Trial confirms feasibility of powering GSM Base
Stations using ‘green’ power
Hong Kong – December 5, 2006 – Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) today announced that
it has successfully completed a trial to demonstrate the feasibility of
alternative power systems can support remote GSM Base Stations (BTS). The trial
concluded that a combination of solar cells and wind turbines can generate
1,200 watts in a continual cycle; enough to drive a mid-sized BTS and support a
microwave backhaul installation.
Powering BTS sites in both developed and emerging markets is a challenge for
operators because of the high cost or difficulty of provisioning mains
electrical power. Motorola’s green-powered BTS, part of the company’s Reach GSM
portfolio, can replace or reduce the load on mains power and can also remove
the need for power generators that require continual re-fuelling and security.
“In areas such as central Africa, operators can spend as much as two-thirds of
their operating costs on diesel power,” comments Mohammad Akhtar, vice
president, global product management GSM/UMTS, Motorola Sales and Services,
Inc. “Using eco-powered BTS can help operators to lower operating costs. This reduction
in operating expenditure (OPEX) can be critical for operators in emerging
markets when building networks that reach customers in remote locations.”
In collaboration with Bristol, Bath and Surrey Universities, Motorola
successfully ran the year-long test at its GSM facility in Swindon, UK. During
the trials, Motorola used a combination of solar and wind power to run a GSM
base station and charge batteries that kick in when the solar or wind power is
insufficient. Motorola’s alternative power solutions are now available to trial
in live networks across the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions.
Source: Motorola press release
