To cut operational costs of its network, Bharti Airtel plans to use environmentally-friendly energy sources to power its telecom towers in Africa. The company plans about 1,300-1,400 towers to be powered by solar energy and some more harnessing wind energy, reducing their consumption of diesel by 11 million litre of fuel just this financial year, according to a company spokesman.
There is pilferage of around 3-6 per cent of diesel at towers in Africa that may be curbed with alternate solutions, say experts. according to Indus Towers Chief Executive, BS Shantharaju, the capital cost of setting up a solar power unit is Rs 9-11 lakh per tower (for a load of 5 kW/tower).
Indus Towers, a joint venture between Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular is the countryÆs largest telecom tower company.
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