BRISTOL, PA — TESCO Metering has introduced a carrier-agnostic SIM card and expanded its Advanced Metering Infrastructure platform, positioning the company to capitalize on growing utility spending tied to grid modernization, smart metering, and communications network upgrades.
The new Universal SIM Card for AMI Networks allows compatible metering devices to connect automatically to available cellular carriers rather than relying on a single network provider, addressing a longstanding challenge for utilities deploying large-scale metering systems across diverse service territories.
The product launch comes as electric, water, and gas utilities invest in next-generation AMI programs, distributed energy resource management, electric vehicle infrastructure, and advanced outage detection systems. Communications resiliency and interoperability have become increasingly important as utilities seek to avoid vendor lock-in and adapt to changing network technologies.
TESCO said the Universal SIM Card is part of its broader AMI Adaptiv Ecosystem, a platform that combines communications infrastructure, software, interoperability tools, and utility data management capabilities.
For utilities, communications planning often requires evaluating carrier coverage, managing multiple vendor contracts, maintaining separate SIM inventories, and redesigning network architectures as technologies evolve. The company said the new offering is intended to simplify deployment while improving coverage and network redundancy.
“Utilities should not be forced to choose between communications flexibility and operational simplicity,” President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Lawton said. “We believe utilities deserve an AMI platform that adapts to their operational requirements rather than forcing them into technology lock-in.”
The broader AMI Adaptiv platform supports multiple communications architectures, including public cellular networks, private LTE systems, hybrid deployments, fiber-backed mesh networks, and direct-to-meter LTE connectivity.
TESCO also highlighted two related communications products designed to address utility network coverage challenges.
Its DirectConnect platform uses LTE connectivity to link meters directly to existing AMI systems or the company’s cloud-based infrastructure, allowing utilities to extend service to locations where traditional metering communications may be unreliable. The technology is designed to integrate with existing utility software platforms and replace legacy cellular technologies that are no longer supported.
The company’s FiberHub platform is aimed at utilities that already operate fiber networks. The system uses fiber-connected hubs and RF mesh communications to support large-scale metering deployments while reducing dependence on commercial cellular networks.
The launch reflects a broader industry shift toward hybrid communications architectures as utilities seek to balance network resiliency, operating costs, scalability, and future technology requirements.
TESCO said the Universal SIM Card is available immediately as part of the AMI Adaptiv Ecosystem.
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