India currently has around 824,000 telecom towers and 2.98 million base transceiver stations, which collectively consume approximately 70 TWh/70,000 GWh of energy annually. This results in over 49 million tons of carbon emissions annually, underscoring the urgent need for the telecom sector to transition to renewable energy sources.

The Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) collaborates closely with government bodies to implement regulatory changes that support the telecom infrastructure.

In an exclusive interview with Mercom India, Manoj Kumar Singh, Director General of the Digital Infrastructure Providers Association, discussed the power demand from the telecom industry, its efforts to shift to renewable energy, and the impediments to large-scale transitioning to renewables.

Can you provide an overview of DIPA, including its functions and the various segments of the telecom industry it represents?

DIPA serves as the apex think tank for India’s digital infrastructure landscape.

It represents companies that develop, build, own, and operate the nation’s wireless infrastructure. Its membership includes a diverse group of organizations, from infrastructure providers and equipment manufacturers to electric vehicle charging infrastructure and fiber deployers.

The association collaborates closely with various government bodies involved in the telecom infrastructure sector. Through these collaborations, it advocates for regulatory reforms that support the collective interests of its industry.

DIPA’s Green Energy Committee focuses specifically on sustainability initiatives, working toward making the sector a zero-carbon enabler. The committee focuses on enhancing energy consumption efficiency, grid optimization, developing an energy framework, exploring next-generation renewable technologies, promoting green energy open access, and facilitating India’s net-zero transition.

What is the estimated power requirement and carbon footprint of the telecom industry?

India’s telecom infrastructure consumes approximately 70 TWh/70,000 GWh of energy annually, resulting in around 49 million tons of carbon emissions per year.

With approximately 824,000 telecom towers and 2.98 million base transceiver stations deployed nationwide, the sector requires substantial energy to maintain its impressive 99.95% uptime.

The industry has already made substantial progress in reducing its environmental impact. Currently, there are approximately 23,000 solar-powered sites and 223,000 diesel-free towers nationwide, which dramatically reduces dependence on diesel generators. The number of diesel-free sites has increased impressively from 90,911 in December 2016 to 223,177 by March 2024, resulting in annual diesel savings of around 550 million liters.

What are the major challenges faced by the telecom industry in shifting to renewable energy?

The telecom sector, which accounts for approximately 9% of the nation’s carbon emissions, faces several significant challenges in transitioning to renewable energy.

While the central government has outlined a clear green energy open access policy and amended rules, differences in state-level implementation create inconsistencies and obstacles for stakeholders.

Telecom operations spanning the country require coordination with numerous distribution companies, each with its own unique specifications and approval processes. The lack of uniformity in approval processes leads to delays in deployment and complicates access to green energy.

The rollout of 5G networks presents both challenges and opportunities. While 5G requires nearly three times as many base stations as long-term evolution for similar coverage, it offers superior energy efficiency per data unit transmitted.

While policies support aggregated energy consumption for smaller consumers, the technology and infrastructure needed to integrate multiple sites efficiently have yet to be adopted at the ground level on a large scale.

To overcome these challenges, a collaborative approach between industry stakeholders, state regulators, and technology providers is essential. It is also crucial to streamline approval processes, ensure policy uniformity across states, and expedite technological integration to facilitate a seamless transition to green energy.

How are telecom companies balancing the initial capital expenditure of renewable installations against long-term operational savings?

Telecom companies are strategically balancing the high initial capital expenditure of renewable energy installations against long-term operational savings through multiple approaches.

Solar electricity now costs between ₹2.25 (~$0.026)/kWh and ₹3.5 (~$0.04)/kWh (excluding transmission loss charges and other overheads), compared to ₹25 (~$0.29)/kWh to ₹ 30 (~$0.35)/kWh for diesel generation.  Leading telecom infrastructure providers report 15-20% lower operational expenses at sites powered by clean energy compared to those powered by the conventional grid. With energy costs representing approximately 30% of network operational expenses, the financial benefits are substantial.

Given the intermittent nature of renewable energy generation, energy banking provisions enable industries to store excess energy and utilize it during periods of peak or off-peak demand. Renewable energy certificates for unutilized energy provide further incentives.

