The surge in India’s data traffic has increased the need for telecom towers that require power ranging between 1 kW and 8.5 kW to operate. Estimates suggest that 62 per cent of power in a typical telecom tower is consumed by active equipment, primarily base transceiver stations (BTSs), while the remaining 38 per cent is consumed by passive equipment (cooling equipment – 25 per cent, DC power systems – 11 per cent, radio frequency load – 1 per cent, and feeder load – 1 per cent). According to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), energy expenses have grown, accounting for as much as 25 per cent of operational costs for telecom operators amidst the mounting diesel and electricity prices. Further, studies have found that the energy required by 5G telecom towers is likely to rise by 3–3.5 times compared to 4G towers, resulting in an increase in the sector’s carbon emissions.
Acknowledging these factors, the government has introduced regulations to encourage the country’s telecom sector to adopt cleaner practices. In 2012, with the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), DoT mandated 75 per cent of all rural towers and 33 per cent of urban towers to be powered by hybrid energy (renewable and grid) by 2020. It also directed telecom service providers (TSPs) to ensure that by 2020, the total power usage of each BTS does not exceed 500 W. In addition, DoT issued directives for every telecom product, equipment and service within the telecom network to obtain the “Green Passport” certification after being assessed for energy and performance. It also urged TSPs to adopt a voluntary code of practice, entailing energy-efficient network planning and renewable technologies. Further, the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018, envisions the creation of mobile tower infrastructure by rolling out incentives to make the installation of solar and green power for towers attractive for the industry. More recently, the Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2023, enable smaller enterprises to buy renewable power through open access. The amendment also extends the waiver of surcharge for power produced from offshore wind farms (from 2025 to 2032). The E-Waste (Management) Amendment Rules, introduced in March 2024, further underscore the need for establishing a platform for exchanging extended producer responsibility certificates and empower the Central Pollution Control Board to conduct audits and impose fines on violators. Another move in the pipeline is the release of a 10 GW request for proposal for grid-scale energy storage systems to expand indigenous battery manufacturing capabilities under the production-linked incentive, for advanced chemistry cell battery storage.
While the government’s support has paved the way for a greener future, a significant proportion (estimated at 75-80 per cent) of telecom towers in India still directly or indirectly rely on conventional energy sources like diesel generators (DGs). Nevertheless, some decarbonisation practices are gradually gaining traction among leading players in the industry.
Initiatives by towercos
Indus Towers, now a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, has undertaken several measures to lower its carbon emissions, including procuring renewable energy by installing solar sites and microgrids (solar-wind hybrid), exploring energy storage solutions such as lithium-ion (Li-ion) plants, efficiently recovering waste, and investing in green technologies like aluminium air-based clean energy generation. In addition, the company also found out that a large part of energy in tower shelters was being used up by air conditioners (ACs) instead of active telecom equipment. Therefore, the company decided to switch to free cooling units which are far more energy-efficient than ACs under its “Shut AC” initiative. This initiative is also making its sites DG-free by transitioning to an advanced battery bank solution for power backup, ensuring network uptime is not compromised. To this end, it is also employing fuel cell-based generators. In May 2024, Indus Towers signed an MoU with NTPC Limited’s subsidiary, NTPC Green Energy Limited, to explore renewable energy-based power projects including solar, wind and energy storage. Further, according to Airtel’s latest Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report, Indus Towers has initiated a pilot project in Karnataka to avail of green energy open access procurement under the new regulation.
Meanwhile, the subsidiaries of India’s largest mobile tower company Altius Telecom Infrastructure Trust (formerly known as Data Infrastructure Trust [DIT]) – Summit Digitel and the recently acquired American Tower Corporation [ATC] India – are proactively working to cut down on their carbon footprint. Summit Digitel, for instance, focuses on handling primary energy consumption through clean energy sources such as solar power, along with adopting waste reduction practices. Currently, around 26.5 per cent of the properties in its portfolio are DG-free. The company is also working with its supply chain vendors towards this end, striving to achieve zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Meanwhile, prior to being absorbed by DIT, ATC India, under its parent company ATC Global, had been working on accomplishing its key Scope 1 (that is, direct emissions) and Scope 2 (indirect emissions) GHG emissions reduction targets. Globally, it has enhanced on-site renewable energy generation by 40 per cent and is embracing circularity by recycling/reusing 99 per cent of its tower steel waste. It has also augmented the deployment of Li-ion battery energy storage systems, which drove energy storage capacity by more than 40 per cent.
Another key player, Ascend Telecom utilises solar energy to meet the shortage from the grid. It also leverages technologies like energy automation for effective sharing of power demand through the electricity grid and solar power. It is working on minimising its diesel usage. Ascend also relies on multiple energy storage options such as valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries, flooded lead acid and Li-ion batteries, depending upon the site’s needs. Its subsidiary, Tower Vision India is also opting for eco-friendly operations. Its initiatives include curtailing diesel use, altering indoor sites to outdoor, deploying natural cooling units, micro cooling units, turbo cooling units and wind chimneys, ensuring 100 per cent site electrification, and conserving natural resources.
GTL Infrastructure Limited is making efforts to reduce its reliance on DGs by switching to electricity wherever possible. At the same time, there is an emphasis on capacity optimisation for existing DGs, installing battery banks and facilitating greater availability of grid-supplied electricity.
Challenges
While cellular tower companies in India have several options for reducing their GHG emissions, they face a number of challenges. Deploying solar installations on a telecom site requires locations that can support renewable solutions without necessitating reconfiguration, along with high capital allocation and a reliable semiconductor supply chain.
Further, despite its popularity, outdoor cooling can be challenging as heat waves can affect electrical equipment. In rural areas, shelters may not be linked to the power grid, which can increase the cost of providing power for cooling systems.
Parallelly, the problem with fuel cells is the lack of easily available hydrogen infrastructure. Transporting and storing hydrogen poses significant challenges. Fuel cells have substantial upfront costs and require more specialised maintenance compared to traditional generators. Power fluctuations in fuel cells can also affect network stability.
The sector will also encounter challenges related to battery usage. The Digital Economy Report 2024 notes that India is 100 per cent dependent on imports of lithium, nickel and cobalt, which will affect the sector’s finances. Further, a key issue with VRLA batteries is the limited cycle life when subjected to recurrent deep discharge cycles. Its performance is also vulnerable to temperature extremes and overcharging could adversely affect battery life. To add to this, lead acid batteries contain hazardous materials such as lead and sulphuric acid.
The way forward
With the Indian tower sector poised for growth, there is a dire need to incorporate decarbonisation measures amidst mounting concerns related to energy consumption and efficiency. While the government and the industry are both taking steps in this direction, research is still required to develop more energy-efficient technologies.
In April 2024, TRAI floated the idea of sharing active telecom infrastructure (such as radio access network, antennas/ transceivers, base stations, backhaul networks and controllers) and passive telecom infrastructure (such as buildings, telecom towers, dark fibres and duct spaces). This will not only reduce the sector’s carbon footprint but also lead to cost savings (estimated at 16-35 per cent savings from sharing passive infrastructure).
Another novel initiative is conserving power through internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Tower companies can utilise technologies like AI and IoT to create digital twins of assets for remote monitoring, efficient resource allocation and performance optimisation. Further, smart meters can provide real-time logs of utility (electricity, gas or water) consumption while remote DG monitoring solutions can help check fuel consumption and operation costs in real time. Smart heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems can also be leveraged as energy-efficient cooling options. Indus Towers, for example, is aiming to use predictive models using AI for optimal energy management.
In sum, a holistic approach that fosters collaboration among the government, industries and research institutions in the country will promote sustainability within the sector.
