How Vodafone's Network Strategy Powers Net Zero Progress

Can telco networks keep growing without consuming ever more energy?

It's one of the defining questions facing the industry as operators aim to support AI services and surging data demand.

Vodafone believes the answer lies in making networks smarter, not simply bigger.

The company treats sustainability as a core part of network strategy, with AI-powered energy management and next-generation radio equipment to battery storage pilots and renewable-powered mobile sites,

That approach has already delivered a notable milestone.

Vodafone Germany has become the operator's first European market to achieve net zero emissions from its own operations, marking a significant step in the company's wider climate transition plans.

Joakim Reiter, Vodafone Group Chief External & Corporate Affairs Officer, says on LinkedIn: "Tackling climate change requires action across every part of our business. At Vodafone, that means turning ambition into measurable progress."

The achievement follows a 93% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2020, with the remaining emissions neutralised through investments in carbon dioxide removal projects.

Across the wider business, Vodafone continues to match 100% of the grid electricity it purchases with renewable sources.

The company does so through power purchase agreements (PPAs) and renewable energy certificates, supporting its ambition to reach net zero operations across Europe by 2028 and Africa by 2035.

Smarter networks, lower energy use

For operators facing relentless traffic growth, improving energy efficiency is becoming as important as adding capacity.

"We’re also making our networks smarter, deploying next-generation equipment and AI-enabled energy management tools to deliver more connectivity using energy more efficiently," Joakim says.

To support that goal, Vodafone has expanded deployment of next-generation radio equipment designed to consume less power and introduced additional energy-saving features across its infrastructure.

The company has also scaled the use of AI-enabled energy management tools capable of optimising energy consumption in real time.

The Scope 3 challenge

Cutting emissions from Vodafone's own operations is only part of the picture, as the company says the majority of its carbon footprint sits within its value chain.

"But the real challenge sits in our value chain, which accounts for 96% of our total emissions," says Joakim.

"That’s why we’ve scaled supplier engagement and onboarded 60% of our strategic suppliers onto a platform to track and accelerate their progress."

As a service provider, the vast majority of Vodafone's emissions sit outside its direct operational control. The company has therefore set a Science Based Targets initiative-approved goal of reducing value chain emissions by 90% by 2040.

Over the past year, Vodafone has expanded supplier engagement efforts through a dedicated platform designed to improve emissions reporting and accelerate decarbonisation.

The operator has also worked through the Joint Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility, supporting 46 suppliers in identifying practical emissions reduction measures.

Networks supporting the energy transition

Vodafone is also exploring how telco infrastructure can contribute to wider energy system transformation.

Joakim says: "We’re testing how our infrastructure can support more flexible, low-carbon energy systems, including battery storage pilots and new approaches to balancing renewable supply and demand."

The company recently led a distributed energy storage pilot in the Czech Republic and launched a similar project in the UK, examining how grid-connected battery systems can help balance electricity supply and demand as renewable generation increases.

Alongside battery storage, Vodafone is investigating ways to align electricity consumption with periods of higher renewable energy availability, helping create a more flexible and responsive energy system.

The operator is also continuing efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Solar-powered mobile sites are being expanded across multiple markets, while South Africa has become home to Vodafone's first virtual wheeling project, enabling renewable electricity generated by independent producers to be supplied into the grid at scale.

In Mozambique, Vodafone has trialled a hybrid diesel generator control system that switches to battery power during outages wherever possible, reducing fuel use while maintaining network resilience.

The company has also made progress in decarbonising its vehicle fleet, with around one quarter of vehicles purchased and ordered across Europe now electric.

Circularity beyond connectivity

Reducing emissions is only one part of Vodafone's sustainability strategy. The company is also focusing on extending the lifespan of network equipment and customer devices through circular economy initiatives.

"We’re driving circularity across our business. This year we celebrated collecting one million used mobile devices through our partnership with WWF and redeployed over 99% of devices returned by business customers through our Device Lifecycle Management (‘DLM’) leasing programme," says Joakim.

Vodafone has expanded trade-in, repair and second-life programmes to help consumers keep devices in use for longer. The operator reached its target of collecting one million used mobile devices through its partnership with WWF for reuse, recycling or donation.

For enterprise customers, Vodafone's Device Lifecycle Management leasing programme continues to embed circularity into device management. During 2025, more than 99% of devices returned through the programme were redeployed.

The company has also launched a pan-European recycling tender aimed at increasing material recovery from decommissioned network equipment and reducing waste sent to landfill or incineration.

The progress has earned external recognition.

Vodafone was included on CDP's 'A List' for climate change and received an EcoVadis Platinum medal for the second consecutive year, placing it among the top 1% of companies assessed globally for sustainability performance.

"We know there’s more to do, particularly on Scope 3 emissions, but the direction is clear," says Joakim.

"Across our value chain, we will continue to deepen supplier engagement, improve emissions data and scale circular solutions."