Biodiesel to power wireless networks in rural India

Indian mobile operator Idea Cellular, Ericsson and the GSM Association’s Development Fund, have teamed up to develop biofuels as a source of power for wireless networks in rural India. In a pilot project in Pune, Maharashtra, India, the three organizations will begin using biofuels to power mobile base stations located beyond the reach of the electricity grid. The first phase of the project, which is testing the feasibility of non-edible plant-based fuels, such as cotton and jatropha, is nearing completion. The second phase of the project will entail setting up a supply chain using locally grown crops to produce biodiesel to power between five and 10 base stations in the Maharashtra region. (February 8, 2007)