{"id":19040,"date":"2026-07-13T11:27:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T10:27:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/external-affairs\/?post_type=gsma_theme_study&p=19040"},"modified":"2026-07-13T11:28:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T10:28:02","slug":"edotco-the-biochar-pole-scaling-circular-materials-in-tower-infrastructure","status":"publish","type":"gsma_theme_study","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/external-affairs\/gsma_study\/edotco-the-biochar-pole-scaling-circular-materials-in-tower-infrastructure\/","title":{"rendered":"Edotco – The Biochar Pole: Scaling Circular Materials\u00a0in\u00a0Tower\u00a0Infrastructure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For EDOTCO, transitioning to a circular economy is a strategic priority to\u00a0eliminate\u00a0the telecommunications industry’s reliance on carbon-intensive, virgin raw materials. By replacing a\u00a0portion\u00a0of conventional cement with a proprietary blend of palm-based biochar and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), EDOTCO’s pioneering Biochar Pole transforms carbon-intensive structures into active carbon storage units. This enables climate-conscious network deployment without compromising performance.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This initiative bridges a highly strategic regional narrative across three Malaysian states: the raw material is derived from palm residues sourced from plantations in Kelantan, manufactured and fabricated in Perak, and successfully erected as a milestone pilot in Kedah. Deployed to serve anchor clients like Maxis, this circular innovation achieved its landmark launch at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in Sintok, Kedah, demonstrating how public-private-academic ecosystems can turn material science into nationwide infrastructure implementations.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The environmental and structural benefits are deeply impressive: the solution delivers a 10% to 15% reduction in carbon emissions compared with traditional concrete poles, while laboratory testing confirms a 15% increase in compressive strength. Its lighter yet stronger composition also drastically improves field installation efficiency and lowers downstream transport impacts.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, scaling such deep tech across our footprint comes with significant operational hurdles. First, securing a consistent, standardised biomass feedstock supply\u00a0remains\u00a0highly vulnerable to localised agricultural seasonal shifts. Second, a broader regional challenge is the severe lack of available grid-level Renewable Energy (RE) across the markets EDOTCO operates\u00a0in, meaning its manufacturing processes still rely on carbon-heavy power sources. This regional deficit makes innovation like the Biochar Pole a non-negotiable step; EDOTCO must proactively engineer carbon-negative material properties into the physical structures themselves to offset grid limitations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By scaling this localised circular value chain, EDOTCO proves that digital connectivity can support Malaysia\u2019s broader ESG ambitions while proving that waste-to-resource transformation can lead to superior engineering outcomes.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For EDOTCO, transitioning to a circular economy is a strategic priority to\u00a0eliminate\u00a0the telecommunications industry’s reliance on carbon-intensive, virgin raw materials. By replacing a\u00a0portion\u00a0of conventional cement with a proprietary blend of palm-based biochar and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), EDOTCO’s pioneering Biochar Pole transforms carbon-intensive structures into active carbon storage units. This enables climate-conscious network […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":19176,"template":"","meta":{"image":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/external-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/edcotco_biochar_440x190.jpg","json":{"gsma_study_logo":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/external-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/edcotco_biochar_440x190.jpg","gsma_study_category":"0","gsma_study_member":"0","gsma_study_website":"","gsma_study_email":"","gsma_study_twitter":"","gsma_study_facebook":"","gsma_study_linkedin":"","gsma_study_country":"","gsma_study_bg":false,"gsma_study_video":"","gsma_study_sdg":"","gsma_study_hfi":null,"gsma_study_orgs":""},"cats":{"circularity-region":[{"term_id":3551,"name":"Asia Pacific","slug":"circularity-region-asia-pacific","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3551,"taxonomy":"casestudy_categories","description":"","parent":3550,"count":22,"filter":"raw"}],"climate-action":[{"term_id":3625,"name":"Circular economy","slug":"circular-economy","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3625,"taxonomy":"casestudy_categories","description":"","parent":3469,"count":14,"filter":"raw"}]},"orgs":[]},"tags":[],"casestudy_categories":[3551,3625],"algolia_discover_type":[3511],"class_list":["post-19040","gsma_theme_study","type-gsma_theme_study","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","casestudy_categories-circularity-region-asia-pacific","casestudy_categories-circular-economy","algolia_discover_type-case-study"],"yoast_head":"\nEdotco - 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