Mobile carrier A1 Serbia turns to solar power in carbon neutrality push

Telecommunications firm A1 Serbia, part of the A1 Telekom Austria Group, has installed 4,500 solar power panels since last year and set a goal of 5,600 modules for 2023 within the efforts to decarbonize its operations and achieve carbon neutrality.

A1 Serbia said it achieved a successful balance in 2022 in the growth of revenue and users in all aspects of business in a very competitive environment while pushing ahead with its green initiatives.

Total revenues grew 13.1% year on year to EUR 356.5 million. The company said it had the biggest number of new users in the market for the second year in a row. A1 Serbia said its network infrastructure investments resulted in the biggest progress in improving network quality in the country, citing regulatory and monitoring data.

A1 Serbia was the first mobile carrier in the Serbian market to start using solar panels

Solar panels and sustainability as a mandatory parameter of network quality

According to the mobile carrier, it was one of the first companies to choose to invest in renewable energy sources and that it set sustainability as a mandatory parameter of network quality. A1 Serbia added it was the first operator to start using solar panels and that nearly 4,500 have been installed so far. The goal is to have 5,600 modules in operation by the end of 2023, the announcement reads. They will be able to cover the annual electricity needs of 500 Serbian households.

Ambitious environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) goals have been set at the level of the entire A1 Telekom Austria Group for 2030, including achieving carbon neutrality, A1 Serbia added.

The company’s green initiatives are aimed at reducing its business carbon footprint, increasing energy efficiency and at environmental protection

“The telecommunications industry has been at the center of technological change for years, and it is our responsibility to be the generator for digitalization. That is why in 2023 we will continue to invest in our network infrastructure, provide state-of-the-art services and solutions, support the development of the digital environment, primarily in the ICT field – where we will perform even stronger, as well as green initiatives in reducing our business carbon footprint, increasing energy efficiency and environmental protection, to which we especially want to contribute by involving the population across Serbia,” said Dejan Turk, Chief Executive Officer of A1 Serbia and A1 Slovenia.

The 4,500 panels at the company’s base stations generated an overall 50 MWh until now. A1 chose Serbian company Enel PS as a contractor for this project, which is implemented according to turnkey delivery model.