Cygni Energy Private Limited and Indus Towers Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration on energy storage solutions for telecom infrastructure in India. Under the MoU, the companies will evaluate opportunities for sourcing battery energy storage systems (BESS) for telecom applications. The proposed collaboration includes plans to establish BESS manufacturing capacity of up to 1.5 GWh to meet the changing energy requirements of telecom infrastructure.
The companies will also assess advanced battery technologies for telecom applications, with a focus on improving power reliability, energy efficiency and the sustainability of telecom operations. Telecom infrastructure requires reliable backup and power management systems to maintain network availability across a large number of sites. As India’s telecom network expands and data consumption increases, energy storage systems are expected to play a larger role in managing power requirements and reducing dependence on conventional backup systems.
Venkat Rajaraman, Founder and CEO, Cygni Energy, said the proposed collaboration would focus on building manufacturing capacity and technology capabilities for telecom applications. “For us, this initiative goes beyond supplying batteries. It is about building the scale, technology capabilities and manufacturing readiness required to support the evolving energy needs of one of the world’s largest passive telecom infrastructure companies,” he said.
Mr Rajaraman added that Cygni plans to develop capacity of up to 2 GWh while expanding its product portfolio from current 100Ah solutions to higher-capacity 314Ah systems and other emerging battery technologies. “Our ambition is to combine scale, reliability and Indian engineering to create future-ready energy storage solutions that can evolve alongside India’s rapidly expanding digital infrastructure,” he said.
Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Institute Professor, IIT Madras, and Chairman, ITEL Foundation, said collaboration among users, startups, manufacturers and technology institutions could support the development and adoption of energy storage technologies in India. “Telecom provides an important application for advancing battery technologies and manufacturing capabilities in this space,” he said.
The proposed partnership comes as India expands its digital infrastructure and seeks to strengthen domestic capabilities across the energy storage value chain. Telecom networks are among the applications where battery systems can provide backup power, support energy management and improve operational continuity.
Cygni Energy is an Indian energy-storage technology and manufacturing company with capabilities in battery engineering, battery management systems, battery-pack manufacturing and energy-storage solutions. The company was incubated at IIT Madras and develops products for telecom, stationary energy storage, mobility and other applications.
Cygni is expanding its manufacturing capabilities to address the growing demand for battery energy storage systems in India. The company’s proposed engagement with Indus Towers is intended to support the development and deployment of storage solutions suited to the requirements of telecom infrastructure.
