EDOTCO, Tiger Lithium to turn retired telecom batteries into backup power systems

EDOTCO Bangladesh has partnered with Tiger Lithium Energy to repurpose retired telecommunications batteries into Instant Power Supply (IPS) systems for rural schools and communities with limited access to reliable electricity.

The partnership was formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under EDOTCO's flagship corporate social responsibility initiative, Tower to Power, according to a press release issued yesterday (29 September).

Under the initiative, technically viable cells recovered from retired telecom batteries will be reused to develop backup power systems for selected rural schools, educational institutions and other underserved locations.

The initiative aims to reduce electronic waste while improving access to reliable backup electricity, supporting education and community well-being, the release said.

Al Batuni Mohammad Sayed Ahmed, country managing director of EDOTCO Bangladesh, said the partnership would create value for communities and the environment by extending the useful life of retired telecom batteries.

"Through our Tower to Power initiative, this partnership will give retired telecom batteries a second life, helping to reduce electronic waste while expanding access to reliable backup power in underserved areas," he said.

The company said its Tower to Power platform has already benefited more than 100,000 people in Bangladesh.

The initiative also aligns with EDOTCO's environmental, social and governance commitments and supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and production, and climate action, according to the release.

EDOTCO Group, established in 2012, provides digital connectivity infrastructure services across seven Asian countries, including Bangladesh. The company said its portfolio comprises more than 35,000 towers across Malaysia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.