The telecom industry is finding it difficult to implement the recent directions issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on cutting carbon emissions. DoT had issued directions on January 4, wherein it asked the service providers to frame a Carbon Credit Policy detailing methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In its directions, DoT had told the telecom operators that at least 50 per cent of all the towers in rural areas and 20 per cent of the urban towers are to be powered by hybrid power (renewable and grid connected) by 2015, and further that 75 per cent of rural towers and 33 per cent of the urban towers are to be powered by hybrid power by 2020. “It may not be the ideal solution as due to a varied topography across the country, many regions may not get requisite portion of solar and wind supply,” says Priya Sawhney Mohindru, deputy director, Cellular Operators Association of India.