neuhaus.de.