Indian telecommunications key great Bharti Airtel has placed a solid emphasis on sustainability, especially in its technology offerings. One of the examples of this is 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 via its 5G network is notably lower, carrying the company’s goal to reduce its environmental footprint.
Airtel’s Solar Energy Push: Over 24,800 Sites Solarized and Significant CO2 Savings
Airtel has also made significant march in solar energy adoption. Managing Director and CEO Gopal Vittal disclosed that the company solarized over 3,500 sites in the last quarter alone, bringing the total to approximately 24,800 sites over the past five quarters in its Q2 earnings call for the period ending September 30, 2024. This drive has guide to a substantial environmental impact, saving over 2 million litres of diesel per month and removing around 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 Nxtra: Energy-Efficient Solutions and a Commitment to 100% Renewable Power
The company has also partnered with Nokia to develop energy-saving solutions for its mobile network, pointing to reduce Airtel’s carbon emissions by an estimated 143,000 metric tonnes yearly.
Sustainability efforts extend beyond Airtel’s mobility services, especially within its data center arm, Nxtra. Nxtra has achieved a 4 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since FY21, despite a 25 percent growth in power consumption. Also, Nxtra has increased its renewable energy usage by 41 percent, reaching 220 megawatts. It saved over 160,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and achieved IGBC Gold Certification for its hyperscale data centers. Nxtra has also committed to sourcing 100 percent renewable electricity, joining the global RE100 drive, making it the only data center company in India to do so.
