The AA1000 (AccountAbility1000) standard developed by the non-profit organization Institute of Social and Ethical AccountAbility has the goal of promoting the credibility and quality of sustainability reporting and improving reporting processes and systems. The core element of the modules offered by AA1000 is the integration of stakeholders into the internal sustainability process of the company/organization. To achieve this goal, the standard encourages compliance with three principles 1. Inclusivity: Integration of relevant stakeholders in the development and implementation of CR activities 2. Materiality: Definition of essential topics and their relevance and significance for the organization and its stakeholders 3. Responsiveness: The response to topics which are relevant for its stakeholders within the scope of corresponding actions and activities as well as accompanying communications measures
The access network is the connection between the customer's end device and the Deutsche Telekom network.
ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line)
ADSL for consumer lines: Technology used to transmit data at fast rates (between 16 kbit/s and 640 kbit/s upstream, up to 8 Mbit/s downstream) via standard copper wire pairs in the local loop within a radius of approx. three kilometers. Also see DSL.
ADSL2+: Successor product to ADSL that raises the maximum data rate to 16 Mbit/s downstream and 1 Mbit/s upstream. Also see DSL.
Agile methods are designed to support agile working and to enable continuous adaptations to meet new expectations and requirements.
Agile working enables companies and teams to achieve successful results by adapting to rapid changes and responding quickly.
"Agility" means being able to adapt to new expectations and requirements at any time
All-IP is a data transmission technology enabling all media services such as TV, telephony and Internet to be operated in an IT network that is based on the Internet Protocol (IP). All applications are transmitted in standardized data packets so that devices and services can exchange data and communicate with each other.
The term “ally” refers to people who make use of their privileges to support minorities. They ally themselves with a discriminated group, even though they themselves do not belong to this group.
Annuity funds are funds that invest investors’ money in fixed-rate securities only, which ensures investors a high level of security and a regular income. The annuity does not take the form of a pension but is a regular interest-based income.
App stands for application and denotes any type of application program. In the narrower sense, apps are programs that can be directly downloaded to a smartphone or tablet PC from an online shop. They offer diverse functions such as timetable information, games and translations.
Apple iOS is the operating system for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices by Apple. It is based on the computer operating system Mac OS X.
Associations of local authorities
Associations of local authorities are voluntary associations of cities and municipalities at the state and federal levels. They represent the interests of districts, cities and municipalities. At the federal level the Association of German Cities represents more than 5,700 municipalities. The German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB) comprises 16 state associations, in which some 13,000 small and medium-sized communities are represented. The German County Association (DLT) has 13 regional associations and represents about 70 percent of Germany’s citizens.
ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) is a transmission standard in which data is encoded and transferred in small packets (cells).
An audit is a systematic examination of products, processes or systems. An audit checks whether the quality-related activities and their results correspond to the requirements and are suitable for achieving the set objectives. Audits are performed by internal or external auditors specifically trained for this purpose.
Augmented reality (AR) is based on the interaction of digital and analog worlds. It works by means of cameras or glasses, with additional information being displayed for users. For example, warehouse staff can be shown the shelf where the spare part they are looking for is located.
Autonomous driving means cars do not need any drivers or external interventions. They decide and react fully autonomously, even in emergencies.
Calibration law-compliant charging infrastructure
(Semi-)public charging points that users have to pay for must comply with the German Measurement and Calibration Act (Mess- und Eichgesetz – MessGE) to bill the electricity used to charge vehicles and/or automate the allocation of charging processes to specific users. The purpose of this legislation is to protect consumers, because it sets out traceability requirements relating to the accuracy of measurements.
Investors who want to have permanent access to their money but still receive interest can deposit it with a bank in an instant-access savings account. However, a relatively small amount of interest is paid and the bank can change the interest rate at any time.
In financial accounting, the term capital expenditure (CAPEX) refers to investments in facilities and systems. These also include investments made to maintain existing facilities. CAPEX must be capitalized.
Carbon footprint describes the total of all greenhouse gases that are emitted directly or indirectly within a defined period. A carbon footprint can be calculated for a company, an individual or the life cycle of a product. All relevant emissions, from raw materials extraction to disposal, are included in these calculations.
