Environmental consequences of our own products and services
The use of Telenor's core products, telephony, electronic mail, telephone conferences and meetings, video conferences, telework, etc., are assumed to contribute in a positive way to sustainable development. At the same time the net effect on the environment of the use of information and communication technology (ICT) is by no means fully clarified, and we require more thorough knowledge of the environmental effects of our products and services.
More comprehensive description of the different aspects of ICT, the environment and sustainability will be found in Sustainable ICT.
In this part of the environmental report we will only describe developments in the use of video conferences and telephone conferences. In addition there is a brief description of the activities in Telenor R&D with regard to research and reporting in the field of ICT, the environment and sustainability.
Video conferences
Videoconferencing is one of the services Telenor offers that can contribute to reducing both transport needs and air pollution. It is therefore interesting to follow closely the developments in the use of videoconferencing. The table below provides an overview of the use of Telenor's videoconference studios in 2000, both for in-house and external conferences. For the sake of comparison, the results for 1998 and 1999 are included. In addition to these figures, videoconferences are organised directly between independent studios.
| Video- conf. |
Internal conf.
number |
External conf.
number |
All conf.
number |
Duration (average)
minutes |
Conf. minutes
number per man-year |
| 1998 |
605 |
245 |
850 |
294 |
10,1 |
| 1999 |
1179 |
3074 |
4253 |
188 |
11,8 |
| 2000 |
1652 |
3450 |
5102 |
164 |
13,2 |
Comments:
- The use of videoconferencing is on the increase. From 1999 to 2000, the number of conferences has increased by 20%
- The duration of video conferences is however falling In two years the average duration of video conferences has dropped by 44%
- As regards Telenor's own use of video conferences, the number of conference minutes relative to the number of man-years has increased by 12% in the last year.
Telephone conferences
Telephone conferences can also replace meetings in person, which require the use of transport. The table provides an overview of the number of telephone conferences booked via telephone number 119 in 2000. The figures for 1998 and 1999 are included for comparison. In addition to these, there are also telephone meetings that both internal and external customers can arrange themselves. This is another area in which it will be interesting to follow developments in the coming years.
| Telephone conf. |
Internal conf.
number |
External conf.
number |
All telephone conf.
number |
Duration (average)
minutes |
Internal telephone conf. minutes
number per man-year |
| 1998 |
10 345 |
56 031 |
66 376 |
39,0 |
0,6 |
| 1999 |
5 834 |
52 059 |
57 893 |
45,6 |
0,3 |
| 2000 |
5 823 |
59 712 |
65 535 |
45,4 |
0,3 |
Comments:
- The total number of telephone conferences booked via telephone number 119 is increasing. From 1999 to 2000, the number of conferences has increased by 13%.
- The duration of the telephone conferences is unchanged.
- As regards Telenor's own use of telephone conferences booked via telephone number 119, this appears to be unchanged, also as regards the use per man-year.
Telenor R&D and studies of ICT and the environment
In accordance with Telenor Agenda 21[!], in the course of 1999-2000, an overview was to be obtained of the environmental advantages and disadvantages associated with Telenor's products and services.
At the request of the Telenor Group, Telenor R&D has carried out a study to obtain know-how on telecommunications in an environmental perspective. This work was also an element of a general process of increasing awareness of the environmental impacts of Telenor's activities.
