Why Your AMI 2.0 Product Needs  Smarter Connectivity

Written by: Ryan Carlson Published: May 27, 2025 IoT Advice

If you’re building hardware or software that plays in the AMI 2.0 ecosystem (i.e. smart meters, grid-edge sensors, DER monitors, or energy management platforms) you probably already understand the importance of designing your solutions to the latest metering standards. If you haven’t built systems specifically for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), however, it’s worth stepping back to understand what makes its latest iteration, AMI 2.0, unique.

AMI 2.0 isn’t just about remote meter reading, it’s about enabling real-time decisions, automating coordination across millions of endpoints, and delivering mission-critical grid intelligence at scale. These systems have to be fast, secure, reliable, and deeply integrated – not just with utility IT, but with the physical grid itself.

In this environment, connectivity isn’t an afterthought – it’s part of the product. If your device can’t hold a connection, scale across service territories, or support operational tasks like remote updates and credential delivery, it doesn’t matter how good your application layer is. The system breaks down.

That’s why more AMI innovators are turning to Soracom. Not merely because it’s a connectivity provider, but because it’s a full-stack, developer-ready platform built for connecting remote devices at grid scale.

AMI 2.0: Smarter, Faster, and Built for Scalable Connectivity

AMI 2.0 is the new standard in metering.  Beyond automating billing, AMI 2.0 enables secure two-way communications in near-real-time, and supports a more intelligent, and increasingly decentralized grid infrastructure.

That’s why devices built for this space need connectivity that can handle:

• Real-time data delivery – low-latency, high-reliability transmission across often diverse and remote environments
• Secure, private networking – critical when devices are pushing or receiving operational grid signals
• Scalability – from test fleets of 100 to production runs of 100,000+
• Operational flexibility – like being able to update credentials, deploy fixes, or troubleshoot devices in the field – without rolling a truck

Getting the right connectivity means choosing a carrier that specializes in supporting remotely deployed devices, not one that primarily sells mobile phones for voice calls. More companies are considering the limitations of sticking with a single, familiar provider and recognizing the many benefits of working with a carrier specializing in connected devices.

The Right Connectivity Isn’t Just About the SIM

Multicarrier Reliability Out of the Box

Soracom’s multicarrier SIMs let devices automatically connect to available cellular signals from multiple major carriers within each region, without being locked to any one network. That means fewer dead zones, fewer manual interventions, and higher confidence in device performance across a utility’s diverse service territory.

Security That Starts at the First Boot

Want to automatically provision unique credentials during manufacturing or first-time activation without managing and injecting certs by hand? Soracom Krypton lets you securely deliver device credentials (X.509, TLS keys, config files) at scale using your existing cloud services. This means less manual work, more peace of mind.

Private Network Ready When You Need It

For deployments where security policy requires full isolation, Soracom’s Virtual Private Gateway lets you build a private, encrypted tunnel between your devices and your cloud infrastructure without public internet exposure or VPN gymnastics.

Field Support Without Requiring The Field Trip

Of course, not every AMI device needs that level of network isolation. Sometimes you just need to securely get in, get what you need, and get out.

That’s where Soracom’s remote support tools shine:

• On-demand remote access to devices (Napter) – Access SSH, HTTP, or custom ports without static IPs or pre-provisioned VPNs. Spin up a secure tunnel on demand via API.
  • Ideal for: Field troubleshooting, OTA updates, or temporary validation.
    
• On-demand remote packet capture for diagnostics (Peek) — Run real-time packet captures directly through the Soracom platform without needing physical access to the device.
  • Ideal for: Debugging protocol issues, monitoring traffic, or inspecting live device behavior.
    
• Remote command execution via API (Downlink API): Send SSH or HTTP commands or messages to a device, even if it’s behind a NAT or firewall. Securely and programmatically trigger scripts, open sessions, or interact with edge applications.
  • Ideal for: Remote support, triggering updates, or requesting telemetry data.

Connectivity Built for Operations, Not Just Connections

For companies building connected solutions, Soracom was designed with operations in mind:

That means: Soracom offers product and operations teams robust, reliable, and flexible connectivity tools for seamless integration, meeting AMI 2.0 requirements with a connectivity management platform that provides intelligence and control for scalable solutions with easy-to-use tools, documentation, and APIs, enabling rapid prototyping, efficient deployment, and simplified device management, accelerating AMI 2.0 product launches.

• Effortless Onboarding and Scalability: Recognizing the need for rapid prototyping and seamless scaling, Soracom offers a self-service onboarding process. This allows engineers to quickly sign up for an Operation ID (OpID) and begin testing their AMI 2.0 products without lengthy procurement processes or complex configurations. As deployments grow from pilot projects to full-scale rollouts, the same intuitive platform supports effortless scaling of connectivity and device management. (sign up for OpID)
  • Ideal for: Startups and enterprises needing to rapidly prototype, test, and scale IoT deployments.
    
• Cost-Effective and Predictable Pricing: Understanding the unique data consumption patterns of IoT devices, Soracom utilizes a pay-as-you-go pricing model. This eliminates the need for large upfront commitments and ensures that costs are directly aligned with actual usage. This granular pricing structure is particularly advantageous for AMI 2.0 products with variable data transmission requirements, allowing for optimized cost management. Pricing information is readily available on the dedicated pricing page. (pricing page)
  • Ideal for: Deployments with seasonal or variable data usage and organizations focused on optimizing operational expenses.
    
• Comprehensive Fleet Management Capabilities: Managing a large deployment of AMI 2.0 products requires robust tools for monitoring, provisioning, and troubleshooting. Soracom’s user-friendly console provides a centralized platform for fleet-level management. Engineers can gain real-time visibility into device status, remotely provision new devices, diagnose connectivity issues, and perform over-the-air updates, all from a single interface. The user console overview page provides a detailed look at these capabilities. (user console overview page)
  • Ideal for: Organizations managing large-scale IoT deployments requiring centralized device control and monitoring or software platforms.

Smart Integrations for Smart Infrastructure

Control connectivity directly from your existing platform to automate SIM provisioning and streamline connectivity operations of your AMI 2.0 deployment.

• Seamless Integration through Powerful APIs: Recognizing that connectivity is often integrated into broader device management platforms and backend systems, Soracom provides a comprehensive suite of robust APIs. These APIs allow for direct integration of Soracom’s connectivity services into existing infrastructure, enabling automated provisioning, data retrieval, and control of AMI 2.0 devices. Detailed API documentation provides engineers with the resources needed to build custom integrations and streamline their workflows. (API documentation)
  • Ideal for: Developers and system integrators needing to embed IoT connectivity into existing platforms and automate processes.

Smart Meter Solutions Should Expect More from Their Connectivity Partners

Your connectivity provider should understand the stakes of operating in the energy space. The need for reliability. The mandate for security. The pain of over-the-air updates that don’t reach their targets.

And they should give you more than a SIM card – they should provide you with tools that help your product deliver on the promises of AMI 2.0:

• Real-time visibility
• Adaptive control
• Grid-integrated intelligence
• And the operational agility to keep it all working long after install day

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Got a question about Soracom? Whether you’re an existing customer, interested in learning more about our products and services, or want to learn about our Partner program – we’d love to hear from you!