Students and graduates using the career matcher answer 18 questions to identify their main interests, which are then compared with internship and graduate vacancies at Deutsche Telekom to obtain suggestions for suitable job opportunities.
CDP is an initiative involving more than 822 institutional investors with total investment assets of 95 trillion US dollars (as of 2015). The CDP aims to promote dialog between investors and companies on climate change issues. Currently, some 11,000 (as of 2013) of the world’s largest companies are involved in the project and provide information on their greenhouse gas emissions and climate protection strategies. The CDP collects and publishes the data on an annual basis.
CeBIT (German acronym for Center for Office Automation, Information Technology and Telecommunications) is the world's largest ICT trade fair and takes place annually in Hanover, Germany.
A cogeneration or combined heat and power (CHP) plant is a plant that can generate electricity, heat (hot water, steam) or cold air (absorption or adsorption refrigeration) at the same time. Heat and cold air can be fed into the utility or district heating network. Compared to separate production of electricity at central power plants and using boilers to generate heat, cogeneration plants are more efficient since the waste heat from electricity production can be used directly for other purposes.
Cloud computing describes the use of external IT infrastructures such as computers, memories and networks as well as software such as operating systems and management tools.
The Cloud of Things can be used for the remote control and administration of connected equipment and machinery.
Co-creation is a collaborative process in which we help municipalities transition to smart cities. Our focus is on finding innovative, workable solutions with the aid of design thinking methods. Participation is a key aspect, with municipal authorities, businesses, scientists, and citizens working hand in hand. The first step in the process is to identify and prioritize the challenges faced by a city. This involves establishing goals and considering joint ideas to come up with a solution. Based on this, we develop and test prototypes that are ultimately implemented in the city.
CO2equivalents (CO2e) indicate the greenhouse gas potential of various climate-damaging gases and clarify how much a specific quantity of a greenhouse gas contributes to the greenhouse effect. The reference value used here is carbon dioxide (CO2).
Servers are cooled with cold air to keep them working efficiently. That's why keeping areas with cold air separate from those with warm air is highly reasonable in data centers. Cold aisle containment makes sure that cold air is sent directly to the devices that need it. This cuts data center energy consumption by up to one half. In addition to significant cost savings, this approach also leads to a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions.
Cold aisle containment optimizes data center cooling by keeping warm air and cold air zones strictly separate.
The convenient management of all personal data and Internet services on any screen, whether PC, cell phone or television. Requires secure storage of data in the network, which can then be accessed by all devices via broadband networks.
COP stands for the Conference of the Parties that is held annually under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The 21st UN Climate Conference (COP21) was held in Paris (France) in November/December 2015.
Corporate giving refers to financial donations made by the company to social or ecological projects.
Corporate volunteering describes the voluntary efforts of a company’s employees in the social or ecological domain that are promoted by the employer.
Counterspeech is a deliberate tactic for responding to online hate speech. It aims to encourage the people posting and reading this content to stop and think, turning the dialog into something constructive.
CPE stands for “customer premises equipment” and refers to devices installed on customer premises, in particular modems, routers, repeaters, and TV receivers.
The CR Policy specifies the rights and obligations for the company units and functions. It covers the following areas – governance structures, sustainable business practices, a responsible supply chain, resource and energy efficiency, climate protection, social engagement and involvement in the community, and providing sustainable products and services for our customers. The policy also describes the Group’s CR organization, with the Group Board of Management assuming overall responsibility for CR.
Critical energy infrastructure
The term "critical energy infrastructure" refers to networks, services and facilities whose interruption or destruction would have serious effects on the health, safety, security or economic well-being of the people in a region or state.
Cyber bullying (also known as cyber stalking, e-bullying, etc.) refers to insulting, threatening, compromising or victimizing behavior via modern communication channels such as mobile communications or the Internet.
The data (transmission) rate, colloquially also called the transmission speed, describes the quantity of digital data which can be transmitted within a unit of time. It is measured in bps (bits per second).
DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications)
DECT is a standard for wireless transmission of voice and multimedia data between a base unit and up to eight end devices. This standard ensures high voice quality.
