The UK Government’s soft launch of the Virtual Wide Area Network (VWAN) delivers a long-awaited solution for the cohort of homes that have previously been unable to benefit from smart metering.
In support of this national mission, Chameleon Technology has announced the launch of its IHD7-VWAN, a Wi-Fi enabled upgrade of its highly successful in-home displays, designed specifically for the initiative.
Led by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, the Virtual Wide Area Network project is designed to enhance smart meter connectivity. Certain homes struggle to send or receive traditional signals to the Data Communications Company (DCC), resulting in black spots of smart meter connectivity.
This new VWAN project enables secure communications for smart meters by utilising home Wi-Fi signals instead, using in-home displays (IHDs) to help boost the data to the DCC and allowing more homes to benefit from smart meters.
Beating the black spots
As the leading IHD manufacturer, Chameleon is supporting the staged rollout of this new VWAN initiative. The new IHD7-VWAN sets a benchmark for Wi-Fi-enabled smart energy devices, delivering a refined and streamlined solution with the flexibility needed for different homes and different needs.
This new iteration can create two Wi-Fi connections – one a secure tunnel to the DCC, carrying the smart meter data. The other directs to the Chameleon cloud to enable product support. This enables real-time energy data to be shared and understood by consumers who would previously have missed out on the benefits of traditional smart metering.
Chameleon Technology has been a fundamental pillar in the continuing smart meter rollout, with over 12 million in-home displays already in homes across Great Britain.
The IHD7-VWAN builds on Chameleon’s proven track record of quality and reliability. The new product combines CAD services, PPMID pre-payment features, and the new Virtual WAN functionality in one integrated solution. This reduces complexity for energy suppliers, while enhancing the options for consumers in hard-to-connect homes.
“The Virtual Wide Area Network is a vital development for smart meter connectivity, and the launch of our IHD7-VWAN demonstrates Chameleon’s commitment to supporting this next phase of the rollout. We are continually pushing to help bring the benefits of smart metering to as many homes as possible, and feel very proud that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, along with our energy partners, have chosen us to continue helping the industry overcome connectivity challenges. Chameleon is leading the way in enabling a more connected, data-driven home energy ecosystem.”
Kyle Brown, Chief Commercial Officer at Chameleon Technology
