In this conversation, Teppo Hemiä, CEO of Wirepas, explains how Wirepas Certified the company’s new performance-guaranteed connectivity platform is transforming the economics and reliability of smart metering across India and Asia. By introducing a “pay only if it performs” model, Wirepas shifts accountability to technology providers, ensures measurable ROI for utilities, and enables large-scale IoT adoption across diverse terrains and market conditions.
1. Thanks for speaking with us. To start simply: what does this new “Wirepas Certified” platform mean for businesses in Asia and India, in everyday terms?
In simple terms, Wirepas Certified is a guarantee of performance for AMI business. It means that when a utility or service provider installs smart meters or IoT devices using our technology, they can be certain those devices will connect, stay connected and deliver reliable data, at any scale, with high consistency, thanks to our guarantees
In practice, it takes away a lot of the uncertainty that comes with deploying large IoT networks. Businesses don’t have to worry about whether devices will work in different terrains or building types. Wirepas Certified ensures that the entire network, from the device to the cloud, performs exactly as promised, with verified reliability and scalability built in.
2. You’re introducing a model where customers only pay if their smart meters connect and perform. Why did you decide to shift to this “pay-for-performance” model, and what does it mean for organisations in India and the region?
We introduced the new delivery model because customers want certainty, not complexity. Traditionally, large IoT or smart metering projects involve high upfront costs and a degree of risk, since performance can vary by region or infrastructure.
With Wirepas Certified, we take that risk off the table. Customers pay only when the system delivers. For utilities in India, this aligns perfectly with the government’s performance-based smart metering rollout and the drive for more accountable infrastructure investment. It ensures every rupee spent delivers measurable value: connectivity, data and reliability.
3. Many readers may not be familiar with “mesh connectivity” or non-cellular IoT networks. Could you explain how your technology works and why it matters for Asian markets like India?
Most IoT networks rely on a central gateway or a cellular connection. Wirepas Mesh takes a completely different approach. Every device – for example, each smart meter – can talk directly to its neighbors, creating a self-healing, self-organising network.
If one path fails, data automatically finds another route. This makes the network extremely resilient and scalable, especially in environments like India, where connectivity conditions can vary dramatically between urban and rural areas.
Because it doesn’t rely on cellular down to every meter, it’s also far more affordable for large-scale deployments where millions of devices need to be connected sustainably.
4. India’s got very diverse terrain: big cities, remote villages, dense apartments, rural hamlets. How confident are you that Wirepas Certified can deliver consistently across these varied environments?
We’re very confident. Because we already have. More than 10 million smart meters in India today use Wirepas technology, operating reliably across the full spectrum of environments you’ve mentioned.
The beauty of mesh connectivity is that it actually becomes stronger with density. In cities, devices connect through multiple paths in apartment blocks; in rural areas, long-range communication and self-routing keep meters connected even when infrastructure is sparse. Wirepas Certified validates that consistency, ensuring that no matter where a deployment happens, performance is guaranteed.
5. From a business growth perspective, how big is the opportunity for Wirepas in India and Asia through this launch? What kind of scale are you aiming for, and by when?
The opportunity is immense. India alone plans to deploy 330 million smart meters under its national program, the largest rollout of its kind globally. With more than 10 million meters already connected using our technology, we’ve proven both capability and scalability.
Our goal now is to double the overall footprint in the next two years and expand deeper into Southeast Asia, where utilities are also modernising their grids. With Wirepas Certified, we’re offering a model that accelerates adoption because it removes technical and financial risk.
6. For companies adopting this platform (utilities, service providers): what are the major cost savings or risks avoided by moving to your model?
There are three main areas of savings:
- Lower infrastructure costs. No need for costly gateways or cellular repeaters.
- Reduced operational overhead. Self-healing networks mean less manual maintenance.
- Guaranteed performance. Fewer field issues and predictable ROI.
The biggest risk avoided is uncertainty. With Wirepas Certified, utilities and AMI SPs know exactly what they’re paying for: working, connected meters delivering real data. That assurance speeds up procurement, rollout and ultimately return on investment.
7. Asia is seeing a strong government push into smart cities, connectivity, and IoT. How does Wirepas fit into that trend region-wide, and how will you leverage this release to expand across Asia?
Smart cities and digital utilities share one common foundation: connectivity at scale. Wirepas provides exactly that, without dependence on expensive or power-hungry networks.
Across Asia, we’re working with partners to bring RF mesh into diverse use cases in buildings and industrial environments.
8. Who are your main competitors in Asia in this space, and what gives Wirepas a distinctive edge? Why should a regional player choose you?
We compete mainly with cellular-based and proprietary IoT network providers. The difference is that Wirepas is decentralised, open standard and cost-efficient. Our network doesn’t rely on a single operator or vendor, which means no lock-in, no central point of failure and no dependency on spectrum licenses.
For regional players, that translates into freedom, flexibility and affordability. They can deploy massive IoT networks faster and with full control, and now, through Wirepas Certified, with guaranteed performance as well.
9. As you roll this out, what are the key challenges you foresee (technology, regulation, adoption) and how is Wirepas preparing to overcome them in Asia?
The biggest challenge is not technology; it’s awareness and education. Mesh networking is still relatively new in some markets, and utilities often default to traditional cellular models.
Our focus is on collaboration: working closely with regulators, standards bodies and partners to show how RF mesh can complement existing infrastructure. We’re also aligning with local partners to meet national standards, ensuring every deployment is both compliant and future-proof.
10. Looking ahead: what’s next for Wirepas in Asia beyond this certified platform launch? Will you extend into other sectors, or deepen your presence in India and neighbouring markets?
Our next phase is about depth. In India, we’ll continue scaling in smart metering. We also see strong potential in Southeast Asia, where urbanisation and energy reforms are driving new digital infrastructure.
Ultimately, Wirepas Certified is just the beginning. It sets the stage for a new era of trusted, sustainable, large-scale IoT that supports Asia’s transition to a smarter future.
