In a bid to control the factor of air pollution in India, BSNL has signed an agreement with Nokia to jointly market and deploy smart poles to detect the air pollution levels and alert the offices concerned.
“We have signed an agreement with Nokia to jointly market and deploy smart poles across the country. These smart poles are capable of detecting pollution levels and alert the concerned office for timely action. It will also sense pollution level in air where stubble burning takes place,” Anupam Shrivastava, BSNL chairman and managing director told at the India Mobile Congress (IMC).
Air quality in the national capital deteriorated on Friday, gradually inching towards the ‘severe’ category. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded the overall Air quality Index of Delhi as 358, which falls under the ‘very poor’ category. Air pollution in Delhi is also attributed to stubble burning in neighbouring states.
To address this issue, BSNL has initially purchased 50 smart poles from Nokia for Rs 46 lakh a unit. These smart poles will also work as mobile towers, wi-fi hotspot, street lighting and surveillance, according to Shrivastava. “Both BSNL and Nokia are in talks with municipal bodies for deployment of the smart poles,” he said.