“While diesel pollution is an environmental issue, what bothers operators the most is the cost of powering and securing the generators,” says Allen Nogee, In-Stat analyst. “Diesel fuel has to be trucked to remote sites, and theft of diesel fuel and equipment can cost operators millions of dollars. The solution is for operators to at least partially power remote base stations with wind turbines, solar panels, or both. This is truly a case where it pays to be green.”
Recent research by In-Stat found the following:
* By 2014, over 230,000 cellular base stations in developing countries will be solar-powered or wind-powered.
* The number of off-grid base stations is growing at 30% per year.
* Off-grid base stations are primarily located in Africa, South Asia (including India), South America, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
This research is part of In-Stat’s Cellular Infrastructure service, which provides comprehensive analysis of the components and equipment for wireless broadband and communication technologies, including the market trends and network technologies, such as micro, pico, and femtocells.Recent In-Stat research, Green Base Stations: Renewable Energy Becomes a Reality in Cellular Infrastructurecovers the market for cellular base station technology in the developing world.
