Indus Towers to invest Rs 350 cr to cut energy consumption

The country's largest telecom infrastructure firm Indus Towers today said it will invest Rs 350 crore to reduce energy consumption at its mobile sites in the current fiscal year.
"This year we have converted 50 per cent (sites) into green sites. We will continue to reduce diesel consumption at our sites with use of new technologies. Indus Towers will be investing Rs 350 crore in financial year 2017-18 towards energy reduction initiatives," Indus Towers CEO Bimal Dayal told PTI.
Indus is the biggest mobile tower company with 1,22,290 sites. Out of this, the company has converted 62,889 sites that are using green energy.

"We want to be completely diesel free in coming years. I do not have any definite timeline but in 4-6 years we will be seeing excessive diesel abatement on our sites," Dayal said.
Indus CEO said the company has converted 70 per cent or 86,200 of its mobile towers into outdoor sites, which eliminates the use of air-conditioners.
He said that for some of the mobile sites, the company uses natural cooling solution by drafting fresh air around it.

"Since inception of the company in 2008, we have reduced energy cost on our sites across country to the tune of 40 per cent. Our energy cost ratio between electricity from the grid and diesel power is 75:25, which was almost at par around 5 years ago," Dayal said.

The company equated saving in energy consumption to reduction in direct carbon emissions equivalent to planting 27 million trees and diesel savings of 200 million litres in last five years.
Indus has presence in 15 telecom circles of India and has achieved over 2,97,867 tenancies till date.
Talking about impact of current financial pressure on telecom operators, Dayal said there may be short term impact, but in medium and long term the trend of service consumption is positive for the company.
He said that the demand for 4G services and development of smart cities is going to be growth driver for Indus Towers.

"In coming days there will be lot of development around aesthetics of mobile towers. We are building competencies to productise mobile sites with good aesthetics design suited for modern cities," Dayal said.