Motorola, the GSM Association’s (GSMA) Development Fund and MTC Namibia chose to run the Dordabis trial during the winter months, when both wind and solar energy would be at their lowest availability. Since May 2007, a solar array and a wind turbine have jointly been generating the electrical power needed to drive a mid-sized cell and support a microwave backhaul installation.
Dawn Haig-Thomas, director of the GSMA Development Fund, said: Operators are investing heavily in developing their infrastructure in the African continent and other developing regions, but achieving wide coverage can be a significant challenge when base stations are located in remote areas. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar make it not only possible but also cost-effective for network operators to deliver mobile voice and data services in remote rural areas where mains electricity is either not available at all or prohibitively expensive.
