Cellcos call on Holy Cow to cut costs
Network powered by cow dung? Mobile towers powered by bio-fuels is the latest invention by telcos.
By Harsimran Singh, TNN |
NEW DELHI: Your mobile network will now be powered by cow dung. Ericsson and Idea Cellular with the help of GSM Association (GSMA) are rolling out mobile towers powered by bio-fuels. The towers are expected to bring down opex significantly and may bring down cost of calls in rural areas, said Rajat Mukherji, vice-president, corporate affairs, Idea Cellular.
According to Lehman Brothers, about $5,600 is spent on a tower as opex each year by an operator with no sharing. Besides cutting down on fuel costs needed to power towers, biofuels can also help bring down cost of sharing amongst operators.
In a pilot project in Pune, the three organisations (Ericsson, Idea Cellular and GSMA) will begin using biofuels to power mobile base stations which are beyond the reach of the electricity grid. 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. Manure may also be used as bio-fuel.
The second phase of the project will entail producing biodiesel from biofuel to power up to 10 base stations in a mobile tower chain in Maharashtra. The base stations will be up and running by mid-2007. "We will use all sorts of bio-degradable fuels to power networks. The idea is to move away from petroleum-based fuels and present a case for bringing down costs by using bio-fuel," Mr Mukherji said.
Biofuel can be produced from metabolic by-products. Of the global cow population of 1.5 billion, India has the largest share - over 200 million.
"Biofuels will help us further extend mobile coverage into rural areas. Almost three-quarters of the country's population lives in rural areas that often lack a reliable power supply," said Sanjeev Aga, MD, Idea Cellular.
"We will be sharing the expertise and knowledge gained from this project with other mobile operators around the world," said Rob Conway, CEO of the GSMA.
According to Lehman Brothers, about $5,600 is spent on a tower as opex each year by an operator with no sharing. Besides cutting down on fuel costs needed to power towers, biofuels can also help bring down cost of sharing amongst operators.
In a pilot project in Pune, the three organisations (Ericsson, Idea Cellular and GSMA) will begin using biofuels to power mobile base stations which are beyond the reach of the electricity grid. 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. Manure may also be used as bio-fuel.
The second phase of the project will entail producing biodiesel from biofuel to power up to 10 base stations in a mobile tower chain in Maharashtra. The base stations will be up and running by mid-2007. "We will use all sorts of bio-degradable fuels to power networks. The idea is to move away from petroleum-based fuels and present a case for bringing down costs by using bio-fuel," Mr Mukherji said.
Biofuel can be produced from metabolic by-products. Of the global cow population of 1.5 billion, India has the largest share - over 200 million.
"Biofuels will help us further extend mobile coverage into rural areas. Almost three-quarters of the country's population lives in rural areas that often lack a reliable power supply," said Sanjeev Aga, MD, Idea Cellular.
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Produced locally, biodiesel may create employment, while reducing the need for transportation, related logistics and security. It will also extend the life of the base station generator, reducing operators' costs."We will be sharing the expertise and knowledge gained from this project with other mobile operators around the world," said Rob Conway, CEO of the GSMA.
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