Dematerialization refers to the replacement of tangible products such as letters, photographic prints and CDs with digital files.
Deutsche Telekom has integrated key sustainability aspects into its device packaging policy, which applies throughout Germany. For example, this policy requires package size to be reduced to a minimum, and exclusive use of environmentally friendly materials. All materials used must be fully recyclable, including any plastic materials. Paper and cardboard must comply with the requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council® and be bleached without the use of chlorine. Printing ink needs to be made from vegetable-based oils.
The term refers to the fact that not everyone has the same degree of access to modern digital information and communications technologies (ICT) and for this reason does not have the same opportunities for social and economic development. As a leading ICT enterprise, Deutsche Telekom sees itself responsible for giving people within its sphere of influence broad access to ICT technologies, thus preventing inequality.
The term "digital dividend" refers to the increase in transmission capacity that is achieved by changing over to digital technology. In the course of digitizing TV and radio broadcasts (DVB-T), signals will be transmitted in future over one frequency or one channel. This will free up valuable frequency bands - used to date solely for the transmission of analog signals - for the broadband Internet service.
Responsibility is the usually voluntary assumption of obligations and the assumption of liability for one’s actions. Digital responsibility is the assumption of this responsibility in the digital world, too.
Deutsche Telekom’s Digital School Service offers a holistic IT service concept for all key everyday aspects relating to digital technology in schools (installation, operation, and maintenance).
Direct insurance schemes can be set up to ensure old-age provision for employees. They are financed by employees through deferred compensation schemes or by the employer and manage the assets till subsequent payments are made as old-age pensions.
A technology is referred to as disruptive when it completely or partially replaces current technology and products or services based on that technology.
Diversity scores are key performance indicators that can be used to ascertain a company’s diversity and evaluate the implementation of defined goals and measures.
DJSI (Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes)
Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) are the leading global stock market indexes for sustainable capital investment. They measure and track the sustainability performance of companies. In cooperation with the Dow Jones Indexes, the STOXX Limited Index for Renewable Energy, and the ratings agency Sustainability Asset Management (SAM), they provide asset managers with important benchmarks to establish and manage sustainability portfolios. More than 300 companies are listed on the DJSI.
Double play means that telephony and Internet can both be used via a single access. Deutsche Telekom's Call & Surf rate plans are examples of this.
Downstream means data transmission from the Internet to the user’s computer. Files, for example, are downloaded this way.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
Available in Deutsche Telekom's service portfolio in various forms: ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) for consumer lines: Technology used to transmit data at fast rates (between 16 kbit/s and 640 kbit/s upstream, up to 8 Mbit/s downstream) via standard copper wire pairs in the local loop within a radius of approx. three kilometers. ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) for consumer lines: Technology used to transmit data at fast rates (between 16 kbit/s and 640 kbit/s upstream, up to 8 Mbit/s downstream) via standard copper wire pairs in the local loop within a radius of approx. three kilometers. ADSL2+: Successor product to ADSL that raises the maximum data rate to 16 Mbit/s downstream and 1 Mbit/s upstream. VDSL (Very high bit rate Digital Subscriber Line): VDSL is a new technology used to transmit very high data rates (10 Mbit/s upstream, 50 Mbit/s downstream) over a fiber-optic network.
A DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) is a network device, typically in a switching center, that connects DSL lines. The DSLAM collects DSL data traffic to be transmitted to customers on a local level and, on the other side, establishes the connection to a regional broadband access server. Each individual outlet to a subscriber is referred to as a port. Each port is comprised of a transmission unit and a splitter.
“E-health” covers applications that harness the opportunities offered by modern information and communications technologies (ICT) for treating and providing care to patients. “E-health” is an umbrella term for a wide range of ICT-based applications in which information can be processed electronically, shared via secure data connections, and patient treatment and care processes can be enhanced. This covers areas such as communicating medical data that is made available using electronic health insurance cards, such as emergency data or medication plans, electronic health records, and telemedicine applications.
[Source: Federal Ministry of Health]
The term e-learning refers to all forms of learning that are supported by electronic media such as the Internet.
