Indian telecom major Bharti Airtel has placed a strong emphasis on sustainability, particularly in its technology offerings. An example of this is the Airtel 5G Plus, which the company claims is more energy-efficient than its 4G counterpart. According to Airtel, energy consumption per GB of data transmitted through its 5G network is significantly lower, helping the company aim to reduce its environmental footprint.
Airtel’s solar power incentive: Over 24,800 sites powered by solar power and significant CO2 savings
Airtel has also made significant progress in adopting solar energy. Managing Director and CEO Gopal Vittal exposure The company equipped more than 3,500 sites with solar power in the last quarter alone, bringing the total to about 24,800 sites over the past five quarters, it said in its second-quarter earnings call for the period ending September 30, 2024. The drive is projected to have a substantial environmental impact, saving over 2 million liters of diesel per month and removing approximately 5.8 tonnes of CO2 emissions monthly. This was achieved through the use of energy-saving technologies such as lithium-ion and valve-regulated lead-acid batteries.
Airtel and Nextra: Commitment to energy-efficient solutions and 100% renewable energy
The company has also partnered with Nokia to develop energy-saving solutions for its mobile network, which is said to reduce Airtel’s carbon emissions by an estimated 143,000 metric tons annually.
Sustainability efforts extend beyond Airtel’s mobility services, particularly within its data center arm, Nextra. Despite a 25 percent increase in power consumption, Nxtra has achieved a 4 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since FY2011. Additionally, Nxtra has increased its renewable energy use by 41 percent to 220 MW. It saved over 160,000 tons of CO2 emissions and received IGBC Gold certification for its hyperscale data centers. Nxtra has also committed to sourcing 100 percent renewable power by joining the global RE100 drive, making it the only data center company in India to do so.
Summary:
Bharti Airtel is driving sustainability with its energy-efficient 5G Plus network by solarizing over 24,800 sites, saving 2 million liters of diesel monthly and reducing CO2 emissions. Airtel’s partnership with Nokia aims to reduce 143,000 metric tons of carbon annually. Its data center arm, Nextra, has reduced emissions by 4%, increased the use of renewable energy by 41%, and joined the global RE100 initiative to source 100% renewable electricity.
