Why & how mobile operators are looking to renewables to power networks across Africa
George Kibala Bauer, Director, Digital Utilities, GSMA
Mobile connectivity is vital for people and businesses across Africa, providing access to critical information, services, and income-generating opportunities. Disruptions in connectivity have widespread impacts on households and economies across the continent.
Mobile towers owned and operated by mobile operators and tower companies are fundamental to providing this connectivity. While the power requirements of a mobile tower depend on what cells the tower supports, and on what frequencies, mobile towers in general depend on reliable and affordable energy to provide constant connectivity. Mobile tower networks are unique commercial end-users of energy: they are highly distributed with up to thousands of base stations per country.
Across Africa, access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy is one of the key challenges facing mobile operators. For instance, in Nigeria, mobile operators and tower companies are reported to purchase and transport over 40 million liters of diesel per month to operate diesel generators at tower sites due to recurrent grid outages and lacking energy access. The cost of buying and purchasing diesel can amount to 30-60% of total operational expenditure of some operators in the region. It is both a commercial and a climate imperative for mobile operators and tower companies to address their energy challenges and find more sustainable, cost-effective alternatives.
This blog outlines some of the key energy access challenges facing business and households in Africa, discusses the specific implications of these energy challenges for mobile operators and tower companies, and highlights some scalable renewable energy solutions such as energy-as-a-service solutions and anchor-business-community models for towers located in off-grid and weak-grid areas across Africa.