MTN Uganda has cut its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 45% from its 2021 baseline, bringing the company close to its interim target of a 50% reduction by 2030. The reduction is being delivered through its Project Zero climate initiative as the telecom operator works to reduce the energy footprint of a network that must continue expanding alongside rising mobile and data demand.
A major part of the effort has been the conversion of network infrastructure to renewable energy. MTN Uganda now operates 3,712 green sites powered by solar and hydropower, reducing reliance on diesel generators and conventional grid electricity. At its headquarters, the company has also installed a 490 kWh solar system, demonstrating that the shift is extending beyond telecommunications towers into its wider operational infrastructure.
The company is combining renewable energy with energy-efficiency and technology upgrades. Network equipment, cooling systems and power infrastructure are being upgraded to reduce electricity consumption, while more efficient radios and power-management systems help lower the amount of energy required to carry growing volumes of data. The strategy is therefore not simply about changing where the electricity comes from, but also about reducing how much electricity the network needs.
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MTN Uganda’s progress also reflects a broader shift within the telecom sector. MTN Group has reported a 48% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2021, with renewable-energy projects and solar deployments contributing to the decline across its African operations. The significance is growing as digital infrastructure expands across the continent, creating a challenge for operators to increase connectivity without allowing their energy consumption and emissions to rise at the same pace.
MTN Uganda’s 45% reduction shows that telecom growth does not necessarily have to mean proportional growth in emissions. By combining solar and hydropower with efficiency improvements and more efficient network technology, operators can reduce the carbon intensity of expanding digital infrastructure. For Africa’s rapidly growing telecom sector, the question is increasingly not whether networks will consume more energy, but whether they can grow while consuming cleaner and more efficiently produced energy.
