New fuels will expand phone cover

The problem of providing mobile phone coverage to large expanses of the developing world may be coming closer to being solved through the use of alternative fuels. The BBC reports.

"Many people have little or no mobile coverage because base stations, which provide the signal that the phones use, are prohibitively expensive to run - mostly because of the fuel costs.

But the GSM Association - the trade body for the mobile phone industry - says solar power and biofuels could be used to power new base stations and so network up more of the world.

"... When you look at the cost of putting a new base station in to cover a group of villages, you're looking not only at the cost but of the road, of the electricity, and so on," Tom Phillips from the GSM Association said. "The costs can multiply many times."

Mr Phillips added that he was hopeful that the development of more base stations using alternative fuel sources would provide a source of income for the communities "as they manage the production of those fuels and secure the base station at the same time."

emily | 12:42 PM | Mobile phone projects - Third World |
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2008/05/020116.htm