Always On: The Secret Behind Remote Metering Solutions' 100% Uptime for Cellphone Towers

Managing infrastructure utilities across multiple regions, bulk recharges and controlled automation - this is how Remote Metering Solutions guarantees uptime for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in SA

Managing infrastructure, sites and properties across multiple municipalities or regions?

Utility ops managers know how big of a pain it is to have to deal with different vendors, on diverse platforms, using various payment methods to ensure consistent and reliable electricity supply.

Every municipality and supplier has a unique process or set of requirements for keeping your infrastructure supplied with power, placing a lot of admin strain, costs and serious operational risks squarely on your teams’ shoulders.

That’s why Remote Metering Solutions turned to Prepaid24’s centralised national electricity platform when it came to supplying utilities to a vast array of tower sites serving major MNOs across the country.

Here’s what utility ops should know:

Who is Remote Metering Solutions (RMS)?

Most people know RMS as a key utility partner for many notable South African properties and investors, including the V&A Waterfront, City Property and a number of malls and other property types. Fewer know they also manage electricity for a vast array of cellphone towers and sites on behalf of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) across South Africa, many in remote or difficult-to-access regions.

Here, their role is mission-critical: ensuring uninterrupted power to telecom towers that keep mobile networks running 24/7. Missing a single recharge can take down critical infrastructure - and with it, network coverage for thousands of mobile users.

Remote Metering Solutions’ Unique Tower Challenge

Before switching to Prepaid24, RMS was stuck with a messy, time-consuming process for managing power supply via various vendors. Since every region and municipality can have their own (or variations of) vendors or payment systems, the RMS team had to juggle multiple portals, payment schedules and token delivery methods to ensure consistent power supply to their towers.

The geographic spread of their towers only amplified the problem. From urban hubs like Johannesburg and Cape Town to rural sites far from municipal offices, RMS had no single point of control.

Token distribution was manual, handled through internal WhatsApp chains, with no guarantee that on-site personnel would receive or redeem tokens in time. Consolidating utility spend reports for management took days, slowing down operations and increasing their administrative overhead.

Enter Prepaid24 with near-100% national coverage and a scalable power management solution.

The Centralised Solution

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Enterprise utility ops needs centralised control. That’s why Prepaid24 came in to replace RMS’s fragmented system with one unified B2B platform.

With 95% SA municipal coverage, Prepaid24 eliminated the need for multiple suppliers and portals, allowing RMS to now run:

• Bulk periodic recharges: A single upload and EFT payment covers all meters on a set schedule.
• SmartFund top-ups for emergencies: Their pre-funded Prepaid24 wallet lets them issue instant ad hoc tokens - without any waiting or downtime.
• Automated token distribution (as a service): Prepaid24 delivers tokens directly to field personnel after payments are processed, removing the risk of manual communication failures.

See the guide to running 50+ municipal meters in South Africa.

Implementing The New Platform

The rollout was hands-on. RMS started with a dedicated Prepaid24 account manager who took over the “heavy lifting” of municipal checks, payment coordination and initial bulk uploads. Once the platform was embedded, their internal team of just three people could manage over 100 sites in real time.

Ad hoc top-ups now bypass Prepaid24’s support team entirely, further cutting lead times, while a hybrid model of scheduled bulk uploads plus instant SmartFund transactions means RMS can respond to sudden demands or prevent a looming outage within seconds.

The Results? Reduced Operational Risk & More Uptime

Downtime risk has dropped dramatically. Token delivery is instant, reporting is centralised and RMS no longer wastes hours navigating multiple supplier systems. According to M. du Preez, an RMS Portfolio Manager:

“Prepaid24’s services are fast, effective and very professional. They are continuously in communication with our company to assist and resolve any and all challenges. We are extremely satisfied with their services, and we can strongly recommend Prepaid24 for any of your prepaid services.”

What Infrastructure & Utility Ops Managers Should Know

If you manage infrastructure across multiple regions, your biggest enemy is operational complexity. RMS’s experience proves that centralising recharges, automating token distribution and enabling rapid ad hoc top-ups aren’t just “nice to have” - they prevent costly downtime and keep your clients happy.

Discover Prepaid24’s B2B platform.

Get Smarter Power Management

Still juggling multiple portals or vendors? Perhaps you’re still handling token distribution manually in-house? You’re one missed top-up away from a serious operational headache. Prepaid24’s centralised B2B platform puts all your meters in one place, automates recharges and gives you instant control when it matters most.

Want to see how it works? Book a quick demo with Prepaid24 today.

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