Tata Tele becomes 1st to commercially deploy TCOE energy tech

Telecom operator Tata Teleservices has become first company to commercially deploy indigenously developed energy monitoring technology by Telecom Center of Excellence at 500 mobile towers.

TCOE claims that even with deployment of this technology at 50% of their mobile tower sites, industry can save around 10-15% of their energy spent which can be to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore.

"This innovation would allow stakeholders track energy data points in a robust way and accelerate deployment of green initiatives," Universal Service Obligation Fund Administrator Aruna Sundararajan told PTI.

The product has been developed by TICET- a joint venture between Tata Teleservices, IIT Bombay and Department of Telecom (DoT) setup as Telecom Centre of Excellence(TCOE).

The technology can help mobile companies check status of power at their base stations or mobile towers, monitor actual supply from diesel generator from which there are huge pilferages and get to know carbon footprint of each BTS.

"Even at 10-15% savings in overall energy costs is expected for cellular operators and tower companies. Assuming 50% deployment overall industry benefit would be around Rs 1,000 crore annually," TCOE Director RK Pathak said.

The objective of TCOE is to promote development of intellectual property rights and their deployment in the country. Government contributes 10% in the research undertaken by TCOE while the rest comes from the industry.

There are around seven TCOE units and have developed about 80 technology innovations but found no takers for them.

Some of these innovations includes voice based recognition on caller on voice over internet protocols that can prevent fake callers from making calls, technology to ensure high capacity in 4G networks and enhancing wifi coverage area among others.

"This will be first time TCOE solution is being commercially deployed. We have order from Tata Teleservices for 500 sites. One more telecom operators has shown interest but deal is yet to finalised," Pathak said.

As per a report from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, share of domestic telecom equipment or technology is abysmally low in the country.

In 2011, the regulator said that the contribution of all domestic products has been 12-13% in the year 2009-10 while Indian products could meet just 3% of the Indian demand.