By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Vodacom has called for
greater efforts to decarbonise Africa’s information and communications
technology sector while continuing to expand connectivity and advance digital
inclusion across the continent.
The call was made at a
Vodacom-hosted ESG breakfast roundtable in Midrand, where Vodacom Group Chief
Technology Officer Dejan Kastelic opened discussions on the relationship
between Africa’s digital expansion and the energy transition.
The roundtable drew on
findings from the “Decarbonising Africa’s ICT Sector” report and brought
together energy-sector experts and industry partners to examine the
opportunities and challenges involved in reducing emissions from the
continent’s growing ICT infrastructure.
Discussions covered
regulation, economic impacts, technological innovation and partnerships, with
participants highlighting the need for collective action to support a
lower-carbon digital economy.
The session was facilitated
by energy transition research analyst Nick Hedley, with contributions from
Jarredine Morris, Co-Head of Carbon Trust in Africa; Stephen Nicholls, Director
of African Energy Futures; Lebogang Mulaisi, Executive Manager for Policy and
Research at the Presidential Climate Commission; and Nola Richards from
Vodacom’s ESG and Sustainable Business team.
The participants examined
how the ICT sector can contribute to Africa’s broader energy transition while
meeting rising demand for digital connectivity and services.
Vodacom said the expansion
of connectivity presents an opportunity to make Africa’s digital growth more
environmentally sustainable, particularly as the energy requirements of
telecommunications networks and digital infrastructure increase.
The discussions underscored
the importance of coordinated action among governments, businesses,
energy-sector stakeholders and technology companies to reduce the carbon
footprint of ICT infrastructure while ensuring that digital inclusion continues
to advance.
