Velatel Global Comm. (fka VELA)

[Krisandtilly]

Asia, and in particular China, represents a huge potential market for fuel cell technology as mobile
phone adoption increases at an exponential rate. Here a number of companies, including VN
Technologies, ReliOn, FutureE and Ballard, are involved in trials with major telecommunications
providers. Trials in the USA eventually led to large-scale customer orders and it is hoped that the
same will happen in China, home to two of the three largest mobile network providers in the world,
China Mobile and China Telecom, both of whom are trialling fuel cells.
In March 2013 Ballard received an investment of $2 million (£1.3 million) from its Chinese partner
Azure in its Dantherm Power subsidiary, which acts as a development centre for Ballard’s telecoms
backup fuel cell systems. Through this deal Azure has bought a 10% stake in Dantherm and plans to
assist Ballard with entering the Chinese market; the companies are both working on backup power
trials for China Mobile