Utility company Veolia taps French startup Ledger to upgrade water sensors

Global utility company Veolia has partnered with Ledger to equip its water sensors with the latter’s security technology.

Ledger is a provider of security and infrastructure solutions for blockchain applications and connected devices. Best known for its cryptocurrency hardware wallets, the startup secured 2.6 million euros investment from South Korean electronics giant Samsung in April 2019.

Under this partnership, Ledger’s IoT business unit will work with Veolia subsidiary Birdz, a pioneer in remote water consumption metering. The objective is to ensure the authenticity of drinkable water collection data.

In its press release, Ledger said that it will ember its specialized microchip, called ‘Secure Element,’ and its Blockchain Open Ledger Operating System (BOLOS) into Birdz’s water sensors, which will help ensure accuracy of collected data.

Secure Element provides an extra layer of security compared to standard ones. It will be used to sign and encrypt all collected data before it is sent into the cloud and registered into the IOTA blockchain.

By leveraging Ledger’s technology, Veolia aims to ensure the security of collected data and that no false data can be injected into the cloud. This will empower cities to effectively monitor their water supplies, helping them to detect any irregularities from natural and malicious forces.

“As industries are utilizing the benefits of blockchain technology and are relying more and more on connected devices to collect data, it is of critical importance to ensure that the data being collected is accurate and tamper-proof” said Pascal Gauthier CEO of Ledger. “That’s why Ledger’s IoT team has been hard at work to expand our unparalleled security solutions to all types of connected devices.”

Birdz, which currently deploys thousands of water sensors throughout Europe, will update the sensors with Ledger’s technology starting in Q4 of this year. The initial rollout will include a few hundred units this year, with plans to boost adoption going forward.

“By the end of the year, we will be able to offer our customers a new version of the KAPTA water quality measurement system, which will incorporate an additional level of safety in the transmission of its data,” said Xavier Mathieu CEO of Birdz.