EE: Delta Electronics has long been associated with high-efficiency power technologies. How does the telecom power solutions business align with the company’s broader sustainability and energy-efficiency goals?
Rachna Kango: Delta’s mission — ‘To provide innovative, clean, and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow’ — shapes every product we build. Telecom infrastructure is one of the largest consumers of energy in the world, which makes it one of the most important areas where better power technology can create real impact. Our telecom power systems achieve efficiencies of up to 98%, which directly cuts the carbon footprint of operators at scale. For us, telecom power is not just a business segment — it is a direct expression of our commitment to sustainability.
EE: With India witnessing rapid expansion in 5G networks and digital connectivity, how is the demand for telecom power infrastructure evolving?
Rachna Kango: India’s 5G rollout is one of the most ambitious in the world, and it is changing what power infrastructure needs to do. 5G base stations consume considerably more power than their 4G counterparts, while also needing compact installations that fit within existing sites. We are seeing operators move away from conventional AC-based setups toward DC-powered systems that work more easily with solar and battery storage. In telecom power solutions, Delta holds over 60% market share in India, with more than 1 million units installed across approximately 700,000 communication towers nationwide — so we see this shift play out every day. Growing data traffic from streaming, smart city deployments, and enterprise digitization is pushing this demand even further.
EE: Telecom networks today require high reliability, energy efficiency, and scalability. How are power solution providers adapting their technologies to meet these requirements?
Rachna Kango: A single standard power solution no longer works for networks of this complexity. Today’s infrastructure needs systems that are modular, intelligent, and built to keep running under pressure. Delta Electronics’ indoor and outdoor power system series feature modular designs, allowing operators to start with basic setups and scale capacity over time without full replacements. These systems offer hot-swap modules for seamless maintenance without service interruptions, along with wide input voltage ranges to handle India’s variable grid conditions. Integrated power system controllers provide real-time site monitoring, battery health tracking, and early issue detection—enabling proactive maintenance over reactive responses.
EE: How do you see the role of smart power systems and energy storage evolving in telecom networks over the next five years?
Rachna Kango: Energy storage is moving from a passive backup function to an active part of how networks manage power. As solar integration grows, batteries will play a central role in managing peak loads, enabling grid arbitrage, and getting the most out of renewable energy on site. Lithium-ion batteries are already replacing traditional VRLA batteries because they last longer, cost less over time, and work far better with advanced energy management platforms. Modern lithium-ion manufacturing facilities are becoming important hubs for energy storage across many applications, including telecom. In the years ahead, the power layer of telecom networks will become increasingly software-driven, with deeper use of AI-enabled monitoring, energy optimisation, and distributed energy resources.
EE: Delta Electronics is known for advanced power electronics and energy management solutions. What are some of the latest innovations Delta is introducing in telecom power systems?
Rachna Kango: Delta’s telecom power solutions in India include indoor and outdoor systems built for high efficiency, reliability, and the ability to scale. Our rectifier solutions deliver efficiency levels of up to 98% and are based on modular designs that allow flexible installation and capacity growth over time. These systems are built to integrate with battery storage and support real-time monitoring through intelligent controllers, ensuring reliable and efficient operation across different types of telecom network environments.
EE: How are AI-driven monitoring, predictive maintenance, and remote energy management transforming telecom power infrastructure?
Rachna Kango: AI is changing how networks are maintained — moving from fixing problems after they happen to stopping them before they do. Our smart power system controllers collect data across thousands of sites, pick up early warning signals, and generate automated, prioritised maintenance schedules. This has a direct and measurable effect on network uptime, which remains the most important performance metric for any operator. Remote energy management allows a central team to monitor and improve energy use across a large, geographically spread network without visiting each site — cutting both operational costs and response times. For a country as large and geographically varied as India, this capability is not just helpful — it is essential.
EE: What role do high-efficiency rectifiers, lithium battery systems, and smart energy management platforms play in improving telecom network sustainability?
Rachna Kango: These three elements are the foundation of a sustainable modern telecom site. High-efficiency rectifiers cut energy waste at the point where power is converted. Lithium batteries — with their superior cycle life and depth-of-discharge capability — reduce how often replacements are needed and how much material is wasted compared to VRLA alternatives. Smart energy management platforms tie everything together, continuously optimising how power flows between the grid, renewable sources, and storage in real time. Together, they help operators reduce their Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) ratios and move meaningfully toward their net-zero targets.
EE: How is Delta Electronics supporting India’s transition toward green telecom infrastructure?
Rachna Kango: Delta is supporting India’s green telecom transition through solar hybrid power systems that combine solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, and high-efficiency rectifiers. These systems reduce dependence on diesel generators at off-grid and weak-grid sites, delivering over 33% in energy cost savings alongside AI-based thermal management.
We also work with operators through energy audits and total cost of ownership analyses to build clear business cases for switching to renewables — particularly important given the grid challenges many sites face.
On the manufacturing side, our LEED Gold-certified headquarters and R&D centre in Bengaluru is home to more than 385 engineers. Our 95-acre Krishnagiri manufacturing campus, with over 3,800 employees, produces localised solar inverters and telecom equipment. In 2025, we signed a renewable energy power purchase agreement that is expected to cut our emissions by approximately 7,000 metric tons per year.
EE: India is emerging as a major digital economy with ambitious connectivity goals. How do government initiatives like Digital India and BharatNet influence the telecom power solutions market?
Rachna Kango: These programmes are important growth drivers for the telecom power solutions market. BharatNet’s goal of connecting gram panchayats with high-speed broadband is pushing telecom infrastructure into areas where grid reliability is poor or non-existent — which directly increases demand for solar hybrid power systems and dependable battery backup, both areas where Delta has strong capability. Digital India’s wider agenda around e-governance, digital payments, and rural connectivity keeps data traffic growing steadily, pushing operators to expand and densify their networks. These initiatives also encourage operators in low-ARPU rural markets to focus on energy efficiency as a practical way to keep operational costs in check while still growing coverage.
EE: What opportunities do you see for domestic manufacturing of telecom power equipment under India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative?
Rachna Kango: The opportunity is significant, and Delta is already acting on it. We operate three manufacturing facilities in India — at Rudrapur, Gurgaon, and Krishnagiri — and are currently expanding the Krishnagiri campus with two new factory buildings dedicated to telecom power systems and related segments. Since 2015, we have committed USD 500 million to India, with more than 65% already deployed. Make in India gives us the ability to engineer products specifically for Indian conditions — wide voltage tolerance, performance in high-ambient heat, and compatibility with rural grid realities. Beyond the domestic market, we see India-manufactured telecom power equipment positioning the country as a credible supplier to other emerging economies across Asia and Africa.
