State-run telecom firm BSNL and Japan's NEDO today started discussions for using solar energy in telecom networks to reduce carbon footprint.
"Mr (Iwao) Miyamoto, Chief of NEDO in India had a meeting today ...With Mr Anupam Shrivastava, Director Consumer Mobility BSNL and explained the support of Japan to India. This falls in line with the directives of the Prime Minister to reduce the dependence on energy by substituting the same with solar power," BSNL said in a statement.
Both the organisations met in the backdrop of a proposed visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to Japan.
New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) is a semi-governmental Japan based organization that was set up in 1980 to promote the development and introduction of new energy technologies.
NEDO has formed alliance in India with TERI to promote use of renewal energy in the country.
Government has directed telecom companies to migrate 50 per cent of all rural mobile towers and 20 per cent in urban area to hybrid power, which is mix of renewable energy and grid power, by 2015.
By 2020, all telecom companies have been directed to adopt hybrid power for 75 per cent rural towers and 33 per cent of urban towers.
BSNL has about 70,000 mobile towers across country.
