An antenna is adapted for receiving via a CDMA/1xRTT digital wireless cellular radio communications network incoming data from a remote control station, and for transmitting via a wireless cellular communications network outgoing data to the remote control station. A cellular modem is connected to the antenna for establishing a wireless telephony data connection, and a processor is connected to the modem for receiving and processing incoming data, and for processing and communicating outgoing data to the modem for transmission via the antenna and the wireless cellular communications network to the remote control station. A communication interface is connected to the processor and connectable to the meter for communicating incoming data from the processor to the meter, and for communicating the outgoing data from the meter to the processor. A power supply is connected for supplying power to the processor and the modem.