Indus Towers has deployed 50,000 solar-powered telecom sites across India, with a cumulative installed solar capacity of approximately 300 MW, as it expands renewable energy use across its infrastructure network. The company is targeting 100,000 such sites, positioning the programme among the largest distributed solar deployments in the telecom infrastructure sector.

In a statement, Indus Towers said it had become the first passive telecom infrastructure company to reach the 50,000-site milestone in India. The deployment is intended to reduce reliance on conventional energy, strengthen power security and support more sustainable operations for telecom infrastructure.

The company estimates that its solar-powered network will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 420,000 tonnes annually. It said the environmental benefit is equivalent to planting nearly 20 mn trees. Solar energy is being used as telecom tower operators seek to manage energy requirements while maintaining reliable services across geographically dispersed sites.

Indus Towers has also integrated digital monitoring systems across the solar-powered network to track generation and site performance in real time. Data-driven maintenance capabilities are being used to manage the infrastructure, improve operational resilience and identify performance issues. The company accelerated its solar deployment programme in 2024, according to Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Prachur Sah.

The company is assessing the possibility of taking its renewable energy model to international markets, particularly Africa, where it sees demand for reliable and sustainable power solutions to support wider digital connectivity. It said the expertise, operating model and technology platforms developed in India could help replicate similar infrastructure there. Indus Towers added that combining renewable energy with digital monitoring is helping lower diesel dependence, improve energy security and support greener telecom connectivity.