BCG has launched its Telco Sustainability Index, designed to capture the four dimensions most relevant to a telco’s environmental strategy. The index tracks the company’s commitment to sustainability, its emissions intensity and that of its upstream and downstream partners, its elimination of waste, and its customer enablement.

1. JUNE 2021
BCG Telco
sustainability index
2020

2. 1
Copyright
©
2021
by
Boston
Consulting
Group.
All
rights
reserved.
BCG Telco Sustainability Index: Key insights
Overall Observations
• Over the last years the TMT sector in general and the telco and tech industry in particular have increased their sustainability ambitions:
net zero targets have been pulled forward from often 2050 to even 2035
• The motivation for telco operators is clear: their carbon footprint has exceeded the footprint of the airline industry and will continue
to grow with the increased data transportation in fixed and mobile networks if not managed proactively
• The historical focus of telco operators has been on scope 1 and scope 2 emissions - now scope 3 is very often focused (i.e. covering the
entire supply chain) – two third of all emissions of a telco operator are typically scope 3 emissions
• In addition, “scope 4”, i.e. offering digital sustainability services which enable other industry sectors to become more sustainable, are
becoming more important
• Hence, embracing sustainability is much more of an opportunity for telco operators than a burden – the business potential is enormous!
• Even some consumer segments show an increased interest to buy green telco services/products and even paying more for it!
• While the business opportunity is obvious, telco operators also need to watch out for liabilities in their balance sheets, i.e. (old) assets
that consume a lot of energy – cost of capital will increase and share price will suffer if not managed proactively
Findings of this year's telco sustainability index
• In 2020, performance of top scorer improved further, while bottom scorer had no overall improvement
• European telcos maintain sustainability index leadership
• However, significant improvements can be observed in North America as well
• Main driver for 2020 sustainability improvement were the announcement of new targets – execution is still open
• While the best telco operator has reached two thirds of the best possible score, on average the telco industry has not even reached the
50% mark!
• Enabling other industries to become more sustainable is still the most neglected dimension

3. 2
Copyright
©
2021
by
Boston
Consulting
Group.
All
rights
reserved.
BCG
Sustainability
in Telco Index:
4 dimensions
Commitment
to sustainability
CO2
intensity
Customer
enablement
Circular
economy

4. 3
Copyright
©
2021
by
Boston
Consulting
Group.
All
rights
reserved.
BCG Telco Sustainability Index covers 20+ telcos
across regions
Europe Europe & Other
(if international units
20%+ revenue)
North America Asia & Middle East

5. 4
Copyright
©
2021
by
Boston
Consulting
Group.
All
rights
reserved.
BCG SiT grades based on comprehensive set of indicators
• Targets
• Culture
• Transparency &
Reporting
• Sustainable sourcing
Commitment to
sustainability
• CO2e intensity –
scope 1 & 2
emissions
• Energy intensity
• Energy sourcing
• CO2e intensity –
scope 3 emissions
CO2e & energy
intensity
• Waste intensity
• Recycling
• Collection of
end-user devices
Circular econo-
my and waste
• Carbon abatement
factor /
Enablement factor
• Green initiatives
• Green R&D
expenditures
Customer
enablement
Dimension
Indicators

6. 5
Copyright
©
2021
by
Boston
Consulting
Group.
All
rights
reserved.
0
16
70
0
In 2020,
performance
of top scorer
improved
further, while
bottom scorer
had no overall
improvement
Source: BCG Sustainability in Telco Index 2020, N=21
Overall
score
Commitment
to sustainability
CO2 & energy
intensity
Circular economy
& waste
Customer
enablement
67
17 13
17
62
58
33
53
64
30
10
61
95
25
32
24
45
51
75
0
94
0
49
43 38
100
0
Median Top scorer 2019
Other companies
Top scorer (Overall score) Bottom scorer (Overall score) Bottom scorer 2019
Copyright
©
2021
by
Boston
Consulting
Group.
All
rights
reserved.

7. 6
Copyright
©
2021
by
Boston
Consulting
Group.
All
rights
reserved.
-
-
- - -
European telcos maintain sustainability index leadership
14
30
24
33
40
34 35 33
55
50
42
62
23
30
32
34
43 44
49
60
21
34
36
41
43
51 51 51
60
63
66
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
36
29
Total score
38
17
67
17
29
18
47
29
36
32
36
26
30
37
34
47
57
53
55
57
47
58 59
58
62
2020
2018 2019
Asia & ME
North America
Europe Europe & other
Source: BCG Sustainability in Telco Index 2020, N=21

8. 7
Copyright
©
2021
by
Boston
Consulting
Group.
All
rights
reserved.
Largest improvement in total score came from
European and North American telcos in 2020
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Total score 2018 2019 2020 2020 with new category
Asia & ME
North America
Europe Europe & other
Source: BCG Sustainability in Telco Index 2020, N=21
In 2020, "Commitment to
sustainability" dimension was changed
to incorporate more detailed view on
culture & governance

