Solar powered GSM Cell phone system
A solar-powered, low-cost, open source cellular network is revolutionizing coverage in underprivileged and off-grid spots. It uses VoIP yet works with existing cell phones.
The technology starts with open source software, OpenBTS which is built on Linux and distributed via the AGPLv3 license. When used with a software-defined radio such as the Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP), it presents a GSM air interface to any standard GSM cell phone, with no modification required of the phone. It uses open source Asterisk VoIP software as the PBX to connect calls, though it can be used with other soft switches.
This is the third year its founders have decided to trial the system by offering free cell phone service to the 50,000 attendees at Burning Man, which is being held in Black Rock City, Nevada. When attendees get into range and power up their phones, the system sends them a text that says “Reply to this message with your phone number and you can send and receive text messages and make voice calls.”
The system is compact and only requires 50 watts of power so it is easily supported by solar or wind power, or batteries. It performs as well as any other GSM base station which has a maximum range of 35 kilometers and a typical range of 20 kilometers, depending on geography, antennae height, etc.
A full power base station with software costs around $10,000 compared to the average $50,000 – $100,000 investment for base station controllers and mobile switching centers to bring in power, backhaul, etc., in a traditional cellular network.
Like other GSM cell networks, OpenBTS networks can connect to the public switched network and the Internet. Any GSM phone will work, from a $15 refurbished cell phone all the way up to iPhones and Androids.” Low cost phones are particularly important for projects in impoverished areas, where people can benefit most from better communications services. The UN and ITU studies show that when you bring communications services to an area, healthcare goes up, economic well being goes up, education goes up.
Trial systems have been installed in India, Africa, the South Pacific and a number of other countries. Installations have also taken place in oil fields, farms, and ships at sea. There is also a system being provided to the Australian Base in Antarctica. It is also of interest for military communications, law enforcement and DARPA projects.
For more information see:
Global – Smart Grids Moving into 2011
Smart Cities, Buildings & Communities
Smart Grids – Global Overview & Trends
Smart Grids – Grid IT – Where Energy Meets Comms
Smart Grids and Smart Meters – Consumer Issues
Smart Grids and the Communications Revolution
Tagged in: Smart Grids, Smart Meters, solar power
September 6th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
50W seems amazingly low, but then the areas they are designed for probably don’t have that many people to be using the bandwidth of the device.
Overall looks like a very clever idea
October 29th, 2010 at 11:52 am
Paul, in this or similar technology, I wonder if there could be one answer to the NBN’s fibre-connected phone not working in a blackout?*
Perhaps the NTU could incorporate an inexpensive ultra-low power consumption mobile phone circuit with a large capacitor kept charged by mains and optionally by solar panel and the ubiquitous NBN wireless towers (which would have substantial UPS capacity and perhaps diesel backup) could incorporate the VoIP capability described?
In the end I’m sure there are myriad workarounds available for this objection, and it is a very real one in the public mind so something realistic needs to be put out there to answer it.
*Ironically, most people who raise this objection have a cordless phone with a base station that fails in a blackout now!