Green Light for the Mandatory Rollout

Mannheim, January 31, 2020 The BMWi and BSI publish a positive market analysis following the third Gateway certification. PPC-SMGWs have been in rollout since 2018 and are in use at 50 MSBs. Nearly 1,000 technicians have been trained in SiLKe. New use cases coming soon through recertification. Successful implementation of CLS applications in line with the BMWi roadmap. Mannheim, January 31, 2020: With the smart metering system, the most important component for the digitalization of the energy transition is now being rolled out. Three smart meter gateways from different manufacturers have been certified by the BSI, and the positive market analysis has been published—marking the start of mandatory installation throughout Germany. Ingo Schönberg, CEO of PPC, is pleased: “We’ve been working toward the day of the market announcement for a long time. As the first manufacturer with a certified gateway, we were able to begin the rollout with the majority of energy suppliers as early as last year. As of today, our certified SMGWs are in use at nearly 50 metering point operators. Metering with both simple and more complex rate plans works just as well as submetering or the control of generation systems and Section 14a applications via a control box. At the same time, we have already developed new application features and TAFs, which will be available shortly with the first recertification.” Eugen Mayer, CEO of PPC, adds: “With the Smart Meter Gateway, Germany gains a highly secure and powerful platform that is indispensable for the successful digitalization of the energy transition—and one that sets the standard in Europe for security and data protection.” PPC is continuously developing the software and system landscape surrounding the SMGW and, with the completion of the first recertification process, is delivering the additional tariff application cases (TAFs) 9, 10, and 14. The gateway administrator can install these on the already installed devices via an update. PPC has been collaborating for years on the implementation of applications in line with the BMWi roadmap to systematically advance the benefits of the SMGW, according to Ingo Schönberg: “Using the Smart Meter Gateway’s open CLS interface, we have already successfully implemented various projects in the areas of submetering, system control, e-mobility, and smart living in collaboration with partners, and we are scaling these applications.” All the prerequisites for a successful rollout In addition to a secure supply chain featuring sustainable, reusable shipping containers, PPC has developed and implemented efficient, IT-supported processes and tools to ensure a cost-effective and scalable rollout. These include automated ordering and eSIM processes, as well as user-friendly technician portals for SiLKe and SMGW installation. To date, nearly 1,000 technicians have been trained as authorized personnel for the secure supply chain. Furthermore, PPC is the only SMGW manufacturer to offer all relevant WAN options (BPL, LTE, CDMA450, and Ethernet) and has demonstrated interoperability with eight gateway administration systems. About PPC Power Plus Communications AG (PPC) (www.ppc.d-f.cc) is a leading provider of certified smart meter gateways and communication technology for the digital transformation of the energy transition. The smart meter gateway offers the highest level of data protection and security in smart metering. As a pioneer of BPL technology and a leader in M2M mobile communications solutions, PPC possesses outstanding experience and expertise in the energy and telecommunications sectors. The Mannheim-based technology company has received numerous awards for its innovative strength and is a leading partner to many energy utilities and communications network operators. Specifically, PPC offers:

• Certified smart meter gateways with integrated WAN technologies (LTE, CDMA450, broadband powerline, Ethernet)
• Broadband powerline technology for data transmission over low- and medium-voltage power grids
• Future-Proof Solutions in the M2M Mobile Communications Sector
• High-Performance Network Management Systems
• Extensive experience in the design and operation of information and communication networks

Training and Support for the Smart Metering System Contact: Power Plus Communications AG Thomas Wolski, Press Spokesperson Dudenstraße 6 68167 Mannheim Tel: +49 621 401 65 127 Email: t.wolski@ppc.d-f.cc www.ppc.d-f.cc