In a country as vast and diverse as India, digital infrastructure plays a pivotal role in bridging the urban-rural divide. Earlier, telecom towers were devoid of smart components. However, with the rise of digitalisation, towers have become smarter, and internet of things (IoT)-powered asset management and drone-based tower inspections have gained traction. In fact, towercos have started diversifying and exploring opportunities in the smart pole domain for electric vehicle (EV) charging as well.
Overview
India’s push towards EV adoption has picked up speed in recent years. The country witnessed unprecedented growth in EV sales in 2023, surpassing the one million mark for the second consecutive year. Yet, amidst this progress, significant challenges loom large. Issues such as unstable power grids, and differing requirements between urban and rural areas persist. Moreover, achieving interoperability among EV chargers remains a major obstacle. A major issue is the inadequate EV charging infrastructure across the nation. This is where smart poles come into play. They are poised to revolutionise the sustainability and accessibility of EV charging infrastructure.
The rise of smart poles and monopoles
Towercos are embracing innovative designs to optimise construction costs. Smart poles, for instance, are emerging as the next big thing in futuristic street furniture, making them a key component in the development of smart cities worldwide. They provide towercos with opportunities to capitalise on various benefits.
Smart poles are essentially regular light poles that are equipped with intelligent LED lights, cameras, EV charging systems, high speed internet connectivity, Wi-Fi access points, air quality monitors, interactive screens and traffic signalling systems. They serve as a cost-effective, scalable and modular framework for deploying various smart urban infrastructure components, including fifth-generation small cells, Wi-Fi hotspots, surveillance cameras and charging points for vehicles and drones. Furthermore, they can incorporate renewable energy generation.
Today, smart poles are gradually replacing traditional street light poles due to their attractive design and integrated wireless communication infrastructure, including radios and antennas. Their deployment enables mobile operators to collaborate across different cities to deliver various smart city applications. Furthermore, the digitalisation era, coupled with advancements in IoT and artificial intelligence, has transformed the smart pole industry. As cities worldwide embrace new technologies to become more efficient, sustainable and liveable, street poles are emerging as crucial infrastructure elements.
Monopoles are another type of tower structure gaining popularity for telecom installations. These poles are considered the least intrusive and relatively easy to install. They can be designed to fit specific height and location requirements, and come equipped with various accessories such as platforms, antenna mounts, safety devices, obstruction lights and lightning protection kits. All the accessories can be installed at any desired height and orientation, according to customer needs. Monopoles are also becoming popular in India due to their advantages over conventional towers, including reduced space requirements, greater speed of erection and shorter delivery times. The smaller base installation space also makes monopoles an eco-friendly alternative.
Role of smart poles in the EV charging landscape
EVs are revolutionising urban transportation, offering benefits such as improved safety, reduced congestion and environmental sustainability. However, for EVs to fully realise these benefits, they require reliable communication, charging facilities and data sharing capabilities, which smart poles can provide. Smart poles play a vital role in supporting EV infrastructure and fostering sustainable transportation systems. The implementation of 5G technology has allowed smart poles to perform a broader range of functions, resulting in more significant growth potential for key companies in the smart pole industry.
Many smart city projects around the world, whether under way or planned, are incorporating EV charging into their blueprints. As EV charging becomes more prevalent in India, smart poles are set to offer ideal sites for setting up charging stations.
Smart poles are also playing an instrumental role in developing sustainable transportation systems by offering EV charging stations, promoting the adoption of EVs and reducing carbon emissions. These poles are capable of hosting EV charging equipment and effectively serving as convenient charging stations. Thus, the deployment of smart poles for EV charging infrastructure can help alleviate consumer concerns about limited driving range, and increase the adoption of EVs. In addition, they aid in traffic management by monitoring traffic patterns and providing real-time data for efficient navigation and parking solutions.
Furthermore, as electric cars require substantial power and the density of charging stations in cities does not currently meet the demand, utilising street poles as charging stations can significantly expand EV charging infrastructure.
India case
The Indian EV market is booming, having experienced a remarkable growth of over 45 per cent in 2024. In terms of the number of EVs, Uttar Pradesh leads the pack with 745,000, followed by Maharashtra with 415,000 and Karnataka with 331,000. However, the lack of EV charging infrastructure remains a major hurdle, and concerns about range anxiety and limited on-route charging options often discourage people from making the switch to EVs.
To this end, the government has been actively ramping up its efforts. As per the infrastructure regulation released by the government, it has been mandated that there should be at least one EV charging station every 3 km in cities, and one every 25 km on both sides of highways/roads. Further, there should be an EV charging station for long-range/heavy-duty EVs every 100 km on highways. Smart poles can emerge as a crucial solution in this scenario.
In a noteworthy development, Namsai town in Arunachal Pradesh deployed smart electric poles in 2024, featuring EV chargers, CCTV cameras, emergency buttons and weather screens. This initiative represents a significant stride in integrating essential services into single poles, enhancing urban infrastructure. Earlier, the Bhopal Smart City Mission had inked a Rs 6.9 billion proposal for setting up EV charging points with 120 smart street poles.
Going forward, the Noida Authority has plans to install smart poles at 650 locations under the Safe City project, at an estimated cost of Rs 1 billion. Moreover, towercos such as Indus Towers Limited are exploring opportunities to utilise their extensive telecom towers for EV charging, gradually transitioning into industry-wide infrastructure providers.
Challenges
Amidst rising adoption, several challenges need to be addressed first to scale up digital infrastructure. For instance, choosing the right location for a smart pole is a challenge. Authorities responsible for implementing smart city initiatives must consider various factors to ensure that the benefits of smart poles reach the majority of a city’s population. Additionally, the positioning and design of smart pole infrastructure must accommodate the needs of telecommunications companies and technology providers. Another significant issue is the lack of storage capabilities for the large amount of data generated by sensors. The higher initial cost associated with these towers compared to traditional poles is also a barrier. Although smart poles can lead to significant long-term cost savings by reducing energy consumption for street lighting and offering additional facilities such as EV charging, pollution sensors and Wi-Fi connectivity, the initial installation cost is very high.
Moreover, ensuring data security poses a challenge at multiple levels, including the pole, transmission and cloud storage levels. As a result, with the proliferation of connected services, the risks of digital intrusion and privacy breaches are heightened, necessitating robust security measures.
Furthermore, integrating smart poles with existing infrastructure and legacy systems can be challenging, requiring careful planning and coordination to avoid compatibility issues and disruptions. Lastly, maintaining and supporting smart poles for optimal performance and reliability can place a strain on city resources and budgets.
Outlook
The EV charging landscape is expected to grow rapidly in India, creating significant opportunities for towercos. As the number of EVs increases, it is crucial to deploy smart poles in smart cities across the country to provide public charging facilities. According to estimates, the Indian smart pole market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.24 per cent to reach $3.04 billion by 2029.
However, expanding EV infrastructure is not just about setting up charging stations or deploying smart poles, it also signifies a collective commitment to creating a more sustainable, accessible and environment-friendly future for transportation. This collaborative effort is vital in the global endeavour to mitigate climate change, reduce carbon emissions and lower dependence on fossil fuels, and smart poles and monopoles can play a pivotal role in this. Therefore, going forward, as more and more EVs hit Indian roads, these smart poles and monopoles will be essential in meeting the demand for EV charging stations.
