South African wireless communication company, Multisource Telecoms, will build 20 low-cost GSM network base stations to allow cellphone reception in rural parts of Zambia.

According to CellularNews.com Multisource Telecoms was awarded the contract to build the compact RAN base stations, which are both power and form factor optimised - meaning that they operate purely on “green power”, solar and battery only.

Further reports state that the base stations can be easily installed on the rooftops of local businesses, community centres, local churches, or very simple low cost radio masts.

"The order was placed following a successful pilot phase which proved that in addition to the capital outlay being less than a tenth of that of traditional macro base stations, maintenance costs of the compact base stations are minimal," said Richard Smuts-Steyn, chief executive officer of Multisource.

"Compact base stations are a particularly apt solution to the constraints inherent in rural areas," said Smuts-Steyn.

"Being solar and battery powered, they don't rely on the existence of a terrestrial power grid, generators or a constant supply of diesel, and the need for good road access to deliver the diesel is eliminated," he explained.

The decision to extend GSM network coverage to Zambia's isolated rural areas follows a call by the country's
telecommunications regulatory authority for network operators to fulfil their universal service obligations.

Zambia has almost 5.1-million people not subscribed to a mobile network and most of them live in isolated rural parts of the country, according to a study by Wireless Intelligence.