GSMA, Ericsson, and IDEA Cellular team up to test a new mobile operation
model.
February 8, 2007
By Seema Singh
In what could be a path-breaking developmental model, Indian mobile
operator IDEA Cellular, Ericsson, and the GSM Association's Development
Fund said Thursday they have teamed up to develop biofuels for powering
wireless networks in rural India.
A pilot project is already underway in the western city of Pune in
Maharashtra where the three organizations will soon begin using biofuels
to power mobile base stations that are outside the reach of the
electricity grid. The base stations provide wireless connections to cell
phone networks.
The first phase of the project, which is testing the feasibility of
non-edible plant-based fuels, such as cotton and jatropha, is nearing
completion. In the second phase, a supply chain will be set up that will
use locally grown crops to produce biodiesel to power between five and
10 base stations in the Maharashtra region.
'Biofuels will help us further extend mobile coverage.'
-Sanjeev Aga,
IDEA Cellular
The program intends to have the base stations powered by cotton or
jatropha by mid-2007.
"Almost three-quarters of India's population lives in rural areas that
often lack a reliable power supply," said Sanjeev Aga, chairman of IDEA
Cellular. "Biofuels will help us further extend mobile coverage into
these areas, bringing major economic and social benefits to rural
communities."
If the pilot project is successful, GSMA intends to extend this program
to other parts of India with IDEA. More GSM (global system for mobile
communications) operators would be involved in the future. GSMA is a
worldwide trade association for GSM wireless operators.
Local Resource for Local Problems
India is promoting non-edible jatropha seeds as one of the most suitable
biofuel crops, encouraging private and public sector companies to adopt
the production and use of biodiesel from jatropha plants.
Several Indian research laboratories and institutes are studying
jatropha to produce high-yielding, disease-resistant seeds that can
produce high-quality biodiesel that matches the conventional diesel in
performance.
"The early adoption of biofuels will give IDEA a pioneering role in the
development of cost-effective and environmentally sustainable mobile
networks to serve rural communities," said GSMA CEO Rob Conway in a
statement. "We look forward to sharing the expertise and knowledge
gained from this project with other mobile operators around the world."
Even though India is the fastest growing market for cellular phones,
operators are worried that poor infrastructure will act as a roadblock,
sooner rather than later.
"As GSM operators expand their network coverage into new areas, one of
the biggest challenges is to overcome operational issues associated with
the lack of basic infrastructure," said Mats Granryd, managing director
of Ericsson India, in a statement.
"Through this initiative, we are also involving local communities in the
wireless revolution and taking the benefits of technology to the
masses," said Mr. Granryd.
GSMA is running a similar pilot in Nigeria, where it has joined hands
with Ericsson and the multinational telecommunications group MTN to test
biofuels as an alternative source of power for wireless networks.
The first such base station is being set up in Lagos and will later be
deployed in the hinterland in southeastern and southwestern Nigeria.
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