Method for pairing a meter with a communication module for establishing a communication connection between the two, in which method: - the communication module is allocated a first identity key for the pairing, and - the meter is allocated a second identity key for the pairing, the method comprising: - generating the first identity key and the second identity key within a protective environment with the aid of the communication module by way of pre-pairing the communication module within the protective environment with a paring partner situated within the protective environment, - storing the first identity key and the second identity key within the protective environment in the communication module and in the pairing partner, the communication module and the pairing partner being situated within the protective environment, and - subsequently removing the communication module from the protective environment, - taking and keeping available the first identity key and the second identity key within the protective environment from the pairing partner into a protected data object and keeping available the first identity key and the second identity key in the protected data object, - removing the protected data object from the protective environment and taking the protected data object to the meter and in so doing removing the first identity key and the second identity key within the data object from the protective environment, - storing the first identity key and the second identity key out of the protected data object on a protected path in the meter, the meter being situated outside the protective environment, - pairing the meter and the communication module outside the protective environment using the first identity key and the second identity key. - the communication module is allocated a first identity key for the pairing, and - the meter is allocated a second identity key for the pairing, - generating the first identity key and the second identity key within a protective environment with the aid of the communication module by way of pre-pairing the communication module within the protective environment with a paring partner situated within the protective environment, - storing the first identity key and the second identity key within the protective environment in the communication module and in the pairing partner, the communication module and the pairing partner being situated within the protective environment, and - subsequently removing the communication module from the protective environment, - taking and keeping available the first identity key and the second identity key within the protective environment from the pairing partner into a protected data object and keeping available the first identity key and the second identity key in the protected data object, - removing the protected data object from the protective environment and taking the protected data object to the meter and in so doing removing the first identity key and the second identity key within the data object from the protective environment, - storing the first identity key and the second identity key out of the protected data object on a protected path in the meter, the meter being situated outside the protective environment, - pairing the meter and the communication module outside the protective environment using the first identity key and the second identity key.