Indus Towers, IIT Madras Pioneer GFRP Telecom Infra

• Indus Towers and IIT Madras collaborate on GFRP for sustainable telecom towers innovation.
• GFRP offers corrosion resistance, lightweight design, and low maintenance for infrastructure.
• Research focuses on durability, standards, and applications beyond telecom sectors.

Indus Towers, a global leader in telecom tower infrastructure, has joined forces with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) to spearhead ground-breaking research on Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) structural sections. This collaboration represents the first major industry-academia effort to delve into the structural integrity, economic viability, and environmental benefits of GFRP in telecom applications.

As part of Indus Towers' flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Pragati, the partnership emphasizes sustainable innovation and equitable development. Indus Towers has pledged financial support for advanced studies at IIT Madras, focusing on creating lightweight, corrosion-resistant alternatives to traditional steel structures.

GFRP is becoming a ground-breaking product across the globe, as the material is admired due to its outstanding strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistance especially in harsh coastal or exposed environments- and low maintenance requirement. Its portability, ease of assembly and design, and reusability makes it a perfect solution to current and robust infrastructure.

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Under IIT Madras's guidance, the research will rigorously evaluate GFRP's mechanical properties, long-term durability, and overall lifecycle sustainability. The findings aim to develop standardized design protocols and safety guidelines, potentially influencing not only telecom but also other sectors. This initiative aligns with Indus Towers' mission to foster a digitally inclusive and eco-friendly India, solidifying its role as a frontrunner in ethical infrastructure advancement.

Anil Gupta, Chief Technology & Delivery Officer at Indus Towers, remarked, "This partnership with IIT Madras is a bold step toward redefining the material science landscape for various industries working on GFRP. GFRP offers a transformative opportunity not only structurally sound and cost-effective but also aligned with our sustainability goals. As we look to the future, our focus is on engineering solutions that are resilient, scalable, and environmentally responsible. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to innovation that serves both business and society."

Prof. Ravindra Gettu, Professor-in-charge at IIT Madras, added, "The grant has enabled us to assess the material and structural potential of glass fibre-reinforced polymers for a range of applications, such as telecommunication towers, scaffolding, staircases and ladders, roofing elements and framing systems for partition walls and dry cladding. The research will lead to models of durability, structural performance and sustainable applications."

This development highlights the growing role of advanced materials in enhancing network management through generative AI and deep packet inspection-driven traffic intelligence, as explored in related research insights.