Global use of smart meters expected to reach 53% by end of 2025, finds Navigant Research

by Brianna Crandall — October 21, 2016 — A new report from Navigant Research analyzes the global market opportunity for smart electric meters, with a focus on advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) communications technologies, including forecasts for smart meter installed bases, as well as shipments and associated revenue, through 2025.

According to the report, the market for AMI remains strong and growing more than a decade after the earliest models of communicating electric meters were deployed. Smart meters are becoming more prevalent as projects in emerging markets begin to gain traction, while more developed markets remain active. The global penetration of smart meters is expected to climb from approximately 30 percent at the end of 2016 to 53 percent by the end of 2025.

Michael Kelly, research associate with Navigant Research, stated:

The market for smart electric meters is anticipated to remain healthy over the 2016-2025 forecast period, with global revenue attributed to smart meter shipments expected to grow from approximately $8.8 billion in 2016 to over $10.7 billion in 2025. Further growth will be supported by utility- and government-sponsored deployments, along with a growing market for replacement and upgrade units.

Large-scale smart meter deployments are currently underway across Western Europe, while new deployments continue among later adopters in the United States, according to the report. Following China’s massive smart meter rollout, activity is increasing across Asia Pacific, while Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are also experiencing increased activity after a slow entry into the smart meter market.

The report, Market Data: Smart Meters, examines the global market opportunity for smart electric meters, with a focus on AMI communications technologies. The study provides market forecasts through 2025 for smart meter installed bases, as well as shipments and the associated revenue.

Forecasts are segmented by region, country, utility type, and technology, including cellular, radio frequency (RF) mesh, point-to-multipoint, power line communication (PLC), and other (e.g., fiber and Wi-Fi). The report also examines the key global market drivers and barriers related to smart meters. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research Web site.