US smart meter maker, Itron, and smart grid solutions maker, SmartSynch, has entered into a partnership to allow utilities deploying smart grids to extend coverage beyond their own proprietary wireless networks.

“This will allow utilities to leverage networks like general packet radio service (GPRS) for transmission of all critical metering and event data from their meters’ wide area network (WAN),” the companies said. “This guarantees a complete network by complementing coverage in areas where a dedicated local area network has not yet been fully deployed or installed.”

Collaboration between the two companies allows them to fully integrate—under the glass of OpenWay CENTRON smart meters—SmartSynch’s public wireless communications module. The integrated public wireless connectivity allows the meter to communicate directly with the OpenWay Collection Engine, according to the companies.

Itron and SmartSynch also announced that Detroit-based energy company, DTE Energy, who is rolling out a total of 2.6 million electric meters and 700,000 natural gas meters to its customers, is already integrating the functionality.

Said Bob Sitkauskas, manager of DTE Energy’s advanced metering infrastructure project, “Our effort is a large undertaking and it requires the system to operate across many diverse operating situations. Itron and SmartSynch, through this collaboration, are expected to provide us with 100% network coverage to ensure the success of our total deployment.”

According to an announcement by SmartSynch last year, AT&T is one of its partners. The release states that AT&T has formulated a dedicated pricing plan for utilities who want to use its network for smart meter and smart grid communications.