In this exclusive conversation, Vafa Shams, Sales and Business Development Director at Wirepas (Australia), highlights the company’s strategic focus on India and the Asia-Pacific region as key growth engines for its decentralized IoT connectivity solutions. With over 7 million smart meters powered in India, Wirepas is showcasing how its mesh-based, non-cellular 5G (NR+) technology offers a scalable, energy-efficient alternative to traditional telecom networks, particularly in complex urban and rural environments. Vafa underscores the critical role of local partnerships and regional customization in driving impact across emerging sectors like smart cities, logistics, and digital manufacturing, while advocating for a localized approach as essential for long-term success in Asia’s diverse IoT landscape.
- Wirepas has built a strong presence globally. What strategic role does India and the broader Asia-Pacific region play in Wirepas’ growth plans?
India and the Asia-Pacific region are central to Wirepas’ long-term growth strategy. These markets are marked by rapid and dense urbanization, industrial digitization and increasing demand for scalable, cost-effective connectivity solutions. India, in particular, has demonstrated the viability and scalability of our technology through large smart electricity metering deployments.
- With over 7 million smart meters already powered by Wirepas technology in India, how do you see the future of smart metering evolving across Asia’s emerging markets?
Smart electricity metering is at an inflection point in many Asian countries. As utilities strive for efficiency, transparency and grid reliability, the need for robust, decentralized, and cost-efficient connectivity is growing. Our experience in India shows that mesh-based, decentralized networks can scale rapidly in challenging environments. We expect emerging markets in Southeast Asia and beyond to adopt similar models, leapfrogging traditional infrastructures and accelerating towards smarter utilities.
- Non-cellular 5G (NR+) is a gamechanger for massive IoT applications. Could you explain the potential impact of NR+ on industries in Asia where cellular infrastructure might be limited or costly?
Non-cellular 5G, based on the NR+ standard, offers an alternative in regions where traditional cellular infrastructure is either unavailable or economically unviable. NR+ enables industrial-grade private, license-free, and autonomous networks that can scale massively without relying on mobile operators. For industries like utilities, manufacturing and smart cities in Asia, this means reliable connectivity at lower total cost of ownership – especially crucial in dense cities and rural or remote areas where deployment needs to be agile and resilient.
- What challenges did Wirepas face while deploying IoT solutions in India’s diverse urban and rural environments — and what learnings can be applied to other Asian markets?
India’s vast diversity in geography, climate and infrastructure is a challenge for any network. We had to ensure that our mesh technology could perform in densely populated cities as well as remote rural areas. Key learnings include the importance of self-healing, ultra-resilient networks, local implementation partners and minimal dependency on existing infrastructure. These insights are directly applicable to other Asian countries facing similar heterogeneity.
- Sustainability is becoming a key focus across Asia. How does Wirepas’ technology contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability goals, particularly in high-growth regions like Southeast Asia?
Wirepas technology is inherently designed for energy efficiency both in terms of device power consumption and network deployment. Our decentralized mesh architecture reduces the need for energy-intensive infrastructure and supports long device lifespans. In smart metering and building automation, this directly translates to lower carbon footprints and more sustainable operations, aligning well with the sustainability mandates emerging across Southeast Asia.
- Partnerships seem central to your growth story, with global players like Bosch and Silicon Labs. Are you looking at forging new collaborations within Asia? If yes, what kind of partners are you seeking?
Absolutely. Strategic partnerships are a core pillar of our go-to-market model. In Asia, we are actively seeking collaborations with local system integrators, utility companies, device manufacturers and government bodies. The goal is to co-develop solutions that are regionally relevant and scalable. Local expertise combined with Wirepas technology creates a strong foundation for sustainable and impactful deployments.
- How does Wirepas differentiate itself from other IoT connectivity providers, especially for large-scale deployments in complex Asian geographies?
Wirepas offers a unique decentralized mesh technology that eliminates the need for central coordinators, massive infrastructure or cellular dependency. This makes our solution inherently scalable, cost-efficient, and ultra-resilient in diverse terrains, whether it’s a dense urban sprawl or a rural expanse. Unlike traditional providers, our approach empowers customers to build and manage their own networks, ensuring flexibility and resilience in even the most complex deployments.
- Can you share Wirepas’ roadmap for India and Asia over the next 2–3 years, particularly in sectors beyond smart metering — such as smart cities, manufacturing, and logistics?
While smart metering in India will continue to be our main focus, our roadmap also involves other sectors. For example, in smart cities, we are enabling street lighting, smart buildings and environmental monitoring, and in manufacturing and logistics, we’re focusing on asset tracking, predictive maintenance and supply chain visibility. There’s a need for viable IoT solutions across the globe.
- Talent and innovation hubs are booming across India and Southeast Asia. Is Wirepas exploring R&D, engineering, or operational expansions in the region?
We recognize the immense potential of the talent pool in this region. We explore opportunities to expand our engineering and support presence in India and Southeast Asia as required by the growth of our business in these geographies.
- From a leadership perspective, what advice would you give to companies entering the IoT space in Asia, considering the region’s diverse regulatory, cultural, and technological landscapes?
The key is localization – not just in product development, but also in partnerships, support models, and go-to-market strategies. Asia is not a monolith; each market has its own regulatory, cultural and technological nuances. Companies must invest time in understanding local ecosystems, be flexible in their engagement models, and prioritize interoperability and open standards. Most importantly, building trust with local stakeholders is crucial for long-term success.