Warid Telecom takes steps to go green

IDG News Service — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:12:46 -0500

Has 'Green technology finally landed in Pakistan? Pakistani telecom operator, Warid Telecom's recently announced its plan to power its Base Stations using Huawei's Solar Powered Macro Base Station (BTS)! The frequent power outages and disruptions at the BTS aren't a risk any company can take and tapping into an abundant solar power resource in Pakistan seems only natural. According to Warid, it is the first solar powered BTS deployed in Pakistan.

Huawei's environmentally-friendly Solar Powered Macro BTS allows the operator to extend its network reach into remote areas of the country where there is limited access to the electricity grid. The existing electricity infrastructure seems to be poorly managed, effecting businesses across the board. A strong telecommunication infrastructure is critical in running businesses which create a significant contribution towards an enabling economy. If the enablement isn't happening through the power grid, companies are going to have to look at other avenues. Over the long term, the company will be able to better understand the workings of solar power and use it as an effective means of generating environmentally friendly power.

Warid Telecom chose to use Huawei's Solar Powered BTS due to the fact that Pakistan is also facing a huge surge in the number of mobile phone subscribers which demands expanded network coverage especially in the small and medium sized cities, suburban areas, countryside, as well as in mountainous areas that have poor transportation links and limited access to the grid.

The non-hybrid site is completely powered on solar energy, thus contributing towards reduced carbon dioxide emissions, lesser noise pollution and the solution reduces pressure on the overall energy suppl. Along the same lines, the GSMA made a big and bright announcement in the third week of October. Determined to take communications to the underserved, the global body for mobile operators announced their plans for 'Green Power for Mobile' program. The goal of the program is to help the mobile industry use renewable energy sources such as solar, wind or sustainable biofuels, to power 118,000 new and existing off-grid base stations in developing countries by 2012.

The challenges, coupled with the opportunities in developing markets such as Pakistan, place it in a unique position to work with the GSMA to develop energy solutions that are energy and economy friendly.

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Warid Telecom takes steps to go green