{"id":31329,"date":"2022-06-15T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-15T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/?p=31329"},"modified":"2022-06-15T12:19:47","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T11:19:47","slug":"vodafone-deploys-first-live-self-powering-uk-4g-mobile-mast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2022\/06\/vodafone-deploys-first-live-self-powering-uk-4g-mobile-mast.html","title":{"rendered":"Vodafone Deploys First Live Self-Powering UK 4G Mobile Mast UPDATE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mobile operator Vodafone<\/a> UK has today switched on what they claim is the country’s first wind and solar-powered 4G<\/a> mobile phone masts, which went live as part of a new trial in rural Pembrokeshire (Wales). The new technology is intended to help cover “not-spots<\/em>” in the most remote and inaccessible locations.<\/p>\n

At this point we should say that Vodafone<\/a> aren’t the only network provider to experiment with self-powered masts. A number of Fixed Wireless Access<\/strong> (FWA) broadband ISPs (e.g. Airband<\/a>) have also deployed similar technologies to help serve remote communities, usually those where bringing mains power to the site would not be economically viable. But these are often much smaller masts, and they don’t do mobile.<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong> Removing the need for external power is only one part of the challenge. Ensuring an adequate fibre optic connection for data capacity is another problem, but Microwave solutions can sometimes take their place (we think this is the case on the new mast).<\/div>\n

In theory, the operator’s new approach, which reflects a partnership with wind turbine technology specialists Crossflow Energy<\/strong> and mobile infrastructure partner Cornerstone<\/strong>, could also help to support delivery of the existing \u00a31bn Shared Rural Network<\/strong> (SRN) – aiming to cover 95% of the UK\u2019s landmass with 4G<\/a> (mobile broadband) by the end of 2025.<\/p>\n

The mast is designed to be “extremely quiet, making it viable for sensitive sites such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty<\/em>” and it can also be “filtered out as a solid object by radar, birds and bats, so it is easily avoided, making it less harmful to wildlife<\/em>.” But as you can see from the picture, this technology, which was first proposed last year (here<\/a>), is anything but discreet.<\/p>\n

By the looks of it, Vodafone<\/a>’s new mast has all the aesthetic appeal of a giant upside-down lawnmower that has been stuck on top of a very high pole – with the added bonus of a giant cooking whisk. It probably wouldn’t look out of place in the Tate Modern. Nevertheless, if it works, it works.<\/p>\n

Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer and Development Director at Vodafone, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Connectivity is vital to everyone, no matter where you live. This self-powering mobile phone mast, with on-site battery storage, could help us connect places that were previously impossible to reach. It will also help us reduce carbon emissions and minimise our impact on local environments.\u201d<\/p>\n

If this trial is a success, we would like to roll out more \u2018self-powering\u2019 masts, with a focus on areas with poor or no coverage.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The trial itself is being conducted at Home Farm in the rural village of Eglwyswrw<\/strong>, which is home to over 700 people. It will run for two years, and any data gathered will help Vodafone optimise the technology and determine which sites are most suitable for ‘self-powering’ masts. Sadly, Vodafone didn’t say precisely what kind of cell equipment or mobile bands the mast will support, or whether it could handle 5G<\/a> (we assume they’ve planned for it).<\/p>\n

In addition, masts like this could also help Vodafone to reduce carbon emissions and support their target of reaching Net Zero UK operations by 2027, but that may depend upon how many of them they actually decide to deploy.<\/p>\n

UPDATE 12:19pm<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now we have a video..<\/p>\n