9. Copyright
©
2021
by
Boston
Consulting
Group.
All
rights
reserved.
8
On average,
telcos in North
America
improved the
most in 2020
46 44
29 27
50 51
31 28
55 55
37
31
Europe North America
Europe & other Asia
2020
2018
2019
4
7
2
1
5 4
6
4
Asia
Europe Europe & other North America
2020-19
2019-18
Overall score
Overall score Δ
Source: BCG Sustainability in Telco Index 2020, N=21
In 2020, "Commitment to sustainability" dimension was changed to
incorporate more detailed view on culture & governance. For
comparison purposes, 2020 score here using old methodology

10. 9
Copyright
©
2021
by
Boston
Consulting
Group.
All
rights
reserved.
4
7
-1
2
4
3 2
8
5
6
8
3
6
1
6
6
9 8
3
-1
4
4
7
-3
4
3
3
6
0
Targets Transparency
& Reporting
Overall score Culture Sustainable
sourcing
CO2 & energy
intensity
Circular economy
& waste
Customer
enablement
22
0 0
North American telcos improved the most on average
Average score Δ 2020-2019
Asian telcos still have improvement opportunities in customer enablement, while North American group could improve focus on
circular economy & waste
Europe Europe & other Asia
North America
Source: BCG Sustainability in Telco Index 2020, N=21
In 2020, "Commitment to sustainability" dimension was changed to
incorporate more detailed view on culture & governance. For
comparison purposes, 2020 score here using old methodology

11. 10
Copyright
©
2021
by
Boston
Consulting
Group.
All
rights
reserved.
4
9
3 4 4 2
5
Overall score Targets Culture
1
CO2 & energy
intensity
Sustainable
sourcing
Transparency
& Reporting
Circular economy
& waste
Customer
enablement
2020 score improvement main driver was new targets
Average score Δ 2020-2019
~50% operators
introduced new
targets for
emission reduction
(primarily scope
1&2) or for waste
reduction
CDP rating decreased/
increased for ~25% of
telcos each. Detailing
of env. data and
external assurance
has improved for
some telcos
Integration of
sustainability
in supplier
selection
improved for
~30% of telcos
Energy use / emissions over
IP traffic criteria has
improved for 80% of telcos
due to increasing traffic,
while emissions / energy
over customers only
improved for 30-60%
Waste over IP traffic indicator
increased for 65% of telcos,
while waste over customers
only for 35%. Mobile phone
collection indicator decreased
for 30% of telcos, improved
only for 20%
Green initiatives &
R&D expenditure
improved for ~25%
of telcos, 10% of
telcos improved
cust. enablement
reporting
In 2020, "Commitment to sustainability" dimension was changed to
incorporate more detailed view on culture & governance. For
comparison purposes, 2020 score here using old methodology
Source: BCG Sustainability in Telco Index 2020, N=21

12. 11
The services and materials provided by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) are subject to BCG's Standard Terms
(a copy of which is available upon request) or such other agreement as may have been previously executed by BCG.
BCG does not provide legal, accounting, or tax advice. The Client is responsible for obtaining independent advice
concerning these matters. This advice may affect the guidance given by BCG. Further, BCG has made no undertaking
to update these materials after the date hereof, notwithstanding that such information may become outdated
or inaccurate.
The materials contained in this presentation are designed for the sole use by the board of directors or senior
management of the Client and solely for the limited purposes described in the presentation. The materials shall not be
copied or given to any person or entity other than the Client (“Third Party”) without the prior written consent of BCG.
These materials serve only as the focus for discussion; they are incomplete without the accompanying oral commentary
and may not be relied on as a stand-alone document. Further, Third Parties may not, and it is unreasonable for any
Third Party to, rely on these materials for any purpose whatsoever. To the fullest extent permitted by law (and except
to the extent otherwise agreed in a signed writing by BCG), BCG shall have no liability whatsoever to any Third Party,
and any Third Party hereby waives any rights and claims it may have at any time against BCG with regard to the
services, this presentation, or other materials, including the accuracy or completeness thereof. Receipt and review of
this document shall be deemed agreement with and consideration for the foregoing.
BCG does not provide fairness opinions or valuations of market transactions, and these materials should not be relied on
or construed as such. Further, the financial evaluations, projected market and financial information, and conclusions
contained in these materials are based upon standard valuation methodologies, are not definitive forecasts, and are not
guaranteed by BCG. BCG has used public and/or confidential data and assumptions provided to BCG by the Client.
BCG has not independently verified the data and assumptions used in these analyses. Changes in the underlying data or
operating assumptions will clearly impact the analyses and conclusions.
Copyright
©
2021
by
Boston
Consulting
Group.
All
rights
reserved.

13. bcg.com