Deutsche Telekom implements energy-efficient measures, electric vehicles and energy-saving buildings. However, the Group’s environmental ambition does not end with this milestone – by 2040, Deutsche Telekom intends to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire supply chain.
“We are proud to announce that we have achieved carbon neutrality across the Group’s operations. Since 2017, we have reduced emissions by more than 94% – 4% more than our original target. The remaining emissions are neutralised through projects focused on CO₂ removal – thanks to this, we are part of the first telecommunications group that is truly carbon neutral in its operations,” says Melinda Szabó, CEO of T-Mobile Czech Republic and Slovak Telekom. “T-Mobile has contributed to this group target by using 100% green electricity since 2021, through projects focused on securing and generating renewable energy, as well as optimising its use.”
All T-Mobile activities focused on energy savings in recent years have together delivered annual savings of 30 GWh. As part of the transformation of T-Mobile’s entire network in the Czech Republic, the operator switched off approximately 13,000 network elements over seven years, resulting in annual savings of around 16 GWh. Energy savings have proven to be a key mechanism for long-term emissions reduction – the greenest energy is the energy not consumed. Through the AI tool TUPL, T-Mobile achieves real-time energy savings directly within the network. Based on historical data, the tool analyses the intensity of capacity layer usage at different times and days and switches layers on or off in real time accordingly – reducing network energy consumption without affecting customer experience. Energy efficiency is also indirectly supported by the expansion of fibre infrastructure.
In addition to operational measures, T-Mobile has also embedded its long-term sustainability vision into the DC7 data centre. The data centre, with a total capacity of up to 8 MW, uses an innovative cooling system based on indirect free cooling with adiabatic cooling using rainwater and incorporates waste heat recovery (the same technology is used in T-Mobile’s data centres in Hradec Králové and Plzeň), which is used for heating office premises and preheating diesel generators. Thanks to these measures, it achieves an average annual PUE of 1.3. The data centre also includes a photovoltaic power plant – with an installed capacity of 230 kWp, it can generate up to 250 MWh of electricity annually, preventing up to 112 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year. The operator also contributes through a range of additional smaller measures that together deliver measurable results – for example, buildings are equipped with LED lighting and desktop computers and monitors for thousands of employees automatically switch off after extended inactivity. At the same time, the share of electric vehicles in the fleet continues to grow.
“Our goal is to connect – our customers through our network and our partners through corporate responsibility. We want to act as a role model within the industry and the region and inspire other major players. That is why three Deutsche Telekom companies – T-Mobile Czech Republic, Slovak Telekom and CE Colo Czech Republic – have signed cross-border virtual power purchase agreements (vPPA) with Rezolv Energy, a renewable energy producer. The commitment to purchase 100 GWh of electricity over 12 years has significantly supported the construction of a wind power plant. The plant will deliver up to 700 GWh of green energy annually,” says Pavel Hadrbolec, Chief Financial Officer of T-Mobile Czech Republic.