The telecommunications industry can deal with two of its key challenges through green initiatives and diesel-reduction strategies, says mobile communications infrastructure company IHS Towers chief technology officer William Saad.

He tells Engineering News that in an African-market context, these challenges are the industry’s heavy reliance on diesel consumption to power telecommunications towers, and companies’ reliance on often unreliable electricity grids as their main source of energy to power telecommunications towers.

The industry needs to focus on ensuring that towers are diesel neutral in the coming years and on alternative sources of power to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of towers.

“As consumer behaviour changes, so must the mobile network operators who provide the networks. In an increasingly competitive market place, mobile network operators need superior products and pricing, and compelling marketing campaigns, but, above all, they need efficient and reliable networks if they are to stay in business – all while managing the costs and logistics of operating towers,” Saad explains.

IHS is leading by example, as it is undertaking a number of green initiatives and diesel- reduction strategies across Africa.

In Nigeria, IHS uses 1 500 ℓ of diesel a month for each tower. As a result, the company has invested in solar energy to provide 12 telecommunications towers with 6 kW of solar power each – each tower will now save 500 ℓ of diesel a month.

IHS has also increased its staff from 600 to 1 000 in Nigeria, 80% of whom are well-trained engineers.

The company also recently absorbed 70 engineers from telecommunications major MTN, which also services the MTN tower portfolio in Nigeria on behalf of IHS.

Meanwhile, over the next two years, IHS has resolved to be diesel neutral across its Zambia portfolio using a combination of on- and off-grid solutions.