SOUTH AFRICA – NEC XON has signed a partnership with INCELL International to use its smart lithium technology to serve the needs of wireless and tower communications operators, macro and small cell sites, and the commercial and industrial sectors specifically with off-grid, micro-grid and backup solutions.
Through the partnership, NEC XON and INCELL will offer solutions and services for smart lithium power backup in a bid to help the mobile operators and tower companies improve predictability and lower the operational cost.
INCELL develops some of the world’s most advanced lithium batteries to provide backup power for telecoms sites and employs innovative engineering controls to successfully make lithium solutions that are safe for robust industrial-commercial applications.
Magnus Coetzee, MD of NEC XON’s Alternative Energy division said, “INCELL’s smart lithium batteries use half the space of lead-acid batteries, weigh a quarter, and provide five times the energy density.
“These smart lithium cells also have a much longer service life, especially in cyclic environments. They’re designed for indoor and outdoor use so you can literally disconnect lead-acid batteries, connect these, and walk away.”
INCELL International CEO, Stefan Jansson, said, “NEC XON has a very strong presence in Africa. Our technologies meet some of the industry’s greatest challenges on the continent, such as the need for a small footprint, lower total cost of ownership (TCO), anti-theft, automatic reconnect, and ease of use.”
Coetzee adds that there is low electrical energy penetration across vast tracts of Africa. “This partnership will help us take energy opportunities to previously neglected areas, coupled with renewable technologies such as solar and wind,” he says.
INCELL’s product portfolio covers the range from 30 to 250Ah, including 19″- and 23″-wide products and pole-mounted versions ideally suited to 5G rollouts, among others.
In cooperation with NEC XON, INCELL will prepare to manufacture in the African continental free trade area. The partners will establish manufacturing capabilities in South Africa with local services options by NEC XON to better serve continental customers by shortening lead times and reducing costs.
NEC XON operations seek to fully explore the opportunities for safe city, energy, cyber security, telecommunication solutions, retail, managed services, cyber defence services and cloud (both public and private), among others in sub-Sahara Africa
INCELL is a leader in developing advanced lithium batteries for telecom sites’ backup power. With headquarters and R&D in Sweden, INCELL services telecom customers all around the world through partnership and global sales channels. INCELL has developed a complete lithium product portfolio with special features to address the requirements from telecom operators.
