The trial involves the installation of the Motorola wind and solar solution at an operational MTC Namibia cell site where the solution will become the electrical power source for the site. The cell site will remain a part of MTC Namibia's current wireless network and continue to carry the same levels of traffic.
This 'green' solution provides a feasible and efficient alternative to using fuel generators when a main grid connection is not available or it will take months or years to connect or finally, where electricity tariffs are expected to rise sharply in the next few years. Once installed, the cost of power is almost zero, and wind and solar powered cell sites require minimal maintenance unlike a diesel-driven generator, which generally requires, at a minimum, a monthly visit for refueling and they can also be heavily prone to theft. This translates into added savings in operating expenditure (OPEX), a key factor to emerging market network operators.
Dawn Hartley, development fund manager at the GSMA said: "Off-grid connectivity is a key challenge for operators, in particular in developing world markets, and until cost-effective, practical solutions are commonplace, the digital divide will persist. The GSMA is therefore committed to piloting alternative energies for powering base stations, and we are delighted to be involved in this trial in Namibia."
