Water Meter Monitoring & End To End Solutions - Michail Angelov

The Business of LoRaWAN

Michail Angelov, founder of IoTNet.eu and former Nokia IoT leader, talks about transforming water utilities through LoRaWAN-based remote water meter monitoring systems.

With over 20 years in telecom and IoT, Michail shares how he co-founded Nokia’s Worldwide IoT Network Grid before pivoting into one of the most pressing infrastructure challenges of our time: water loss. His company, IoTNet.eu, now oversees over 40,000 connected water meters across Bulgaria, gathering millions of data points each month to drive efficient water distribution.

He explains how low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs), and LoRaWAN in particular, disrupted the sector by enabling real-time, battery-efficient communication in locations without constant power—like underground water meters. By turning what used to be expensive, inflexible infrastructure into a scalable, data-driven system, Michail’s work is redefining the economics and capabilities of water meter monitoring.

Why water utilities lose up to 70% of water between source and tap—and how IoT helps measure and recover those losses

How LoRaWAN became the foundation for a scalable remote water meter monitoring system

Lessons from building a nationwide IoT network and pivoting from connectivity to full-stack solutions

The role of Helium in reducing infrastructure costs and expanding coverage

Using AI and structured data to predict pipe failures, detect theft (“non-technical losses”), and optimize performance

How local integrators anywhere in the world can partner to deploy IoTNet’s proven water meter monitoring system

This episode is packed with real-world insight into solving high-stakes utility problems with scalable IoT systems.

Links:

Michail Angelov - LinkedIn

• Helium Global IoT Coverage - Want to know if Helium coverage exists where you need it? Check out this map!
• Helium Foundation - The Helium Foundation's IoT Working Group (IOTWG) has generously provided support for the first 6 months of shows, please go check them out and consider using the Helium LoRaWAN as a primary or backup on your next deployment. With over a quarter million gateways deployed worldwide, it's likely that you have and can use Helium coverage.
• Support The Show - If you'd like to support the MetSci Show financially, here's where you can donate on a one-time or an ongoing basis. Thank you!
• MetSci Show - If you'd like to use our IoT or AI Data Value calculators, or you'd like to contact me, the MetSci Show site is the best way to do it.
• MeteoScientific Console - Use LoRaWAN - The MeteoScientific Console allows you to use LoRaWAN today. As long as you have Helium coverage (and you probably do, about 90% of populated areas in the world have a gateway within 2 miles), you can onboard a sensor. You can always check coverage at https://explorer.helium.com and switch to the "IoT" tab in the top right.