Winchester, UK - Ericsson and Telecom Italia are to run a trial of the Eco-Smart solution, which is based on flexible solar panels, in the Italian city of L'Aquila, where G8 leaders will meet this week to discuss, among other topics, the challenges posed by climate change ahead of December's United Nations conference on climate in Copenhagen.

The Eco-Smart solution, which features an elliptical support structure coated with flexible solar panels wrapping up the antenna, is designed to generate up to 100 percent of the energy required to power a site in the same land space as a traditional site.

The solution's innovative structure, completely designed in Italy, can be easily adapted to all radio base stations shapes and provide operators with advantages in terms of operational expenses with an expectation of medium-term amortization, with a low environmental impact.

The trial aims to prove that solar solutions represent a sustainable business case for operators in developed countries. As energy costs can account for up to 50 percent of a site's operating expenses, the Eco-Smart solution can help operators make cost savings while reducing CO2 emissions.

Eco-Smart is the result of an agreement signed between Ericsson and Telecom Italia in 2008 to jointly develop sustainable solutions.

Cesare Avenia, President of Ericsson Italy said: "The Eco-Smart solution confirms Ericsson's leading position as an integrator, as it can be used with any technology, 2G, 3G or LTE, and in multi-vendor environments."

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