Emerging markets offer exciting and incredibly attractive prospects for international investors and enterprises looking to further grow their brand but, at the same time, they present their own set of challenges that must be conquered if these brand new operations are to be successful. William Saad, Chief Technology Officer for IHS Towers, is well acquainted with some of these, in particular when it comes to managing technology advancements from an environmentally conscious angle. In an interview with Engineering News, Mr. Saad covers the two main challenges that have been assailing the cellular service and infrastructure providers in the African market. He singles out the strong preponderance of diesel fuel in terms of powering systems as well as uneven electricity access provided by the existing grids. It is William Saad’s opinion that, in order to facilitate sustainable growth and development instead of quick gains, these are the biggest hurdles that need to be addressed by businesses hopeful to gain a foothold in the region. Under William Saad’s helpful direction, IHS Towers has been leading the market when it comes to measured, self-aware technology implementation. The company’s actions in this sense have seen positive results in both Nigeria, their main base of operations, and the continent as a whole. To date, their investment in clean energy has reduced the amount of diesel fuel consumed by an individual tower per month by a highly impressive 33% and has, as a consequence, also reduced the tower network’s reliance on unreliable electricity grids.

1. Green initiatives can help telecoms
firms slash emissions, lessen reliance
on grid power
Published 03 Jul 15 By: Sashnee Moodley - Creamer Media Senior Staff Writer
WILLIAM SAAD The telecommunications industry needs to focus on ensuring that
towers are diesel neutral in the coming years and on alternative sources of power
The telecommunications industry can deal with two of its key challenges through
green initiatives and diesel-reduction strategies, says mobile communications
infrastructure company IHS Towers chief technology officer William Saad.
He tells Engineering News that in an African-market context, these challenges are
the industry’s heavy reliance on diesel consumption to power telecommunications
towers, and companies’ reliance on often unreliable electricity grids as their main
source of energy to power telecommunications towers.
The industry needs to focus on ensuring that towers are diesel neutral in the coming
years and on alternative sources of power to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of
towers.
“As consumer behaviour changes, so must the mobile network operators who
provide the networks. In an increasingly competitive market place, mobile network
operators need superior products and pricing, and compelling marketing campaigns,
but, above all, they need efficient and reliable networks if they are to stay in business
– all while managing the costs and logistics of operating towers,” Saad explains.
IHS is leading by example, as it is undertaking a number of green initiatives and
diesel- reduction strategies across Africa.
In Nigeria, IHS uses 1 500 ℓ of diesel a month for each tower. As a result, the
company has invested in solar energy to provide 12 telecommunications towers with

2. 6 kW of solar power each – each tower will now save 500 ℓ of diesel a month.
IHS has also increased its staff from 600 to 1 000 in Nigeria, 80% of whom are well-
trained engineers.
The company also recently absorbed 70 engineers from telecommunications major
MTN, which also services the MTN tower portfolio in Nigeria on behalf of IHS.
Meanwhile, over the next two years, IHS has resolved to be diesel neutral across its
Zambia portfolio using a combination of on- and off-grid solutions.