LAGOS, Nigeria—A group of wireless players is experimenting with environmentally friendly biodiesel as a way to power cellular base stations in Africa.
The GSM Association, L.M. Ericcson and telecom company MTN are partnering on a pilot project to set up a base station powered by biodiesel in Lagos, and plan to later expand the biodiesel-powered base stations to rural areas of southern Nigeria. Only 25 percent of Nigeria is connected to an electricity grid, according to the companies, and MTN has invested in its own power system in order to maintain a communications network.
Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning fuel and can be produced locally, creating jobs and reducing costs for operators.
“The extension of mobile networks into rural areas is vital to boost the social and economic welfare of the developing world,” said Rob Conway, chief executive officer of the GSMA. “Biofuels have the potential to make that happen by giving mobile operators access to a commercially and environmentally sustainable power supply.”
