Spain-based operator Telefonica’s business unit in UK has won machine to machine (M2M) deal from the government for providing smart metre-based communication services in the country.

The 15 year contract is worth €1.78 billion. As part of the Smart Meter Implementation Programme, the UK government is planning to install 53 million smart metres across the country by 2020. Under the project, Telefonica UK will provide the communication infrastructure required to connect smart metres in the central and southern regions of Britain.