AuguryEastman pushes into telecom power with new battery and hybrid inverter designed for 5G towers and grid edge sites
This article was written by the Augury Times
Launch in Singapore signals a push into telecom sites and grid-edge power
At the infraXchange event in Singapore, Eastman Auto & Power introduced a new telecom battery and a companion hybrid inverter aimed squarely at mobile towers, edge sites and small-scale renewable installations. Company management framed the products as ready-for-deployment solutions built for continuous telecom use, and the announcement was positioned as the start of a broader global rollout.
The market reacted with cautious interest: industry buyers at the show flagged the products as credible alternatives to older lead-acid systems and to piecemeal inverter setups. For investors, the news is a clear signal that Eastman is trying to move up the value chain — from commodity components toward bundled, higher-margin systems used by carriers and tower operators.
Why telecom power is suddenly a strategic area for manufacturers
Power for telecom sites matters more now than it did a few years ago. Two big trends are pushing demand: first, 5G rollout means more base stations and higher uptime expectations. Second, carriers are under pressure to add on-site renewable backup and battery storage to cut operating costs and emissions.
That combination creates a steady, replacement-driven market — towers need reliable backup power and periodic battery swaps — plus fresh demand for hybrid systems that can manage solar or other local generation alongside grid and generator inputs. For vendors, telecom sites are attractive because contracts are long, volumes are visible, and customers value reliability over low price.
Geographically, Asia, Africa and parts of Latin America remain the most active growth zones for tower builds and upgrades. The Singapore debut is therefore more than a regional show-and-tell; it puts Eastman in front of operators and infrastructure partners who decide what gets installed across multiple countries.
How the new battery and inverter are pitched: practical features, telecom focus
Eastman describes its new battery as a telecom-grade energy block with a focus on modularity, lifecycle and safety. The company says the battery uses cell chemistry and internal management software designed to extend usable life and to reduce routine maintenance work common with older lead-acid banks. The design is said to be rack-friendly, allowing operators to scale capacity without major site redesign.
The hybrid inverter is presented as a partner device that can manage multiple sources — grid, diesel generator, solar and the new battery — and switch between them automatically to keep equipment online. Eastman highlights three practical points: integrated power management software, remote-monitoring capability, and an inverter control logic tuned for telecom load profiles (which prioritize steady backup power and fast switchover).
Against incumbent solutions, the company leans on claims of higher usable capacity and lower lifecycle cost. That matters in telecom, where the total cost of ownership — factoring replacement cycles, transport and site visits — often outweighs the initial sticker price. Eastman’s pitch is that an integrated battery-plus-inverter bundle will beat separate, commodity buys on both reliability and lifetime economics.
How Eastman plans to sell these systems and where they’ll first appear
Commercially, Eastman is taking a partner-heavy route. The company announced pilot projects with regional tower companies and system integrators present at the show, and it intends to use local distributors for after-sales service. Initial focus will be Southeast Asia and nearby growth markets, with plans to expand into South Asia and parts of Africa within 12–18 months.
Channel strategy matters here: telecom operators prefer vendors that can guarantee maintenance and fast swap-outs. Eastman’s playbook appears to be a mix of direct pilots with marquee customers to prove the technology and a tiered reseller approach to reach smaller tower owners. The Singapore launch is also a visibility play — winning certification and early reference sites in the city-state can be a useful sales tool across the region.
What this means for investors: revenue paths, margins and the main risks to watch
For investors, the product rollout opens three potential revenue levers. First, hardware sales to tower companies and integrators could add a steady product line if pilots convert. Second, service, maintenance and battery replacements offer recurring income and better margin than one-off module sales. Third, bundled systems can command higher average selling prices than standalone batteries or inverters.
However, the path to meaningful revenue is neither quick nor certain. Certification cycles for telecom power gear can be long, and winning repeat orders depends on a track record of reliability in the field. Supply-chain cost volatility for cells and power electronics will also affect margins. Competitive pressure is intense: incumbents and specialist vendors already have deep relationships with carriers and towercos.
Watch the company’s next quarterly report for a few specific signals: announced pilot conversions to firm orders, shipment start dates, any disclosed gross margin movements on the power business, and updates on certifications or field reliability metrics. Those items will be the clearest indicators of whether the launch is a tactical marketing move or the front end of a sustainable new revenue stream.
Words from the company and clear next steps on the roadmap
“Our new battery and hybrid inverter are built for the realities of telecom sites — durability, simple service and smart control,” said a senior Eastman executive in the company release. “By combining these devices into a single solution, we aim to reduce downtime and lower total cost of ownership for operators.”
“Singapore is an ideal launchpad,” the release added. “We will move quickly to pilots and to secure regulatory approvals so we can begin commercial shipments across Southeast Asia in the months ahead.”
Next milestones to track: pilot-to-order conversions, completion of telco and safety certifications, initial commercial shipments, and any channel deals with major regional tower operators. Each step will materially change how investors should view the opportunity: a string of pilot wins would point to attractive recurring revenue potential, while delays or weak field reliability would raise the risk profile.
Photo: Kindel Media / Pexels
Sources