Corporate Responsibility
SOCIETY

Socio-economic impact: Case study

Boosting economic growth in developing countries through wind and solar-powered mobile base stations

Many people in emerging markets live in rural areas with limited access to the electricity grid. This presents a significant barrier to expanding network coverage in these areas as mobile phone base stations rely on a secure supply of power. Even in areas connected to the grid, the power supply can be unstable and expensive. Some operators use diesel generators to power base stations, but these require regular maintenance and are expensive to run.

Many mobile telephone subscribers in emerging markets have low incomes, which limits revenues to operators. Keeping network costs low is key to running a network in remote areas.

We have developed a wind- and solar-powered base station to overcome these problems. The Motorola Reach GSM Network Solution significantly reduces set-up and operating costs for base stations, enabling operators to bring mobile communications to isolated communities.

In 2007, after a successful trial at their Swindon facility in the United Kingdom, we began working with operator MTC Namibia and the GSMA Development Fund to demonstrate the wind- and solar-powered base station in Namibia. Approximately 90 percent of Namibians live in rural areas.

It has cost almost nothing to power the site, and the equipment has required minimal maintenance. This demonstrates that renewable technologies can offer a cost-effective, reliable and environmentally friendly alternative to using power from diesel generators or from the grid. The base station has almost no impact on climate change since it is not powered by fossil fuels.

Even though the trial occurred during winter, the least favorable time for sunshine, the system ran so well that additional wireless equipment now has been connected and the operation period extended. People living near the base station could potentially use this excess power for other community purposes. Base stations powered with renewable energy could also help reduce energy demand on often overloaded power grids in developing countries.

Parts of Motorola's Reach GSM Network Solution can be manufactured locally, which could generate further cost benefits for operators while supporting local manufactures.