Digicel, a mobile operator in the South Pacific, has completed the second phase of its green power network implementation and is now using wind and solar energy to power 25 basestations on the island of Vanuatu. The project is supported by the GSM Association Development Fund. More than 60% of Digicel's network traffic is now carried on green basestations powered by renewable energy sources.

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Typically, off-grid base stations have been powered by generators running on diesel, which is increasingly erratic in price, is costly to distribute, and generates carbon-dioxide emissions. Digicel's approach of using solar, wind, and hybrid power provides a more cost-effective and reliable solution than either solar cells or wind turbines alone to bring GSM coverage to some of the most remote communities in Vanuatu, according to the GSMA.

"The GSMA created the Green Power for Mobile program with two objectives in mind: to promote the use of green power to expand mobile networks into regions currently lacking coverage, and to facilitate the systematic reduction of reliance on diesel by operators," said Michael O'Hara, chief marketing officer for the GSMA. "Our work with Digicel further demonstrates the commercial viability of implementing renewable energy systems on a broad scale and has helped establish best practices for future green power projects."

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