DIGICEL PIONEERING GREEN TECHNOLOGY

 

 

 

DIGICEL PIONEERING GREEN TECHNOLOGY

International mobile operator employs innovative and environmentally friendly technology to provide service its customers in 31 markets across the Caribbean, Central America and South Pacific

 

 

Tuesday 5th May , 2009 – Digicel Group, the largest telecommunications provider in the Caribbean and new entrant to the Central American and South Pacific markets, is leading the way in the telecommunications industry by pioneering green technology in the supply of solar powered handsets and chargers and the use of alternative fuels to power its base stations.

                                       

“Not only are we doing our bit for the environment but our exploration and implementation of green technology is actually helping to meet our objective of connecting the unconnected and bridging the digital divide particularly in rural communities where there is no reliable source of electricity” said Colm Delves, Digicel Group CEO. “Our projects further demonstrate the commercial viability of implementing renewable energy systems on a broad scale and we are proud to be helping establish best practice for future green power”.

 

Digicel’s green initiatives include:

 

World’s First Solar Powered Handset

Digicel is the first telecommunications company in the world to launch an ultra-low-cost-solar-powered mobile phone in partnership with Chinese Manufacture ZTE and Dutch-based technology innovator Intivation. The Digicel Coral-200-Solar has a built in solar panel.

There are an estimated two billion people in the world who have limited or no access to electricity. The population of many emerging markets in which Digicel provides cellular services will benefit greatly by having access to a mobile handset that can be powered by the sun, or by electric power when it is available.

Solar Powered Chargers
Since early 2008, Digicel has been providing customers with portable solar chargers in markets where there is not a regular supply of power.

 

The charger - when exposed to sunlight or daylight - uses a solar panel to convert solar energy into power for the mobile phone. The solar charger is delivered with a set of six mobile phone adaptor plugs covering the main cell phone brands including Nokia and Sony Ericsson along with MP3 players and some computers.

 

In a number of its markets, Digicel has also created free ‘charging booths’ in city and town centers where people can plug their phones in for a few hours because they have no electricity at home or when electricity sources may be down following storms.

 

Alternative Energy to Fuel Base Stations

With support from the GSMA Development Fund, Digicel has recently completed the second phase of its green power network implementation and is using wind and solar energy solutions to power 25 base stations in its Pacific market of Vanuatu. Digicel Vanuatu, the leading mobile operator in the country, now carries more than 60% of its network traffic on base stations powered by renewable energy sources.

 

Digicel is the first mobile operator in South America to pioneer a solar-powered site solution with GSM partner, Ericsson, to provide energy-lean network coverage in remote areas of Suriname.

 

In Papua New Guinea, Digicel conducted a three month experiment in 2008 to run one of its base stations on coconut oil fuel, a burgeoning industry in the country. It is hoped that with further development and testing, coconut oil fuel will become a major source of income for producers in PNG especially if it should succeed in international markets as a serious replacement for fuel.

 

Degradable Retail Bags

In an effort to protect the environment and support local industries, Digicel is about to introduce degradable retail bags in stores across its 31 markets worldwide.

 

“We are very encouraged by the success of our environmentally friendly and alternative energy programmes to date and are committed to rolling these out in more of our markets and continuing to work with partners to explore further initiatives,” concluded Colm Delves, Digicel Group CEO.

 

ENDS

 

Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information on Digicel Group.

 

 

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets.

 

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and now has operations in 31 markets world-wide. Its Caribbean and Central American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel Pacific comprises Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

 

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean and Central American sports teams, including the West Indies Cricket Team and Special Olympics teams throughout the region. Digicel is also title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Championships and the Copa de Naciones Digicel, which are the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.