Dresden, Germany, and Tampere, Finland, 11 November 2024 – Deveritec GmbH and Wirepas have announced a new Network Interface Card (NIC) developed by Deveritec for Wirepas' 5G Mesh, based on the non-cellular 5G NR+ standard. The NIC, using the Nordic Semiconductor nRF9151 chip, is designed for advanced smart electricity metering and is now available to smart meter  “NR+ standard brings significant advantages to the smart metering industry in Europe,” said Jani Vehkalahti, SVP of Smart Metering at Wirepas. “With the generous, dedicated license-free spectrum, we ensure to fulfill the rising demand for near-real time data in smart metering. Our 5G Mesh implementation of NR+ outperforms the reliability and quality of service of cellular networks and matches the scalability provided with PLC standards while at the same time securing asset and network ownership for the utility. Plus, the immediate availability of NIC hardware accelerates the digitization at the grid edge.” “By combining our hardware and application development expertise with Wirepas’ exceptional mesh networking platform, we’re offering a platform that significantly reduces time-to-market for utilities and meter vendors,” said Robert Stolz, COO of Deveritec. The collaboration provides a starting point for any utility or AMI solution provider to integrate long-range RF as a future-proof and reliable option to meet the growing demand for higher data rates in shorter timeframes. Deveritec offers customizable NIC layouts to fit any meter design, supporting proof-of-concept and pilot phases, with options for cost-optimized large-scale manufacturing down the line. Wirepas provides a planning tool and a network management system, enabling meter vendors, metering operators, and system integrators to transition seamlessly and quickly from piloting and testing to solution development and scaling. The NIC will be showcased at Electronica, 12-15 November. Attendees can see it featured: Hall B3, booth B3.560/5.