Start-Up May Aid Telecoms' Reach

As the telecom industry gears up to reach billions of potential mobile-phone users in developing countries, a Swedish-Indian start-up has developed an innovative piece of equipment: a build-it-yourself radio tower that consumes about as much energy as a light bulb. For years, telecom operators have been trying to expand into rural areas in Asia, Africa and the Middle East -- a major growth opportunity at a time when urban areas are saturated. Some two billion new subscribers are projected to start using mobile phones in the next five years, and 80% of them live in developing-world markets, according to analyst estimates. Yet wiring villages without reliable electricity, and where residents have little money to spend, requires a technological rethink.