Telefonica Germany said it plans to reduce the use of electricity by 82 percent per byte by 2025. Data traffic over the O2 network data had increased by almost 200 percent by the end of 2020 compared with 2015. Energy consumption fell by over 14 percent during the same period. This corresponds to a reduction in power consumption per byte of 71 percent.
To further reduce energy consumption, Telefonica plans to shut down the 3G network, expand 4G, introduce 5G and modernise data centres. Electricity efficiency is one essential element for the company to become climate-neutral by 2025 at the latest, on top of the use of 100 percent green electricity.
With Power Puchase Agreements, the company invests in systems for producing renewable energies. Long-term power purchase agreements with energy producers allow them to operate wind turbines or other alternative energy sources for Telefonica Germany, for example. The company is also considering generating electricity from renewable energies. It will start equipping mobile radio sites with photovoltaic systems from 2021.
