Zenner, EchoStar and Semtech Unveil First Satellite-Connected LoRaWAN Water Meter
Zenner USA, EchoStar Mobile and Semtech have jointly unveiled the world’s first direct-to-satellite LoRaWAN®-enabled water meter, offering a groundbreaking solution for utilities seeking truly ubiquitous connectivity without relying on terrestrial networks.
This innovative system integrates Zenner’s Meter Interface Unit (MIU) with EchoStar Mobile’s LoRaWAN Relay Device, using Semtech’s LoRa® technology to enable seamless two-way communication directly via satellite.
By eliminating the need for local gateways or cellular towers, the solution fundamentally redefines the scope and economics of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Automated Meter Reading (AMR) for water, gas, and electricity utilities.
Solving Connectivity Challenges in Utility Metering
Traditional AMI rollouts have often been limited by the availability and cost of ground infrastructure. Many rural, mountainous, or underdeveloped areas remain difficult to connect reliably, limiting utilities’ ability to modernize their operations and meet regulatory or customer service goals.
The satellite-connected LoRaWAN solution directly addresses these challenges by:
Ubiquitous Coverage
Enabling meter connectivity in any location—urban or remote—without building or maintaining dense ground networks.Low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Avoiding expensive cellular subscriptions and local gateway maintenance while maintaining LoRaWAN’s cost-effective profile.Low Power, Long Life
Leveraging LoRa’s ultra-low power characteristics to deliver multi-year battery life, even with frequent data transmission.Two-Way Communication
Supporting alarm management, hourly (or more frequent) consumption reporting, and remote configuration for advanced AMI applications.
Technical Highlights
Direct-to-Satellite LoRaWAN® Transmission
Meters equipped with Semtech’s LoRa® technology communicate directly to satellite relays provided by EchoStar Mobile.Integrated Meter Interface Unit (MIU)
Zenner’s MIU is designed to support both AMR (drive-by) and AMI (fixed network) use cases, now expanded to satellite coverage.Flexible Network Architecture
Can be deployed as a stand-alone solution or complement existing terrestrial LoRaWAN and cellular AMI networks, enabling hybrid strategies.Open Protocol and Ecosystem
LoRaWAN’s open standard allows utilities to integrate additional devices—acoustic leak detectors, pressure sensors, water quality monitors, remotely actuated valves or hydrants—and even broader Smart City infrastructure.
A Major Step Toward 100% Utility Connectivity
With this development, utilities can achieve service levels and meter reading rates historically limited to urban networks, even in areas where terrestrial options were impractical or too costly. The technology is particularly suited for:
Municipal and rural utilities with large service areas
Remote communities without cellular coverage
Infrastructure-limited regions seeking sustainable modernization
Multi-utility deployments consolidating water, gas, and electricity metering on a single platform
According to Zenner USA’s market analysis, the U.S. alone has approximately 426 million installed metering units across water, gas, and electricity that could benefit from LoRaWAN connectivity with satellite backhaul. Globally, installed smart meters are projected to double from 1.7 billion at the end of 2023 to 3.4 billion by 2033.
Industry Collaboration Pushing IoT Boundaries
This achievement is the result of a close technical partnership:
Zenner USA brings metering expertise and proven Meter Interface Units supporting LoRaWAN communications.
EchoStar Mobile provides satellite communications infrastructure and relay hardware optimized for LoRaWAN integration.
Semtech supplies the LoRa® radio technology and LoRaWAN® protocol support, known for its long-range, low-power, and secure IoT connectivity.
This end-to-end solution demonstrates a practical, production-ready approach to solving one of the most persistent barriers in global utility management: universal, cost-effective, and low-maintenance connectivity.
Rémi Demerlé, Senior Director, LoRaWAN Vertical Marketing at Semtech, said:
“By enabling direct-to-satellite LoRaWAN connectivity, we’re removing the last barriers to AMI expansion. Utilities everywhere can now adopt a consistent, sustainable, and scalable communication solution without the limits of ground-based infrastructure.”
