Indus Towers Partners with IIT Madras for Sustainable GFRP Research

Indus Towers Limited has announced a significant partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) to advance research in Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) structural applications. This collaboration, unveiled on September 16, 2025, aims to explore the structural, economic, and environmental benefits of GFRP, marking a pioneering industry-academia initiative in the telecom infrastructure sector.

This partnership is part of Indus Towers’ flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, known as Pragati, which emphasizes sustainable innovation and inclusive growth. Through this initiative, Indus Towers will support research at IIT Madras focused on developing lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and high-performance alternatives to traditional steel structures.

Anil Gupta, Chief Technology & Delivery Officer at Indus Towers, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “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 that is not only structurally sound and cost-effective but also aligns with our sustainability goals.”

GFRP is gaining recognition globally as a next-generation material due to its impressive strength-to-weight ratio, resistance to corrosion—particularly in coastal and high-exposure environments—and minimal maintenance requirements. Its versatility in design, ease of transport and installation, as well as its potential for reuse, make it an attractive option for future infrastructure projects.

Research led by IIT Madras will investigate the mechanical performance, durability, and lifecycle sustainability of GFRP materials. The outcomes aim to establish robust design and safety standards for applications, potentially setting benchmarks that could benefit various sectors, including telecommunications.

Indus Towers’ commitment to this research underscores its broader vision of fostering a digitally connected and sustainable India while reinforcing its leadership in responsible infrastructure development.

Prof. Ravindra Gettu, Professor-in-charge at IIT Madras, highlighted the potential of GFRP, noting, “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.”

In discussing the benefits of industry collaborations, Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean of Alumni & Corporate Relations, remarked, “IIT Madras’ partnership with Indus Towers stands testimony to how industry-academia collaborations take research from the laboratory to market-ready, socially and economically impactful solutions.”

The research initiative on GFRP represents a significant step towards delivering sustainable and future-ready alternatives for India’s telecom infrastructure. Through this collaboration, both Indus Towers and IIT Madras aim to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact, fostering innovations that contribute to a more sustainable future.

Indus Towers Limited is recognized as India’s leading provider of passive telecom infrastructure, managing a portfolio of 251,773 telecom towers across the country. Its commitment to green energy initiatives further highlights its role as a pioneer in responsible infrastructure development.

IIT Madras, established in 1959 by the Government of India as an ‘Institute of National Importance’, conducts extensive research across various fields of science and technology. With a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship, the institute boasts over 650 faculty members and 10,000 students from 18 countries, fostering a vibrant academic community.