Various financial incentives and relief measures, including subsidies, tax benefits, and concessional financing, help reduce the financial burden. Many telecom firms are entering into long-term power purchase agreements with renewable energy generators to procure green power at stable, lower costs without incurring high initial investments.

The government also promotes multi-utility use of telecom towers, integrating renewable energy solutions across all sites to enhance energy efficiency and maximize infrastructure utilization.

The collective impact of this digital transformation has been substantial across various sectors, resulting in a 45% reduction in paper-related carbon emissions, a 30% decrease in transportation-related emissions, and a 50% decrease in energy consumption from physical infrastructure.

Which type of renewable energy is largely preferred by the telecom industry?

Solar energy has emerged as the preferred renewable energy source for the telecom industry. The sector’s energy requirements are enormous and growing rapidly, projected to increase by 10% annually through 2025, driven primarily by the rollout of 5G technology. Each 5G base station requires roughly two to three times more power than its 4G predecessor, creating an urgent need for sustainable energy solutions.

The telecom industry has transitioned from using 4 kW- 5 kW solar systems to 10 kW setups at tower sites due to the deployment of additional base transceiver stations for 4G and 5G networks. However, approximately 35-40% of telecom tower sites still rely on diesel generators for backup power.

Which among rooftop solar, open access, captive, and group captive modes is the industry’s preferred choice?

With 1,623 infrastructure provider registrations as of December 2024, the selection of an energy model depends on factors unique to each provider. Rooftop solar is suitable for localized power generation, open-access, and captive models that facilitate large-scale procurement of renewable energy. The group captive model is often preferred for its ability to reduce costs and ensure a stable power supply while avoiding certain regulatory surcharges.

Which parts of the telecom industry are powered by renewable energy? Are there any that are completely powered by renewable energy?

Both telecom operators and infrastructure providers are actively integrating renewable energy solutions. The transition from traditional power sources to renewable energy is still in its early stages, with full-scale adoption ongoing. Certain telecom sites, such as solar-powered towers and diesel-free facilities, are already operating on renewable energy sources. However, a completely renewable-powered telecom network is yet to be achieved.

The integration of smart grid technologies represents another critical dimension of the telecom sector’s energy transformation. Advanced forecasting systems now accurately predict renewable energy generation patterns, enabling operators to optimize energy usage and storage. These intelligent systems have dramatically reduced energy wastage across early-adopting telecom installations.

The Ministry of Power has recognized this opportunity through its 2024 Smart Grid Implementation Framework, which prioritizes telecommunications infrastructure in grid modernization efforts. This framework includes provisions for dedicated renewable energy feeders for telecom installations, ensuring power reliability while maintaining sustainability goals.

Can you share any major projects planned by the industry to make a significant shift to renewables?

The telecom industry sector is set to install approximately 1,250 MW of solar capacity, considering that 70% of electricity board consumption is to be substituted with solar group captive projects backed by a substantial ₹50 billion (~$585.1 million) investment commitment.

Additionally, approximately 4,000 locations have been earmarked for renewables integration. Solar power projects of 50 MW and 75 MW capacity have been proposed, with approximately ₹2.5 billion (~$29.25 million) in investments projected to be received.

Mobile tower installation company Indus Towers has signed a memorandum of understanding with NTPC Green Energy to create grid-connected renewable energy solutions, including solar, wind, and energy storage systems.

Given the intermittency of renewables, is the telecom industry considering integrating energy storage systems to ensure an uninterrupted power supply?

The telecommunications industry is actively integrating battery energy storage systems (BESS) to ensure reliable and uninterrupted network operations. BESS minimizes service disruptions by providing stable power during outages, reducing dependence on costly diesel generators.

Telecom operators are increasingly adopting advanced lithium-ion batteries and power management systems to enhance network resilience and efficiency. The advancement in energy storage technology has been pivotal in enabling the telecom sector’s transition to renewable energy. Lithium-ion prices, which have fallen by 89% since 2010, have made energy storage economically viable for telecom applications. The latest generation of lithium-ferro-phosphate batteries deployed at telecom sites offer 3,500 discharge cycles, a 40% improvement over previous generations, transforming the economics of renewable energy storage.