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Wind, Solar & Biofuels to Power Remote Cell Towers

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the go-juice dept.

tcd004 writes "How do you set up a cell network when there's no power grid? Namibia, India and Nigeria are building towers using localized power sources to provide critical cell phone access to the most remote parts of their countries. Wind/solar hybrids, and biofuel power plants will power the radio towers, peripheral communications, and even the protective fencing around the installations."

4 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. developing nations?! by cashman73 · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Heck! They need to put a couple of these suckers in Arizona (not Phoenix),... ;-)

    I-17 has horrible cell coverage in places, and could really use something better. The only cell phones that even work at the Grand Canyon are Verizon phones (although perhaps Verizon likes it that way).

    1. Re:developing nations?! by Vancorps · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That's funny, when I went to the Grand Canyon my sister's verizon cell phone didn't work while my Sprint phone did. You're right though, reception is spotty on the 17. I drove cross country and the 17 was the only place I ever lost reception.

      The thing I still can fathom is why AZ doesn't use more solar power than it does with more 300 days of sun a year this is one of the best places on earth to try it out for real.

  2. Can't be done - and you already know why. by mmell · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Consider - in Namibia and Nigeria, I doubt there is much of a paying customer base to pay for installation and upkeep of such facilities; and I'll wager that in India, the towers under discussions are meant to serve areas of the country with little of interest to commercial providers. They need a system of towers which they can install, configure and walk away from. Doubtless the governments of the respective countries are directly involved in the planning, implementation and financing of the towers in question; hence their drive to have an efficient, self-sufficient implementation.

    Here in the US, if somebody wants something, they'd better damned well be ready to pay for it. Here, "you gets what you pays for!". Now, if Cellulite-1 (or whoever) decides to put a tower up, you can bet it'll be the classic sort which requires power and periodic maintainance to remain operational; expenses which will not only be passed along to the consumer, but which will be passed along at a profit! If the cell towers generate their own electricity, there's that much less expense to make a profit on.

    Yes, it seems counterintuitive, but why develop a technology which costs less to implement if that technology is going to cut into your bottom line? Current, technologies with a lower TCO provide less profit than conventional technologies.

  3. Re:Interesting by marcog123 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The main reason is the rapid increase in uptake of cell phones in developing regions. The cellular providers are ripping off the people in these countries simply because they can. And the people are so hooked on cell phones that they fall for the trap. It's like the new in thing. You'd be surprised.

    I'm from South Africa and one of our lecturers who researches HCI went to Zambia for two months to study the use of cell phones. He said you'd be amazed at where you'd find cell towers - in the middle of the middle of nowhere (repetition intended).

    My point is that these alternatives are happening because there's a market for them. The problem is that they're rushing in so quickly that the costs are high, which means the people end up forking out all they have just to use their phones. And they do just that! Someone needs to come up with a more effective model tuned to their usage requirements. And consider costs as the main thing!!