TELECOM | Smart, EdgePoint deploy solar-powered towers in off-grid PH sites
Smart, the wireless unit of PLDT Inc., said the project is part of efforts to strengthen energy resilience in its network operations and expand connectivity in remote areas.
Smart Communications Inc. said March 24 it is rolling out solar-powered telecommunications towers in off-grid areas across the Philippines, starting with 20 sites leased from EdgePoint Towers Inc.
The initiative targets underserved communities with limited or unreliable electricity, aiming to improve network uptime and service continuity while reducing dependence on diesel-powered infrastructure.
Smart, the wireless unit of PLDT Inc., said the project is part of efforts to strengthen energy resilience in its network operations and expand connectivity in remote areas.
PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Network Head Menardo Jimenez Jr. said the shift to solar power addresses risks linked to fuel price volatility and supply disruptions.
“Ensuring reliable connectivity is our foremost priority, especially in communities where power supply is unstable. Solarizing these towers significantly improves uptime and service continuity by giving our equipment a more dependable energy source for our network,” Jimenez said.
The companies said solar-powered sites can continue operating during prolonged outages and severe weather while reducing the need to transport fuel to remote locations.
Installed solar capacity across the initial sites exceeds 181 kilowatt-peak, supported by battery systems with more than 20,000 ampere-hours of capacity.
The transition is expected to reduce diesel consumption by about 198,000 liters annually and cut carbon emissions by around 545 tons per year.
The project supports the PLDT Group’s target of reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline.
PLDT and Smart Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios said the initiative links environmental goals with network performance.
“For us, sustainability is not separate from network performance — it strengthens it. By shifting to cleaner energy sources, we reduce emissions while making our network more reliable and future-ready. Our partnership with EdgePoint accelerates our progress toward building a low-carbon and resilient digital infrastructure,” she said.
EdgePoint Chief Executive Officer Suresh Sidhu said integrating renewable energy into telecom infrastructure is critical as connectivity demand grows.
“Our goal is to deliver dependable, energy-efficient tower solutions that not only help operators expand reliable connectivity to underserved and remote communities, but also significantly reduce the environmental footprint of network operations,” Sidhu said.
Smart and EdgePoint said they will continue expanding solar-powered deployments and energy-efficient systems as part of broader sustainability efforts.
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