Smart Metering Project in Belgium: Dr. Neuhaus Selected as Supplier for 36.000 Communication Gateways

HAMBURG, GERMANY--(Marketwire - Nov 22, 2011) - NL/3204987234 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 approx. 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.

The communication gateways to be developed and manufactured by Dr. Neuhaus will enable EANDIS and INFRAX to set up wide-area communication via power line (PLC), DSL/LAN networks and mobile networks (GPRS). The architecture will merge proven technology and components, as deployed e.g. in Dr. Neuhaus MUC-Controller, with new concepts developed by EANDIS such as filtering and "multiple gateways" for PLC-communication.

The products will also feature interfaces for local configuration and administration, as well as for feedback possibilities of consumption values to consumers. Special attention will be given to security and power consumption requirements.

"A reliable, flexible and safe communication gateway is the cornerstone of any Smart Metering solution," says Detlef Einacker, Sales Director at Dr. Neuhaus. "Today's announcement underscores our focus in providing advanced communication technology to utilities and Smart Metering projects in Europe and worldwide."

Communication gateways for Smart Metering applications are commercially available from Dr. Neuhaus since 2009. Their open and Linux-based software platform allows for a flexible integration of a broad range of domestic and industrial supply meters as well as other sensors. Customers have the choice between power line, mobile network or DSL/LAN connectivity for wide area communication. Moreover, the products offer interfaces for easy integration with home area networks. During the last two years, Dr. Neuhaus has manufactured and sold more than 90.000 such communication gateways for over 100 smart metering projects and trials.

The contract with EANDIS and INFRAX was signed in the third quarter of 2011.

Background information on Dr. Neuhaus Telekommunikation

Dr. Neuhaus Telekommunikation GmbH is a supplier of wireless and wire-bound data transmission systems for professional use. The company develops and produces solutions for GPRS, GSM, PLC and LAN-supported data transmission as well as analogue data transmission in the fields of telemetry, telematics and M2M communications. Dr. Neuhaus also offers Sagemcom solutions for professional mobile radio.

Dr. Neuhaus, with its headquarters in Hamburg and production facility in Rostock, has been in business since 1979 and is divided into the product fields of remote meter reading, industrial automation and professional mobile radio (PMR). The company employs approximately 115 employees (as of November 2011). Dr. Neuhaus Telekommunikation has been a 100% subsidiary of Sagemcom of France since 1994. Information can be found at http://www.sagemcom.com.

Additional information on the company and its products can be found at www.neuhaus.de.