Annual deployment of green telecom bases to reach 84,000 by 2020 - Pike Research

Feb 11, 2013 - The world's annual installations of off-grid mobile telecommunications base stations using renewable or alternative energy will jump to over 84,000 in 2020 from below 13,000 in 2012, according to estimates by Pike Research.

Overall, the market research firm forecasts that over 390,000 "green base stations" will be deployed between 2012 and 2020.

Demand for renewable, battery, and fuel cell technologies for remote, off-grid base stations is growing as the most common means to power them, diesel generators, poses economic, logistical and environmental challenges. "The combination of increased energy costs and expanding policy directives from governments is creating pressure on the system," research director Kerry-Ann Adamson said, adding that the new technology solutions for remote base stations could become the industry norm within 10 years.

Pike Research said that in this area countries such as China, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya and Indonesia are taking a lead over the traditional early adopters, the US, Japan and Germany, as most off-grid base stations are located in remote parts of the developing world. More than 23,500 deployments in 2020, or 28% of the global market, are expected to be in Africa, where telecom infrastructure is growing fast.

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