Analytical Study of Low-Power Wide-Area Network Technology Selection for Smart Metering in Nigeria’s Power Distribution Companies

Advanced metering infrastructure for Nigeria's electricity distribution companies requires reliable, low-power wireless connectivity for smart meter data transmission, with the choice of low-power wide-area network technology significantly affecting system performance, operational cost, and deployment feasibility across diverse geographic contexts. This study analytically evaluates and compares NB-IoT, LoRaWAN, and Sigfox LPWAN technologies for smart metering deployment across representative network environments spanning Enugu's urban center, Benue's semi-rural communities, and Sokoto State's remote grid-edge settlements. An analytical comparison framework was developed encompassing link budget analysis, coverage range estimation, network capacity per gateway, data rate adequacy for AMI applications, spectral licensing requirements, and total cost of ownership modeling over a ten-year deployment horizon. Link budget analyses parameterized with measured propagation environments from field campaigns in each state indicate that NB-IoT achieves maximum coverage ranges of 8.2 km in urban Enugu and 23.4 km in rural Sokoto under favorable conditions. LoRaWAN in the 433 MHz band achieves comparable ranges while avoiding NCC licensing fees applicable to NB-IoT spectrum. TCO analysis over ten years indicates NB-IoT is 18% more cost-effective than LoRaWAN for utility-scale deployments exceeding 50,000 meters due to lower module costs and leverage of existing cellular infrastructure. The study provides a structured technology selection framework applicable to DISCOS pursuing AMI deployment investments. Keywords: LPWAN, smart metering, NB-IoT, LoRaWAN, power distribution.