E-Plus, Nokia Siemens Networks build Germany’s first off-grid base station

Munich, Germany – ----

Base station goes green by being powered with renewable energy

E-Plus, a leading mobile service provider in Germany, has become the first to operate a base station without using any German grid electricity. Instead, the site relies on a combination of solar and wind power, supported by fuel cell and deep cycle battery technology. Nokia Siemens Networks’ end-to-end Energy Solutions business set up the ‘green’ base station site. The environment-friendly operation of the site allows E-Plus to reduce its carbon footprint. Nokia Siemens Networks’ remote energy management enables the monitoring of all green energy components at anytime.

“With this innovative energy concept, we show how mobile phone transmission sites can become carbon neutral,” said Rafal Markiewicz, chief technology officer of E-Plus Group. “This new transmission plant is part of our sustainability strategy. For us, building the first green base station site of this type is an important achievement and underlines our claim to operate the most efficient network in Germany.”

“ABI Research has found that 86 percent of the energy needed by an operator is consumed by its networks, and we are always committed to innovation that enables energy conservation for the communication service provider,” said Rohit Kumar, head of energy solutions at Nokia Siemens Networks.

“E-Plus’ commitment to the environment is closely aligned with our own, and it’s great to see that the operator will achieve energy efficiency and zero CO2 emission during this site’s operation,” added Stefan Ilchmann, responsible for E-Plus business at Nokia Siemens Networks.

Nokia Siemens Networks has provided a solar tracking system, which follows the sun and turns the maximum surface of the solar panels toward it, to increase solar energy production for the site operation. Nokia Siemens Networks’ Green Energy Controller* manages the solar energy, a wind turbine, a fuel cell system and the deep cycle battery technology, which is mounted in SiteStar** cabinets for extended life time. The vendor has also extended its network management platform, NetAct, for network monitoring and optimization to enable energy management of this site. This platform also enables the operator to remotely maintain and install new software remotely, which obviates the necessity of visiting base station sites, thereby further preventing CO2 emissions.

Green site operation and remote energy management help E-Plus achieve zero CO2 emissions during the operation, supporting its target to increase energy efficiency by five percent by the year 2012, and by 20 percent by the year 2020. Electricity grid independent base station can be used at locations lacking an affordable energy grid connection to cover ‘white spot’ areas and increase the broadband penetration.

About the E-Plus Group

The E-Plus Group is the challenger on the German mobile communications market. Simple services tailored to customer needs and a major reduction in call and data charges can be traced back to the initiative of the third-largest mobile network operator in Germany. After revolutionizing the voice market for larger user groups now the company opens the mobile data market for the masses by its massive network roll-out and highly attractive low-priced data tariff schemes. As a result of innovative business models, modern structures and strong partnerships the E-Plus Group was able to significantly strengthen its market position and show a more dynamic and profitable development than the market.

Since 2005 E-Plus Mobilfunk GmbH und Co. KG has developed into a family of brands offering target group-specific services and thus breaks new ground in mobile communications in Germany. The flat-rate brand BASE and the mobile discounters simyo and blau are market leader in their segments, while the original E-Plus brand offers a range of services to its existing customers. The brand AY YILDIZ addresses the Turkish community in Germany. Vybemobile is aimed to appeal to young music lovers. The partners of the E-Plus group include many other brands, such as MEDIONmobile (ALDI TALK) and the German music TV station MTV.

More than 20 million customers are using the network of the E-Plus Group to make calls andsend text messages or data. The Group generates an annual revenue of €3.2 billion (2010) and employs more than 2,500 people (FTE) in Germany.


About Nokia Siemens Networks

Nokia Siemens Networks is a leading global enabler of telecommunications services. With its focus on innovation and sustainability, the company provides a complete portfolio of mobile, fixed and converged network technology, as well as professional services including consultancy and systems integration, deployment, maintenance and managed services. It is one of the largest telecommunications hardware, software and professional services companies in the world. Operating in 150 countries, its headquarters are in Espoo, Finland. www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com