PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 2087319
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 2087319
Smart meter power line communication (PLC) modems are communication devices embedded within or connected to smart electricity meters that enable the transmission of data over existing electrical power lines. These modems facilitate two-way communication between smart meters and utility systems, allowing electricity consumption data, diagnostics, and control signals to be transmitted without the need for additional communication infrastructure.
The smart meter power line communication (PLC) modem market consists of sales by entities (organizations, sole traders, or partnerships) of specialized devices that enable data transmission over existing power lines. These modems use PLC technology to send real-time energy consumption data from smart meters to utility networks without additional wiring.
The global smart meter power line communication (PLC) modem market was valued at $888.2 million in 2020 which grew till 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 10.00%.
Increasing Deployment Of Distribution Automation Systems
During the historic period, the smart meter power line communication (PLC) modem market was driven by the increasing deployment of distribution automation systems. Power utilities worldwide increasingly implemented distribution automation technologies to improve grid reliability, reduce outage durations, and enhance operational efficiency. PLC-based communication solutions became an effective option because they enabled utilities to transmit data through existing power lines without deploying additional communication infrastructure. This capability supported utilities in monitoring grid performance and automating distribution network operations more efficiently. For instance, in October 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, a U.S.-based government agency, in 2022, U.S. electric utilities had about 119 million advanced (smart) metering infrastructure (AMI) installations, equal to about 72% of total electric meter installations. Residential customers accounted for about 88% of total AMI installations, and about 73% of total residential electric meters were AMI meters. Therefore, the smart meter power line communication (PLC) modem market was significantly driven by increasing deployment of distribution automation systems during the historic period.
New Integrated Communication And Processing Platform Enhances Smart Grid And Industrial IoT Device Design
Major companies in the smart meter power line communication (PLC) modem market are using integrated microcontroller-based PLC modem platforms, hybrid communication support, and secure system-on-chip architectures to meet the growing complexity of smart grid, industrial IoT, and advanced metering infrastructure deployments. These solutions enable meter manufacturers to design scalable, standards-compliant, and secure smart meters capable of supporting multiple communication protocols, improved processing performance, and flexible connectivity options. For instance, in November 2022, Microchip Technology, a U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturer, launched the PIC32CXMT series 32-bit microcontroller integrated with the MPL460 power line communication (PLC) modem for next-generation smart meter and industrial IoT applications. The platform features Arm Cortex-M4-based architectures, operating speeds up to 200 MHz, scalable memory up to 560 KB SRAM, and support for PLC, RF, and hybrid PLC-RF communication. The MPL460 modem includes an integrated line driver for efficient signal transmission, supports G3-PLC and PRIME standards, and incorporates built-in hardware security and metrology software compliant with ANSI and IEC standards, enabling the development of flexible, secure, and high-performance smart metering and energy management systems.
The global smart meter power line communication (PLC) modem market is fairly fragmented, with a large number of small players operating in the market. The top 10 competitors in the market made up 18.51% of the total market in 2024.
Smart Meter Power Line Communication (PLC) Modem Global Market Opportunities And Strategies To 2035 from The Business Research Company provides the strategists; marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global smart meter power line communication (PLC) modem market as it emerges from the COVID-19 shut down.
Where is the largest and fastest-growing market for smart meter power line communication (PLC) modem? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The smart meter power line communication (PLC) modem market global report from The Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics; size and growth; segmentation; regional and country breakdowns; competitive landscape; market shares; trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's history and forecasts market growth by geography. It places the market within the context of the wider smart meter power line communication (PLC) modem market; and compares it with other markets.