Telecom industry turning from “Me” to “We”

Monday 15 February, CEO and President, Jon Fredrik Baksaas, took part in the Leadership Summit & Government Mobile Forum session "The Green Agenda - Building a Sustainable Future" at the Mobile World Congress. During this session, leaders from the telecom industry explored:

• What are the remaining obstacles in going green and building environmentally-friendly infrastructure in our industry?
• What policies are governments putting in place to accelerate low carbon infrastructure?
• How is the mobile industry responding to government's green strategies?
• What are the commercial benefits to operating a greener network?
• Can a harmonised approach to sustainability within the industry be achieved?
• What contribution can the mobile industry make to global discussions on climate change?

From "Me" to "We"

"Technology needs to reflect the changing needs of society. In the first decade of the mobile , we brought mobility to the enterprise; in the second decade we equipped consumers with a lifestyle tool, and both have brought substantial social and economic benefits.  As we enter the next decade, telecommunication will address some of the most critical social challenges we face, including health, climate change, banking the unbanked, transport and access to education. This represent a shift in focus from "Me" to "We"", said Jon Fredrik Baksaas in his main message to the telecom leaders.

Our business matters

The mobile industry is recognised as a leading sector in the research, development and provision of sustainable business models through green power and resourcing.  Further, as  technology, telecommunication can have a significant impact in enabling other industries to increase efficiencies and address environmental issues.

"In the Telenor Group we are well aware that our business matters. Our experience from building key infrastructure and offering communications services in markets in different parts of the world has brought us valuable insight in this respect. Providing access to mobile communication services, especially in societies underserved by fixed-line, has significant socio-economic impacts," Baksaas added.

Smart use of communications solutions

The SMART 2020 report showed that by intelligent use of ICT and telecommunications solutions, industries and governments might bring about as much as 15 per cent of the emission cuts that the world needs. This places digitalisation and dematerialisation on an equal footing with global re-forestation, and delivers the potential of combining carbon cuts with economic growth.

Room for both 'sustainability' and 'growth'

"Governments that choose to stimulate further investment in mobile and broadband communications services will see real contributions to a new economy, where growth and sustainability merge. Rather than discussing close-downs and layoffs in yesterday's production, the ICT industry emerges everywhere as an enabler and cornerstone of tomorrow's sustainable production processes. Leaders will not have to choose between sustainability and growth - there is room for both," said Baksaas.