E-TASC (Electronics Tool for Accountable Supply Chain)
The electronics industry’s information tool – E-TASC – is an innovative tool that helps us to establish transparency with regard to the social and ecological aspects of our supply chains.
The ECO mode is a function involved in wireless data transmission between a base unit and a telephone or computer. In this mode, device transmission power and any associated electromagnetic radiation can be significantly reduced without performance or quality issues.
EcoVadis specializes in auditing companies on the basis of sustainability criteria. Twenty-one criteria are taken into account – from energy consumption and human rights all the way to corruption.
EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution)
Modulation on the air interface to enhance data rates in GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) networks.
EMFs are comprised of a combination of electric and magnetic fields that spread in waves and transport energy. They are a natural phenomenon – light, for example, is an EMF. They are also produced wherever electricity is used, when blow-drying your hair or watching TV, for example. In radio technology, they are produced artificially to transmit information.
The goal of end-of-life management is to recycle materials and resources at the end of a product's life. Its central tasks include not only material and energy recycling but also responsible disposal of residual materials. End-of-life management is a key element in a completely sustainable product lifecycle, and plays a crucial role for ICT products.
Energy performance certificate
The energy performance certificate is used to assess the energy performance of buildings according to the Energy Saving Ordinance (Energieeinsparverordnung—EnEV). The EnEV translates the EC Directive on energy efficiency into national law.
Deutsche Telekom has defined a progressive escalation process to handle cases in which a supplier refuses to undergo audits or provide self-assessments or violates Deutsche Telekom standards. The company classifies the risks associated with the supplier's behavior and develops escalating measures based on the risk category. Measures range from targeted development programs for suppliers, sanctions or even termination of the contractual relationship.
ESG describes a company's conduct from an environmental, social and governance perspective.
EU Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change
The EU Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change (EU CLG) initiative is an association of 18 leading European companies from different industries. As a founding member of the EU CLG, Deutsche Telekom is dedicated to an ambitious, fair agreement on the global reduction of CO2 emissions.
The European Parliament and Council passed the 2009/125/EG directive on October 21, 2009. The directive is commonly referred to as the Ecodesign Directive. It specifies a framework to help companies integrate environmental aspects in the design of energy-consuming products.
The EU taxonomy is a classification system that evaluates business activities in terms of their sustainability, with the focus currently mainly on environmental impacts. It is currently still in the draft phase: For two of a total of six ecological taxonomy goals, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, the EU intends to present technical evaluation criteria before the end of 2021. In order to define specific requirements for contributions to the six goals, the draft classification system is based on the "Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community", NACE (Nomenclature statistique des activités économiques dans la Communauté européenne).
Optical data transmission technology.
“Fiber to the curb” involves laying fiber-optic cables as far as the gray street cabinets. From there we can supply our customers with high bandwidths via existing copper cables.
In the case of a fixed-term deposit, a sum of money is invested with a bank for a fixed period at a fixed interest rate. In most cases, this rate is higher than for the more flexible instant-access account, but the money can only be accessed at the end of the term.
Flash mobs are large groups of people who spontaneously meet in a public or semi-public place for a brief period of time and for a specific purpose. The goal of a flash mob is to raise awareness and promote a specific topic, for example a political idea. They are primarily organized through social networks, blogs, e-mail or cell phones.
Flash-OFDM (Fast Low-latency Access with Seamless Handoff—Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) is a mobile broadband Internet data transmission protocol. It works with microwaves in the 450 MHz frequency range and is not compatible with GSM or UMTS. Data transmission rates cannot exceed 5.1 Mbit/s downlink and 1.8 Mbit/s uplink.
The Forest Steward Council® is an independent, non-profit NGO that was founded in 1993. Its goal is to promote environmentally and socially responsible and economically viable forestry.
Fraud Policy Telekom's Fraud Policy came into effect on February 7, 2006, a policy that combats economic crime and legal offenses throughout the Group. It defines central terms relating to fraud and lays down a number of basic principles for combating fraud. In addition, it lists a catalog of possible violations, and describes measures that must be taken to combat them.
