As part of the global initiatives to contain emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and with a view to reduce Carbon emissions in the telecom sector, TRAI had, in April 2011, given its recommendations on ?Approach Towards Green Telecommunications?.
Government has accepted these recommendations and directions have been accordingly issued to service providers on 04.01.2012. The highlights of these directions are:
- At least 50 per cent of all rural towers and 20 per cent of the urban towers are to be powered by hybrid power (Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) + Grid power) by 2015; Further 75 per cent of rural towers and 33 per cent of urban towers are to be powered by hybrid power by 2020.
- All telecom products, equipments and services in the telecom network should be certified ?Green Passport [GP]? by the year 2015. Telecommunication Engineering Centre will certify telecom products, equipments and services on the basis of ECR ratings.
- All service providers should declare to TRAI, the carbon footprint of their network operations. The Declaration of the carbon footprints should be done twice in a year.
- Service providers should adopt a Voluntary Code of Practice encompassing energy efficient Network Planning, infra-sharing, deployment of energy efficient technologies and adoption of Renewable Energy Technology (RET) to reduce carbon footprints.
- Service providers should evolve a ?Carbon Credit Policy? in line with carbon credit norms with the ultimate objective of achieving a maximum of 50 per cent over the carbon footprint levels of the Base Year (2011) in rural areas and achieving a maximum of 66 per cent over the carbon footprint levels of the Base Year in urban areas by the year 2020.
- Service providers should aim at carbon emission reduction targets for the mobile network at 5 per cent by the year 2012-2013, 8 per cent by the year 2014-2015, 12 per cent by the year 2016-2017 and 17 per cent by the year 2018-2019.
