Alternative Power

The GSM Association, Ericsson and MTN, the multinational telecommunications group will establish biofuels as an alternative source of power for wireless networks in the developing world.

 

A Nigerian project has been set up by the three companies to demonstrate the potential of biofuels in replacing diesel as a source of power for mobile base stations located beyond the reach of the electricity grid.

 

A pilot biodiesel-powered base station solution in Lagos is also being set up by Ericsson (News - Alert) and MTN, and is being supported by expertise and funding from the GSMA’s Development Fund. Biodiesel-fueled base stations will be deployed later in rural regions of south eastern and south western Nigeria.

 

Additionally, a supply chain is also being set up by the three organizations to help the local population by sourcing a wide variety of locally-produced crops and processing them into biofuel.

 

Initial pilot testing will include Groundnuts, pumpkin seeds, jatropha, and palm oil. The GSMA and Ericsson use the findings of the pilot to help operators across the developing world determine whether they can use biodiesel to power their networks in rural areas.

 

Since Biodiesel can be produced locally, it will create employment in rural areas, reduce the need for transportation, related logistics and security.

 

Biodiesel has a much lower impact on the environment than conventional diesel, and therefore results in fewer site visits, extends the life of the base station generator, and reduce operators' costs.

 

According to Karel Pienaar, CTIO of the MTN Group, the early adoption of biofuel-powered mobile networks would place Africa at the forefront of this new wave of innovation.

 

“The extension of mobile networks into rural areas is vital to boost the social and economic welfare of the developing world,” said CEO of the GSMA, Rob Conway in a press release.

 

“Biofuels have the potential to make that happen by giving mobile operators local access to a commercially and environmentally sustainable power supply,” he added.

 

Bert Nordberg, executive vice president, Sales and Marketing, Ericsson said that they need to reach lower-spending segments of the population profitably in order to reach the next billion mobile users.

“By using locally-produced biofuels, we could significantly lower the cost of operating mobile base stations in rural areas,” said Nordberg.

 

Ericsson made news earlier this week when they announced a contract with Swedish television format company Bringiton AB, to provide its Internet Payment Exchange service to the upcoming Play Us video gaming docu-drama.

 

Ericsson will reportedly provide the Swedish company with SMS connections to US mobile operators for payment and interaction via the Ericsson IPX service.

 

For more information, visit Ericsson, GSM Association or MTN