Kolkata: Sweden's Flexenclosure, a global developer of environment-friendly energy solutions for telecom companies, has entered into a 51:49 joint venture in India with the Artheon Group to expand relations with Bharti Airtel and forge new ones with local companies looking to go green.
Flexenclosure has entered India at a time when tower companies are going green to cut diesel consumption and carbon emissions. It has named ex-Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) business development head Mukesh Singh as CEO of its Indian arm and hired ex-Uninor COO Rohit Chandra into the leadership team, according to a top company executive.
Mumbai-based Artheon Group, which has interests in telecoms, IT and renewable energy, will hold 49% in the JV through its telecoms arm, Artheon Televentures.
One of the Swedish company's first major initiatives will be expanding its partnership with the country's biggest telco Bharti Airtel beyond Africa.
"We are in advanced talks to expand our relationship with Bharti Airtel by offering our green energy solution across its major South Asian operations in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. We are in discussions with Airtel's tower arm Bharti Infratel and Indus Towers, in which Bharti is a stakeholder," Flexenclosure's global CEO David King told ET.
At present, Bharti Airtel has deployed Flexenclosure's green energy solution only in two African markets -- Ghana and Nigeria. Christened E-site, this environment-friendly solution allows off-grid mobile base stations to be powered by renewable energy sources like solar or wind instead of diesel.
At present, there are nearly 4 lakh telecom towers, and according to AT Kearney, the Indian tower industry spends a whopping Rs 8500 crore a year on diesel.
Green energy solutions have huge potential in India where most telecom towers are powered by expensive diesel. They can typically bring about a 90 per cent cut in diesel consumption, carbon emissions and energy operating expenses. However, they come at a significant capital cost.
Flexenclosure plans to undertake mass production of E-site green energy systems in India by early-2013. It will shortly enter into an outsourcing deal with a local partner who will assemble the devices based on the Swedish company's specifications.
"We are about to select a local partner who will assemble the power systems. Software, installation and logistics will be our responsibility," said Mukesh Singh, CEO, Flexenclosure Telecom India.
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