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Case Study: Arqiva Thames Water Smart Metering Rollout

Posted on 8th April 2021 at 17:22
Acquisition, Design and Planning 
Targeted acquisition strategy for new rooftop sites to provide base stations for the Arqiva Thames Water Smart Metering Rollout in London 
End Client: Arqiva Thames Water Smart Metering Programme – Working with HF Comms as their acquisition partner 
Scope: Acquisition, Design and Planning 
Programme: Thames Water Smart Metering 
Challenge: To acquire new rooftop sites to provide base stations for the Arqiva Thames Water Smart Metering Rollout in London to allow for the move from traditional water metering to smart (real-time) water metering to household and business users in Greater London with a phased approach to the provision of coverage by borough. Smart water metering allows users to significantly reduce water use and assists Thames Water in the identification of leaks and wastage on the water network 
Background 
Arqiva was the chosen provider of the Smart Metering Base Station Network required by Thames Water to allow them to offer and supply a smart water meter to every household and business within specified areas of Greater London. The programme straddled the date of the introduction of the new Electronic Communications Code (ECC) leading to further challenges and considerations. 
Solution 
The programme was specifically targeted to reach the largest number of smart meters (potentially one in every household and business) with the minimum number of base stations. This was a particularly exacting challenge when the nature of the London skyline is considered along with the very high levels of redevelopment and future plans for many of the existing tall buildings. The survey programme was expedited by first identifying and exploring the existing Arqiva portfolio and the potential for wide coverage based on the numbers of target locations but with the avoidance of cross-interference from other proposed base stations within the network – a very complex and fluid situation. Following the identification of existing suitable sites further searches were undertaken to identify suitable new sites for acquisition, these were a mix of commercial and residential high-rise buildings made up of different ownerships including local authorities, social housing providers and commercial property owners. During the programme the ECC was amended by Government leading to a change in tack, both in the commercial offers made and the scale of rights required by the client. Early detailed and careful negotiation, pre-strategized to account for the expected changes to the ECC, was used to ensure that potential landlords were dealt with smoothly and equitably. In tandem with site acquisition, the design element was very carefully managed to provide the coverage with designs to avoid conflict with property owners (who do not wish to have areas of their rooftops place out of bounds to them unnecessarily) and to minimise the impact for town and country planning reasons. 
Achievement 
Sites were acquired and accessed to be built in time for the activation date of each borough allowing for the installation of smart water meters achieved by a very targeted acquisition strategy and detailed involvement of design from the outset 
Background 
Arqiva was the chosen provider of the Smart Metering Base Station Network required by Thames Water to allow them to offer and supply a smart water meter to every household and business within specified areas of Greater London. The programme straddled the date of the introduction of the new Electronic Communications Code (ECC) leading to further challenges and considerations. 
Solution 
The programme was specifically targeted to reach the largest number of smart meters (potentially one in every household and business) with the minimum number of base stations. This was a particularly exacting challenge when the nature of the London skyline is considered along with the very high levels of redevelopment and future plans for many of the existing tall buildings. The survey programme was expedited by first identifying and exploring the existing Arqiva portfolio and the potential for wide coverage based on the numbers of target locations but with the avoidance of cross-interference from other proposed base stations within the network – a very complex and fluid situation. Following the identification of existing suitable sites further searches were undertaken to identify suitable new sites for acquisition, these were a mix of commercial and residential high-rise buildings made up of different ownerships including local authorities, social housing providers and commercial property owners. During the programme the ECC was amended by Government leading to a change in tack, both in the commercial offers made and the scale of rights required by the client. Early detailed and careful negotiation, pre-strategized to account for the expected changes to the ECC, was used to ensure that potential landlords were dealt with smoothly and equitably. In tandem with site acquisition, the design element was very carefully managed to provide the coverage with designs to avoid conflict with property owners (who do not wish to have areas of their rooftops place out of bounds to them unnecessarily) and to minimise the impact for town and country planning reasons. 
Achievement 
Sites were acquired and accessed to be built in time for the activation date of each borough allowing for the installation of smart water meters achieved by a very targeted acquisition strategy and detailed involvement of design from the outset 
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