NTT DOCOMO launched Japan's first self-powered hydropower cellular base station experiment on 30 May.

NTT DOCOMO launched Japan's first demonstration experiment of a self-powered hydropower cellular base station on May 30, using its hydroelectric power-generation system and a jet turbine developed by Professor Yukihiro Shimatani of the Prefectural University of Kumamoto. The initiative aims to prove the feasibility of a sustainable, low-cost solution for mobile communication networks in rural areas using water from irrigation canals. DOCOMO hopes to integrate hydropower systems into its mobile communications infrastructure by March 2025.