Globally, mobile phone equipment makers are searching for ways to accomplish the goal of powering almost 120,000 base stations in developing countries by cleaner energy sources by 2012, according to the GSM Association.
The GSM Association – representing 750 mobile operators internationally – said that fewer than 2,000 out of over 3 million base stations worldwide are powered by renewable energy sources. Some observers argue that reducing the number of base stations built is the best way to cut harmful carbon dioxide emissions, but phone companies said networks with high data speeds require more base stations.
Nokia Siemens Networks said renewable energy will be its first choice for powering such sites by 2011. It currently has about 300 renewable energy base stations, which the company admits is a "very small amount."
"It is hard to get this moving forward but there are some factors helping take-up. There are more financing tools available and the business case keeps looking better when wind and solar prices are coming down," Anne Larilahti, head of environmentally sustainable business at Nokia, told Reuters.