Chennai: Indus Towers Limited, one of the world's largest telecom tower companies, on Tuesday announced a partnership with IIT Madras to conduct pioneering research in Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) structural sections, aimed at developing sustainable alternatives to conventional steel structures.

The initiative, part of Indus Towers' CSR programme 'Pragati,' will support advanced research at IIT Madras on lightweight, corrosion-resistant and high-performance GFRP materials. The collaboration is expected to establish robust design and safety standards, potentially benefiting sectors beyond telecom, including construction and infrastructure.

“GFRP offers a transformative opportunity that is structurally sound, cost-effective and aligned with our sustainability goals. This partnership with IIT Madras is a bold step toward redefining the material science landscape for industries working on GFRP,” said Anil Gupta, Chief Technology and Delivery Officer, Indus Towers.

Globally, GFRP is gaining attention for its superior strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance in high-exposure environments and low maintenance requirements. Its adaptability in design and ease of installation make it a promising choice for future-ready infrastructure.

Prof. Ravindra Gettu, Professor-in-charge at IIT Madras, said the grant from Indus Towers will enable assessment of GFRP for applications such as telecom towers, scaffolding, roofing and framing systems. “The research will lead to models of durability, structural performance and sustainable applications,” he added.

Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations) of IIT Madras, Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, said the partnership exemplifies how industry-academia collaborations can translate laboratory research into scalable, socially and economically impactful solutions.