• Vodacom now sources 100% of its purchased electricity from renewables.
• Energy demand in Africa’s telecom sector is rising with mobile and data growth.
• Renewable energy is seen as key to sustainable, low-carbon network expansion.

Africa’s telecom sector is turning to renewable energy to reduce its carbon footprint as energy needs rise. Vodacom, one of the continent’s largest telecom operators, announced that all electricity it purchases now comes from renewable sources, making it the first multinational telecom firm in Africa to reach this milestone.

This move comes as mobile connectivity, data usage, and digital infrastructure continue to expand rapidly across the continent, driving up energy consumption. In the last fiscal year, Vodacom used 2,076 GWh of energy, including 1,275 GWh in purchased electricity. The company achieved its renewable milestone through a combination of on-site renewable installations, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and renewable energy certificates (RECs), which covered 906 GWh of its network consumption.

Electricity usage, especially for data centers and mobile towers, accounts for most emissions in the telecom sector. According to a KPMG report published in July 2024, titled “Chasing Net Zero: Are the ICT Sector Plans on Track,” technologies such as 5G—which is up to 90% more efficient than 4G—alongside clean energy, are helping operators reduce emissions despite growing traffic.

Africa’s internet usage is increasing fast. The International Telecommunication Union reports average annual internet penetration growth of 16.7% since 2005, twice the global average. But many national electricity grids are overburdened, making it harder to meet the sector’s growing needs.

Decentralized renewable solutions are increasingly seen as a way to secure reliable power while maintaining environmental goals. For telecom companies, this approach is becoming vital to ensure sustainable and resilient network operations.