STS, DLMS User Association Sign Deal to Power Future of Smart Prepayment

The STS Association has announced the signing of a Liaison Agreement with the DLMS User Association (DLMS UA), marking a significant milestone in the evolution of interoperable, secure, and future-ready smart prepayment metering systems. The collaboration brings together two of the world’s most widely adopted global standards — STS token technology and the DLMS/COSEM data model — with the shared objective of strengthening interoperability, enhancing smart prepayment capabilities, and delivering greater value across the global metering ecosystem.

The DLMS User Association is a globally recognised authority in interoperable and secure data exchange, providing a strong foundation for innovation in energy and water management. Its DLMS/COSEM protocol and data model are widely adopted and supported by major international standardisation bodies, making it a key enabler of modern smart metering systems.

Through the liaison, the STS Association and DLMS UA will work closely to ensure that STS tokens can be seamlessly transported using the DLMS/COSEM protocol and data model. This includes the development of supporting specifications, mappings, and technical enhancements required to integrate STS token functionality within DLMS Generic Companion Profiles.

Both organisations will align their development roadmaps to ensure that advancements in token technology and data exchange evolve in a coordinated and complementary manner. In parallel, joint efforts will focus on market education, technical documentation, and awareness initiatives to clearly communicate the benefits of integrating STS prepayment with DLMS-based communication frameworks.
While electricity metering remains a primary focus, the collaboration also supports expansion into broader multi-utility applications, including water, gas, and time metering. This reinforces the relevance of both standards in enabling flexible, scalable, and future-ready utility infrastructures.

The STS Association will showcase the collaboration at the Power & Water Nigeria 2026 event between the 28th and 30th April at the Landmark Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. The event will provide a platform to engage with utilities and stakeholders from across Africa and beyond, to demonstrate how the integration of STS and DLMS/COSEM is shaping the future of smart metering, while offering practical insights into implementation and deployment.

The strategic alignment reinforces a shared commitment to open standards, long-term sustainability, and the delivery of secure, interoperable solutions that support utilities and consumers in an increasingly digital and connected world.