Are Telecom Towers Finally Moving Beyond Diesel Backup?

India’s telecom infrastructure could be moving toward a cleaner and more efficient power backup model as companies explore alternatives to diesel backup.

Cygni Energy Private Limited and Indus Towers Limited have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the sourcing and deployment of energy storage solutions for telecom tower infrastructure.

Under the partnership, the companies will explore Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) manufacturing capacity of up to 1.5 GWh. The proposed capacity will help address the rising power requirements across telecom sites while supporting reliable backup operations.

The companies will also assess advanced battery technologies designed specifically for telecom applications. The focus will be on improving backup reliability, energy efficiency and sustainability across passive infrastructure operations.

Why Telecom Towers Are Exploring Battery Storage

Telecom towers depend on reliable power to maintain network uptime across a large number of sites. Backup power therefore remains an important part of telecom infrastructure, particularly at locations where grid supply can be unreliable.

The partnership between Cygni Energy and Indus Towers could open up greater opportunities for battery storage in this segment. Advanced BESS solutions can provide backup power while supporting more efficient energy management at telecom sites.

The collaboration also reflects the telecom industry's growing interest in reducing its dependence on conventional diesel backup systems. However, the MoU is currently focused on exploring energy storage sourcing, deployment and manufacturing opportunities. It does not represent a confirmed replacement of diesel systems across Indus Towers' network.

For a sector operating thousands of infrastructure sites, the wider adoption of battery storage could help improve operational resilience while supporting sustainability goals.

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Cygni Energy Plans to Expand Battery Capacity

Cygni Energy, an IIT Madras-incubated energy storage technology and manufacturing company headquartered in Hyderabad, is also planning to expand its manufacturing capabilities.

Cygni Energy Founder and Chief Executive Venkat Rajaraman said the company plans to develop capacity of up to 2 GWh. It also plans to expand its product portfolio from its existing 100Ah solutions to higher-capacity 314Ah systems and emerging battery chemistries.

Rajaraman said the initiative goes beyond supplying batteries, with the company focusing on scale, reliability and Indian engineering for future-ready energy storage systems.

The collaboration also brings together a telecom infrastructure company, an energy storage manufacturer and technology institutions. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Institute Professor at IIT Madras and chairman of ITEL Foundation, said such cooperation between users, startups, manufacturers and technology institutions could accelerate the adoption of energy storage in India.

As telecom networks continue to expand and power requirements rise, battery-based systems could gain a larger role in supporting telecom infrastructure. The Cygni Energy-Indus Towers initiative therefore signals a potential shift in how telecom sites approach backup power, with diesel backup increasingly being complemented by advanced energy storage solutions.