In partnership with the Netherlands Highlights from Africa Regional Working Group The last Green Power for Mobile Africa Regional Working Sam Basson from Eaton Towers presented a case study Group was successfully hosted by the GSMA and Tigo from a tower company perspective and detailed their (Millicom Group) on the 6th and 7th November 2012 in initiatives towards bringing energy efficiency to the Accra. The Working Group was attended by 43 delegates forefront of their strategy and implementing energy saving from across the industry, including mobile network solutions, including green power. Sam presented a case operators, tower companies, industry regulators, vendors, study on their Ugandan operations, which provided them energy service companies, and other stakeholders. savings of close to 30% in costs as a result of their OPEX and energy efficiency initiatives. The first day’s sessions started with an introduction from Areef Kassam, the Green Power for Mobile Programme General Electric’s Obinna Onuchuckwu shared the Director, followed by Garry Bridgewater from Millicom experience in deploying DG-battery hybrid solutions in Group, who spoke about their energy optimisation Africa. Obinna highlighted that people, processes and and OPEX efficiency strategies. Millicom’s approach to products are key elements that make hybrid solutions a reducing energy OPEX involves load optimisation and success or a failure. equipment efficiency, cost reduction through the sale of towers and site sharing and green energy. On the ESCO model, Laurentius Human of Inala, talked about what an ESCO is and walked the Working Group Arata Onoguchi, from the Sustainable Business Advisory through the ESCO model using interesting infographics. Department at the International Finance Corporation, Laurentius highlighted that the “one size fits all” approach gave an overview of IFC’s support for the Green Power will not work across the globe and replicating a successful for Mobile programme and various investment vehicles business model in one continent, does not guarantee its for investing in green power deployment for telecom success elsewhere. He explained the key elements required infrastructure. Arata also gave an overview of the impact for an ESCO model to work in Africa and stressed that site the Green Power for Mobile programme has had on the selection is important. industry to date. The second day started with Helios Towers Africa briefing Patrick Ayivor of Airtel Ghana presented a case study the group on their operations and gave insight into what on their solar deployment experiences. He demonstrated it’s like to do business in Africa. Helios Towers highlighted how their approach has enabled them to realise an energy that green power, including solar, wind and fuel cells, OPEX saving of about 74% by replacing diesel power with is part of their energy strategy and that they are actively solar. Airtel Ghana highlighted that remote monitoring, considering these options for feasibility. site security and commitment from project and managed services partners are essential elements to protect an HIP Consult’s Judah Levine took a strategic view of green investment in green power. energy and energy efficiency in the telecoms industry and stressed an integrated approach for formulating energy related strategies and programmes. Judah highlighted that green/hybrid energy is showing traction with increasing deployments; however, the challenge is bringing this to a transformation scale. Judah’s session looked at various frameworks to analyse and comprehend the multi-dimensional aspects of energy and strategies to adopt in order to develop and execute successful energy programmes. Mary Roach of GSMA’s Community Power from Mobile programme talked about the situation at present through drawing similarities between developing world and the developed world using Hurricane Sandy as an example of a nation dependent on energy and mobile. Highlighting the lessons learnt in 2012, Mary mentioned that the economic viability of community power depends on a country’s government involvement and the strength of the innovation. Mary talked about the three channels that have evolved from the original concept of the programme and used case studies to highlight each. Areef Kassam drew the Working Group’s attention to GSMA’s newest development: Mobile and Development Intelligence. As an online, publically available data-driven website for our member operators and the wider mobile for development community, MDI will cover many sectors implementation and future proofing of deployed systems. including green networks and energy access and give users John O’Donohue, demonstrated that scaled deployments access to various metrics as well as hosting out deployment would result in business returns and stressed that standard tracker. configurations and clustering of sites is key to enable scaled deployment of green power and other energy ATC’s (American Tower) Darren Crosse presented saving solutions. their progress since the Cape Town Working Group in Nov 2011. ATC demonstrated that through successful monitoring and analysis, they were able maximise the Breakout Sessions utilisation of grid power and optimise site load through Day 1: Viability of the OPEX/ESCO Model for Africa various energy efficiency initiatives. ATC acknowledged that customers are keen to have DC power onsite for Both groups came to difference conclusions; the first group reduced OPEX and fast rollout. ATC understands that felt that the ESCO model will not work in Africa and the long-term network evolution is essential in predicting second group felt that it will work, provided that there are future energy requirements as well as a fruitful strategy. some key enablers. These include, but are not exclusive Through their energy efficiency and optimisation to experience, scalability, having a large enough anchor initiatives, ATC saves on average 500,000 litres of diesel client, the risk of demand, controlled community power each year and reduces CO2 emissions by 1340 tonnes, the usage, energy storage, variable pricing, credible evidence, equivalent of 45 acres of forest. as well as regulations. Simon Beard of Altobridge followed with their experience Day 2: Remote Monitoring and Security in extending coverage to remote rural areas through their standalone solar powered Lite-Site solution. This solution The groups discussed the current challenge of remote is suitable for isolated areas including unreliable and off- site monitoring impacting cost of operations and the key grid locations with 1200 subscribers or less. Altobridge’s role it plays in site security and management. It appears Lite-Site implements satellite backhaul and provides that standardisation is imperative to enabling successful MNOs a quick and low cost rollout in areas without integration and implementation. Site security is a challenge microwave links. and needs to be addressed through strengthening operational processes and site access control. Various PowerOasis, through their successful deployments points of security vulnerabilities were highlighted and across Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, emphasized possible strategies were discussed to address the existing the need for a structured approach through planning, security issues at telecom sites. About GSMA Mobile for Development For information on the For information on the GSMA Mobile for services for underserved Green Power for Mobile Community Power from Development brings people in emerging markets. Programme, please email: Mobile Programme, please together our mobile operator We identify opportunities for members, the wider social, economic impact and greenpower@gsm.org email: cpm@gsm.org mobile industry and the stimulate the development development community of scalable, life-enhancing to drive commercial mobile mobile services. ©2012. GSMA Head Office Seventh Floor, 5 New Street Square, New Fetter Lane, London EC4A 3BF