Communication module for the acquisition of consumption data of a meter (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d), in particular consumption quantities of electricity, gas, water or heat, wherein the communication module serves to receive consumption data from the meter (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) and to enable the transmission of the consumption data of the meter (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) to a superordinate data collection apparatus, with a housing, a control apparatus, its own energy source, a first communication interface for wireless connection of the meter, using which the consumption data can be transmitted from the meter (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) to the communication module, a second communication interface using which the consumption data can be further transmitted from the communication module to the data collection apparatus, wherein the first communication interface is a wireless close-range interface for wireless connection of the meter, which supports a plurality of transmission protocols (8a-8e) as options, and wherein the second communication interface is a long-range interface which supports a plurality of transmission protocols (9a-9e) as options, wherein - an antenna is provided for communication using the first communication interface as well as the second communication interface, or - a first antenna is provided for communication using the first communication interface and a second antenna is provided for communication using the second communication interface, wherein the communication module is designed to communicate with a plurality of meters (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) and/or superordinate data collection apparatuses and/or communication modules, characterized in that the communication module comprises means for specifying the respective transmission protocol in order to identify the transmission standard or transmission protocol over which the device or meter that is to be connected communicates, wherein this transmission standard is automatically selected to connect the meter, wherein an interference detection function is provided and the specification of the transmission protocol takes place with reference to the interference detection. a housing, a control apparatus, its own energy source, a first communication interface for wireless connection of the meter, using which the consumption data can be transmitted from the meter (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) to the communication module, a second communication interface using which the consumption data can be further transmitted from the communication module to the data collection apparatus, wherein the first communication interface is a wireless close-range interface for wireless connection of the meter, which supports a plurality of transmission protocols (8a-8e) as options, and wherein the second communication interface is a long-range interface which supports a plurality of transmission protocols (9a-9e) as options, - an antenna is provided for communication using the first communication interface as well as the second communication interface, or - a first antenna is provided for communication using the first communication interface and a second antenna is provided for communication using the second communication interface, wherein the communication module comprises means for specifying the respective transmission protocol in order to identify the transmission standard or transmission protocol over which the device or meter that is to be connected communicates, wherein this transmission standard is automatically selected to connect the meter, wherein an interference detection function is provided and the specification of the transmission protocol takes place with reference to the interference detection.