From August 30 to September 9, Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) has delayed the last date of its tender to install one crore smart electricity meters after IANS reported that the ‘Maharatna’ PSU is pushing dated, obsolete technology that can put PM Narendra Modi’s 5G dream and electricity sector reforms in jeopardy.

PGCIL has postponed the tender date by ten days as the technology is more focused on the latest platform and network connectivity solution named Narrow Internet of Things (NB-IoT0) which is competent to work with 4G and 5G networks.

NB-IoT has been used by Tata Power Delhi Distribution, supplying electricity in North-West Delhi, In a smart meter, which accumulates and traces the electricity consumption of a unit or system to which it is connected. The capability to offer new technology exists in the country; it is a highly retrograde step for a top PSU to make a backward move and exclude the technology from its tender. It is necessary to deploy highly modernized technology into the power sector to increase the longevity of the systems.