Deutsche Telekom Hails Group-Wide Net Zero Milestone

Deutsche Telekom has announced that it has achieved net zero for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions across the group. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from company operations, while Scope 2 relates to emissions generated from purchased electricity.

The milestone leaves Scope 3 emissions as the next major challenge. Scope 3 includes indirect emissions generated throughout the company’s supply chain and by vendors, making it significantly more complex to address.

Since 2017, Deutsche Telekom reports it has reduced global emissions by more than 94 percent, equivalent to 28 million tons of carbon dioxide. The remaining emissions, just under 6 percent, were offset through carbon sequestration projects. The company said this achievement makes it the first member of Germany’s DAX 40 index to reach net zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

 

Read more: India Launches Review of ESG Ratings Provider Regulations

 

Three Pillars Behind the Emissions Reduction

 

Several initiatives contributed to the milestone. The company secured long-term power purchase agreements to support new solar and wind projects, along with large-scale battery storage systems designed to stabilize renewable supply.

Deutsche Telekom also invested in more energy-efficient grid technology, lowering both emissions and energy costs. In addition, its corporate vehicle fleet transitioned toward electric vehicles, and office buildings were optimized through smarter space usage and intelligent building controls, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

To maintain accountability, the company submits its carbon reduction efforts for independent audit. Emissions and energy consumption targets are also linked to executive compensation.

 

Next Targets: Scope 3 and 2040 Carbon Neutrality

 

Looking ahead, Deutsche Telekom aims to reduce emissions across all three scopes by 55 percent by 2030. The company has set a broader objective of achieving full carbon neutrality by 2040.

The announcement follows industry warnings that emissions reductions in the telecom sector must accelerate. In 2025, the GSMA indicated that the pace of global mobile emissions decline would need to double for the industry to meet its 2030 and 2050 targets.

 

Explore OneStop ESG Marketplace: ESG reporting

 

Energy Efficiency in 5G Core Networks

 

Alongside its emissions milestone, Deutsche Telekom highlighted progress in reducing energy consumption within its network operations. Working with technology partners including HPE, Lenovo, AMD and Mavenir, the company developed a 5G core network concept that continuously monitors energy usage across the technology stack.

Initial live tests reportedly demonstrated up to a 65 percent reduction in energy consumption within the core network. The approach relies on software-based optimization, dynamically allocating computing and network resources based on real-time demand rather than running components continuously.

According to Deutsche Telekom’s technology leadership, this model represents a shift toward intelligent energy management, where each service and network component is optimized for efficiency while maintaining performance.

With Scope 1 and 2 net zero achieved, the company’s next phase will depend on tackling supply chain emissions and sustaining operational efficiency gains across its global footprint.