Vodafone has just announced the completion of its first self-powered telephone antenna. It is located in the UK: to be precise in Wales, in a village called (I hope I'm writing it well) Eglwyswrw. It is the first time that a repeater of this type has been installed in Europe (yes, there was Brexit, but that is the continent). A notable step forward in covering low-coverage rural regions, and a taste of what we'll see in the coming years.
Yes: because this large 4G antenna that incorporates a wind turbine, solar panels and a battery to store energy when needed (at night or when there is no sun) is a paradigm. If it will work all year round using renewables, I don't see why not make it a standard.
Who does it by itself, is it for Three? No. Those are the competitors.
The company says wind turbines can generate power even with little wind and, combined with solar and battery, significantly reduce installation times and costs.
In other words: setting up an antenna like this means digging holes for laying electrical cables. The system is quieter, poses fewer risks and is safer for wildlife than traditional wind turbines.
I could tell you about the tests, but on balance this antenna is already up and running and connected to the network: it has simply been adapted with a self-powered technology and will remain so for two years, the evaluation period provided by Vodafone.
A self-sustaining antenna
I consider it an interesting move. In its small way, it is another test bed on the ever-increasing potential that renewable energy has in powering our future.
The data collected over the next 24 months will allow us to optimize this antenna even further. There is no doubt that in a first phase the most suitable areas for the installation of this type of repeater will be identified, but in the long term the diffusion will be widespread. Many areas today with little coverage will be reached and will continue to allow us to communicate even in the event of an interruption to the normal electricity network.
Not to mention remote places where it is unthinkable today to bring a more complex energy infrastructure. Let's wait and see if in two years there will be "still scope" for this idea.
