MANNHEIM, Germany, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Corinex GmbH and EFR GmbH have reached a key milestone in their collaboration to establish an interoperable Broadband Powerline (BPL) system. Modems and Smart Meter Gateways can communicate with either vendor's infrastructure. Following a six-month joint technical process, both companies have agreed on detailed specifications enabling their respective components to be interoperable.

The solution supports the principles of Directive 2014/25/EU, helping utilities preserve supplier choice and competitive procurement through a standards-based, multi-vendor architecture. It also aligns with Directive (EU) 2019/944, which specifically promotes interoperability in smart metering systems. For DSOs, this approach reduces vendor dependency and provides greater flexibility as smart-meter deployments scale.

In August 2026, engineering and product teams from Corinex and EFR met in Vancouver to complete the latest stage of joint validation and align the implementation roadmap. The meeting marked the transition from technical validation toward execution, with both companies now in final step of realising the agreed solution.

Building on the complementary expertise and technologies of Corinex and EFR, for the first time in Germany customers get to choose from a range of interoperable G.hn BPL products. The resulting architecture gives DSOs and metering point operators maximum flexibility, as well as access to highly reliable G.hn BPL infrastructure and grid-intelligence from the combined capabilities of both companies.

"We believe it is crucial for customers to have grid-critical infrastructure available from at least two interoperable vendors," said Peter Sobotka, CEO of Corinex. "We welcome the opportunity to implement this strategy of choice alongside EFR. Corinex brings proven technology and extensive large-scale utility deployment experience to this collaboration, while EFR expands the interoperable options available to customers. Together, this gives utilities greater choice while reducing deployment and operational risk."

"This collaboration will strengthen confidence in the implementation and large-scale rollout of BPL infrastructure in Germany", said Martin Eibl, managing director of EFR.

Proprietary solutions entail significant technological and economic risks, particularly in the case of costly, long-term infrastructure projects. The interoperability achieved is therefore far more than a remarkable technical feat. It represents a key milestone in the ongoing development of open, future-proof communication infrastructures for low-voltage grids—and is excellent news for grid operators, partners, and all users of BPL G.hn technology.

The Corinex-EFR solution enables smart meter gateway connectivity via 1T modules, giving utilities greater flexibility in smart meter gateway selection and reducing dependence on a single supplier.

Over time, the collaboration is also intended to extend interoperability to the core BPL network infrastructure, including headends and repeaters.

About Corinex GmbH

Corinex is a leading provider of digital grid reinforcement technology for LV and MV electricity distribution networks, unlocking the grid's full capacity and resilience through unique grid intelligence, visibility, and flexibility to manage congestion through the grid itself.

The Corinex platform functions as digital grid capacity infrastructure, enabling network operators and grid participants to expand usable hosting capacity, manage congestion and integrate electrification with measurable operational outcomes using the grid that already exists.

Corinex combines advanced broadband over power line technology with real-time grid sensing and control over existing conductors, extending utility-grade connectivity to the grid edge.

For more information, visit www.corinex.com.

About EFR GmbH

EFR GmbH has served the energy sector for more than 30 years and is a subsidiary of Bayernwerk AG, N-ERGIE AG and Netze BW GmbH. EFR serves approximately 350 customers in the energy sector, 4 million smart meters sold and 1.4 million control receivers on the grid.

EFR provides solutions across smart metering, Smart Meter Gateway technology, communications, control and digital energy management. Serving both metering point operators and network operators, the company combines these capabilities with a comprehensive G.hn-based BPL portfolio for reliable, scalable connectivity across distribution grids.

For more information, visit www.efr.de.

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