For Remote Areas… Build-it-Yourself Cell Towers!

July 28th, 2008

Researchers say that by the beginning of 2010, over half of the world’s population will have a mobile phone!  That’s over half of 6.7 billion people!  The majority of that growth, and the majority of the growth potential for the future, comes from rural areas in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East… where cell phone companies have continuously been searching for a way to provide reliable service in places with unreliable urban infrastructures.  In response to this growth opportunity, a Sweedish-Indian based start-up company has developed an ingenious piece of technology that could reshape the mobile service model for these areas.  Instead of trying to implement huge base stations powered by gas generators, the start-up VNL has developed another option:  small personal radio towers whose energy needs are equivalent to that of a light bulb.

The upside for a simplified, power efficient base station is huge… Both in terms of providing service to remote areas and in energy conservation (the stations are solar powered!).  To learn more check out this article from the Baltimore Sun, or even go directly to the VNL Website.

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