March 25, 2024 – As Thailand’s leading telecom-tech company, True Corporation is leveraging its infrastructure, end-to-end digital ecosystem and artificial intelligence (AI) technology to drive sustainable development. For the environmental dimension, True Corporation focuses on energy efficiency, solar energy and sourcing renewable energy to be carbon neutral by 2030 and net zero by 2050. True Corporation has been ranked the most sustainable telecom company in the world by the S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment and listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices 2023 for six years in a row.
Mr Navneet Nayan, Head of Tech Strategy & Architecture of True Corporation Plc. said, “The road for True Corporation to become carbon neutral and net zero begins with transforming our network to achieve better energy efficiency. For our own operations, 98% of emissions come from electricity usage from the grid. Moreover, nearly all our electric power consumption is for the network or over 97%. Therefore, network modernization and smart solutions are key to achieve our environmental targets and mitigate climate impact.”
In 2023, True Corporation achieved a 12.7% reduction from its 2020 baseline, which closely aligns with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) standard (12.6%). In addition to meeting the SBTi targets, the company is performing well above industry averages. The GSMA released a report stating that carbon emissions of mobile network operators worldwide dropped by 6% between 2019 and 2022.
Strategies of “True Corporation” to Net Zero
- Accelerate the modernization of True Corporation’s network by upgrading sites nationwide in 2024. This leads to increasing data speed and signal quality while also doubling the top mobile speed for 5G and 4G. It is also more energy efficient. In 2023, network modernization saved more than 10,000 megawatt-hours of electricity and avoided the emissions of 4,400 tons CO2 equivalent per year.
- Increase the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in network operations. AI can rapidly detect and resolve issues to improve the customer experience. It is also key to achieving True’s climate ambitions. In 2024, True will expand its proprietary AI solutions which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption by up to 15% per site. Thanks to the predictive capabilities of AI, network sites can be adjusted to match exactly what is needed by customers.
- Ramp up the use of solar energy. Since 2017, True has been installing solar panels at its base stations. As of 2023, more than 7,800 sites and one data center have been set up with solar panels. This move saved about 45,000 MWh of electricity in 2023 and reduced greenhouse gas emissions up to 20,000 ton CO2e. In 2024, the company is planning to install solar panels across a total of 11,200 sites and 6 data centers. This initiative is projected to save approximately 64,000 MWh of electricity per year and will avoid 28,800 Tons of CO2e emissions.
“In addition to the emissions from its own operations, known as scope 1 and 2, True Corporation also emphasizes reducing emissions in its entire supply chain, which is known as scope 3. One of the significant scope 3 reduction initiatives is the collaboration with True’s suppliers to measure their carbon emissions and set reduction targets. This March, True will provide training and essential tools to support them,” Mr Navneet added.
True Moves Forward with its Mission to Close a Gap
In addition to energy efficiency measures and the deployment of solar panels, True Corporation must further reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to contend with a constantly increasing need for computational power and mobile data. True is determined to find more ways to close the gap:
- Drive open innovation partnerships with universities and business partners to research and develop solutions such as battery storage for solar energy, as well as leveraging AI technologies and other innovative approaches.
- Encourage and call all on the industry, the energy sector and the government to continue innovating and improving access and opportunities for clean energy.
“True Corporation is committed to developing innovations for climate action across all of society. For businesses, we develop connected solutions for energy efficiency in smart agriculture, smart retail and smart factories. With TrueX, consumers can easily upgrade to smart homes and better control their energy usage. As an enabler of climate action, True Corporation therefore helps Thailand reach its climate goals. But no one can do it alone. Climate action requires innovation, regulatory support, green financing, action from suppliers, investment and partnerships to advance Thailand and bring about a more sustainable future together,” concluded Mr Navneet.
