Ethiopia, Huawei deploy Solar-on-Tower sites

Key Figures & Findings: Ethio Telecom, Ethiopia’s leading operator, has partnered with Huawei to roll out Africa’s first commercial deployment of the Solar-on-Tower solution. The technology integrates solar panels directly onto telecom towers, providing a practical answer to the problem of limited land and urban space for renewable energy systems. The deployment not only reflects Ethio Telecom’s commitment to green network transformation but also sets a new benchmark for low-carbon infrastructure in Africa’s telecommunications sector.

Statistics & Insights: The first batch of sites can generate their own solar power within two days of installation. Solar energy supply can last up to four hours, reducing diesel generator reliance from six to two hours — a 40% cut in fuel consumption per site.

Future Implications: If scaled across Addis Ababa’s space-constrained sites, the Solar-on-Tower model could help thousands of telecom stations lower emissions, reduce fuel costs, and improve energy resilience in Ethiopia’s ICT network by 2026.

Source: Biz English

Quick Take: Ethio Telecom and Huawei’s Solar-on-Tower launch marks a practical step in greening Ethiopia’s telecom sector while easing space constraints in urban sites.