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Solar-powered macro coverage in Sumatra
Ericsson enables Indonesian operator Telkomsel to significantly reduce running costs with a low power, solar-driven site, bringing coverage to remote areas in Sumatra.
November 21, 2007
Ericsson's pioneering low-energy solution is ideal for deployment in areas with limited access to electricity. The solar-driven GSM radio base station (Main-Remote RBS 2111) has a smaller environmental footprint than a standard base station, with up to 60 percent lower energy consumption than a standard macro product - making it possible to be powered by low maintenance alternative energy solutions, like solar power, and translating into significantly lower operating expenses for network operators.
Deployed in rural Sumatra, Indonesia, the base station does not require diesel fuel. The site is self-contained with maintenance-free batteries. It has a three-day power backup in case of a lack of sunlight. By placing the remote radio unit at the top of the tower, feeder loss is reduced and power saved. The base station's distributed architecture means no site floor space is needed, reducing the total site cost and making it easier to roll-out. The heaviest component weighs only 35kg.
The solution helps operators address low-spending, high-growth subscriber segments profitably and opens the door to new revenue streams in remote areas. It will expand Telkomsel's network and provide macro coverage in rural areas while reducing energy consumption and lowering total cost of ownership.
Linda Ekener Mägi, marketing manager, Communications Expander, says: "Operators appreciate the importance of lower operational expenditure, and this solution is a way for them to offer services in these remote areas that would otherwise be too costly. The solution is also GPRS/EDGE prepared, so mobile data is fully supported."
Developing solutions that optimize the energy efficiency of mobile networks is a key focus area for Ericsson, and it is the only vendor with a main remote solution for GSM systems. Energy efficient products not only reduce environmental impacts during the operational phase, but also help lower network operating costs.
"Ericsson has been focusing on making more energy efficient products without sacrificing network performance," Ekener Mägi says. "Our main-remote concept is a big step forward in the development of energy-lean products, and we are the only vendor to offer this concept for GSM."
