STOCKHOLM, Sweden – August 25, 2026 – In a significant leap toward sustainable urban infrastructure, Netmore Group, the globally recognized leader in Massive IoT network operations, has announced a landmark collaboration with Aarhus Vand and Kamstrup. This strategic partnership aims to digitize the water infrastructure of Aarhus Municipality, Denmark, through the deployment of approximately 69,000 smart, connected water meters.
This project, which leverages Netmore’s robust, carrier-grade LoRaWAN® network and Kamstrup’s cutting-edge metering technology, represents a blueprint for how modern municipalities can utilize the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance resource management, increase operational efficiency, and empower citizens with real-time data transparency.
The Core Objective: Modernizing Water Infrastructure
The initiative is designed to address the challenges inherent in aging utility infrastructures. By replacing legacy, manual-read meters with digitally connected units, Aarhus Vand is effectively transitioning from a reactive maintenance model to a proactive, data-driven utility management system.
The project’s primary goals are threefold:
- Efficiency: Eliminating the labor-intensive process of manual meter reading.
- Conservation: Providing residents with granular insights into their daily consumption patterns to encourage sustainable water use.
- Resilience: Early detection of infrastructure failures, such as leaks or faulty heat exchangers, which currently contribute to significant water loss and unnecessary financial strain on both the utility and the consumer.
Chronology of the Deployment: From Pilot to Municipality-Wide Scale
The journey toward this comprehensive digital transformation did not occur overnight. It is the result of careful validation and phased planning.
The Pilot Phase (Validation)
Before committing to the full-scale rollout, the partners initiated a pilot program covering approximately 1,000 households. This controlled environment was critical for testing the integration between Kamstrup’s hardware and Netmore’s LoRaWAN connectivity layer. The primary objective was to ensure that data packets could be transmitted reliably across varying terrains and building structures, maintaining high uptime and consistent read rates.
The Launch in Tranbjerg
Following the successful validation of the pilot, the full-scale deployment has officially commenced in the district of Tranbjerg. This marks the first step in a multi-year strategy that will see the gradual integration of neighborhoods across the entire Aarhus Municipality.
The Path to 2030
The roadmap for this project is extensive, with the installation phase slated to continue through 2030. Working alongside the deployment partner Eltel, the teams are executing a structured, area-by-area rollout. This methodology ensures that as each district is upgraded, residents are notified and provided with the necessary tools to access their consumption data immediately.
Supporting Data: Why LoRaWAN?
The choice of LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) for this deployment is not coincidental. In the context of Massive IoT, where thousands of devices must transmit small amounts of data across a dense urban environment, LoRaWAN offers distinct advantages that traditional cellular networks or proprietary radio systems may struggle to match.
- Deep Penetration: LoRaWAN signals are known for their ability to penetrate deep into buildings and underground utility vaults where water meters are often installed.
- Low Power Consumption: The longevity of the battery life in Kamstrup’s meters is critical. By utilizing the energy-efficient LoRaWAN protocol, the devices can remain operational for years without the need for manual maintenance.
- Scalability: A carrier-grade network, such as the one managed by Netmore, allows for the centralized management of tens of thousands of endpoints, providing a seamless data pipeline that is essential for real-time analytics.
Insights from the Leadership: Official Responses
The collaboration has been lauded by key stakeholders as a masterclass in cross-industry cooperation.
Helle Pernille Hansen, Specialist Manager at Aarhus Vand
Reflecting on the importance of the network’s reliability, Hansen stated: "Delivering reliable meter reading demands a network that meets high-performance requirements consistently, not just in ideal conditions, but across every meter, every day. Our pilot demonstrated that LoRaWAN meets those standards in practice, and our partnership with Netmore and Kamstrup gives us the confidence to scale. This is an important step in giving our customers real visibility into their water consumption and helping us identify issues before they become costly problems."
Eric Collinder, Country Manager Nordics at Netmore
Collinder emphasized the broader societal benefits of the partnership: "We are pleased to support Aarhus Vand in delivering a modern digital water infrastructure that benefits both the utility and its customers. Reliable, carrier-grade connectivity is essential for smart metering deployments and this project demonstrates how the right technology and partners can help utilities improve resource management, increase operational efficiency, and provide consumers with better data."
Henrik Jensen, SVP of Kamstrup Water
From the manufacturer’s perspective, the alignment of hardware and software was paramount: "Smart water metering only delivers its full value when data arrives reliably and on time, and that places real demands on the connectivity layer. Kamstrup’s meters are engineered to perform across the full range of installation environments, and Netmore’s carrier-grade LoRaWAN network ensures those capabilities translate into the consistent read rates Aarhus Vand needs to meet its operational and customer service targets. This is a strong example of what becomes possible when metering technology and network infrastructure are matched to the same standard."
Implications for the Future: Beyond Consumption Monitoring
The deployment in Aarhus is not merely about tracking water flow; it is about creating an intelligent, responsive city. The implications of this project reach into several areas of municipal governance and sustainability.
1. Environmental Sustainability
By identifying leaks early, Aarhus Vand can significantly reduce "Non-Revenue Water"—the water that is lost through leaks before it even reaches the consumer. This reduces the energy required for water treatment and distribution, directly lowering the carbon footprint of the municipal water cycle.
2. Economic Impact for Consumers
With the ability to monitor their own consumption via online platforms, citizens are no longer subject to the "shock" of an unexpected bill. They can detect household leaks in real-time, such as a running toilet or a faulty pipe, and address them before they lead to excessive water waste and inflated costs.
3. Predictive Maintenance
For the utility provider, the data collected provides a longitudinal view of the water infrastructure. Over time, this data can be analyzed to identify sections of the pipe network that are aging faster than expected. This enables Aarhus Vand to move from a "break-fix" maintenance cycle to a predictive one, where repairs are scheduled during off-peak hours to minimize disruption.
4. A Template for European Utilities
As European nations continue to grapple with climate-induced water scarcity, the model established by Aarhus Vand, Netmore, and Kamstrup provides a clear, scalable roadmap for other utilities. The project demonstrates that by combining carrier-grade network infrastructure with intelligent hardware, utilities can achieve high-level operational excellence that supports both long-term sustainability and immediate customer service goals.
About the Stakeholders
Netmore Group
Netmore Group stands at the forefront of the global IoT revolution. As a leading network operator and platform provider, the company powers the world’s most advanced and sustainability-focused solutions for utilities, smart buildings, and urban environments. With a decade of innovation, Netmore operates in 18 countries, backed by the strategic investment of Nordic infrastructure firm Polar Structure.
Aarhus Vand
Aarhus Vand is a cornerstone of Danish utility management. Responsible for providing clean drinking water and efficient wastewater services to the Aarhus Municipality, the utility is defined by its commitment to sustainable resource management and the protection of the environment for future generations.
Kamstrup
Kamstrup is a global leader in intelligent metering. With a focus on engineering precision, the company provides water and energy utilities with the digital tools required to optimize their operations. Their solutions are designed to translate complex data into actionable insights, helping to secure a more sustainable world.
Conclusion
The partnership between Netmore, Aarhus Vand, and Kamstrup serves as a powerful reminder of how technology, when applied with intent, can solve some of the most pressing challenges of the modern age. As the 69,000 meters are installed over the next four years, the city of Aarhus will become a living laboratory for the future of water, proving that digital connectivity is the foundation of a truly sustainable and resilient society.