FTE (full-time equivalent) is an indicator used in human resources management. This indicator is used to convert the headcount into full-time positions. Each full-time position is assigned the value of 1.0 FTE. If a company employs 100 part-time employees at 50 percent of the collectively agreed/standard weekly work hours, each of these positions is scored as 0.5 FTEs. The indicator would therefore give a result of 50 FTEs.
FTSE4Good describes a group of stock exchange indexes. They are issued by the company FTSE, a joint venture of the Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange. The FTSE4Good indexes were developed to measure and communicate the performance of companies in accordance with globally recognized standards of corporate responsibility. The aim is to encourage institutional and private investors to invest in companies with responsible business practices. The indexes also represent a comparison base for companies that strive to take a leading role in CR.
FTTB (fiber to the basement or fiber to the building) refers to a mode of connecting homes via fiber optics. Fiber-optic lines are installed into the basement of the customer's building, for example. Available gas or water pipes can be used, eliminating the need for expensive underground construction works. Data transmission within the building itself continues to be conducted to the customer's apartment via the available copper lines or VDSL technology.
Fiber-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC) means that a fiber-optic line is installed up to a point close to the subscriber. For the last section up to the subscriber drop, the signal is transferred to copper cable.
As part of our efforts, we are using FTTC (fiber to the curb) technology and are expanding FTTH (fiber to the home) as well. In the scope of the FTTC expansion, fiber optics are laid to the gray street cabinets on the curb. From there we can supply our customers with large bandwidths via existing infrastructure by means of super vectoring. With FTTH, the fiber-optic cables are taken right into the customer’s home.
FTTH describes the installation of fiber-optic cables up into a subscriber’s home. With FTTH, Internet speeds in both directions of up to 50 Mbit/s can be achieved. The customer can simultaneously receive several HDTV programs as well as use the Internet and several phone lines.
Assets such as shares and bonds are combined in funds. This means investors who invest their money in a fund are investing in a range of assets, thereby reducing the risk of losses.
The gateway administrator of a smart meter is responsible for configuring, monitoring and controlling the smart meter gateway, which is the smart meter's communication element.
The Germany segment includes all the Deutsche Telekom units in Germany, which are under the German Board of Management. This refers to Telekom Deutschland GmbH, including the service companies and the new companies in consumer and business customer sales.
GHG Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol)
The GHG Protocol is a globally recognized tool for quantifying and managing greenhouse gas emissions. Enterprises increasingly use the GHG Protocol to manage greenhouse gas emissions as part of their corporate social responsibility strategy. Emissions are divided into the Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 categories, depending on the degree to which they can be influenced by the reporting company. Scope 1 accounts for all direct GHG emissions. Scope 2 accounts for indirect emissions associated with the generation of electricity, steam, or heat purchased from external sources. Scope 3 applies to all other indirect emissions.
The abbreviation “GIF” stands for “Graphics Interchange Format”, which makes it possible to save several overlaid individual images in a single file. It can be used to create short animations that are uploaded and shared online. The term “GIF” is now often used to refer to amusing animated video clips, even if they are not actually in this format.
The term gigabit society refers to the trend toward increasing use of mobile Internet. The mobile data volume in Germany totaled 0,22 million gigabytes in 2005. By 2014 it had shot up to 393 million gigabytes.
Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI)
As an industry association, the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) has a vision of making society greener and more climate-friendly with the help of ICT solutions.
Google Android is an operating system for smartphones, cell phones, netbooks and tablets that was developed by the Open Handset Alliance. Google is the most important member of this alliance.
GPON stands for Gigabit Passive Optical Network and enables transmission rates in the Gbit/s range. This standard makes it possible to transfer multiple very high-rate connections on one branched optical fiber across large distances. It is used in the access network.
GPP (Global Procurement Policies and Practices)
Procurement and the management of supplier relationships constitute a significant part of Deutsche Telekom’s corporate responsibility. To ensure that purchasing/procurement practice at Deutsche Telekom is sustainable, its management board put a comprehensive set of procurement principles, the GPP, into force in 2009.
GPRS/EDGE (General Packet Radio Service/Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) is a widespread 2nd generation mobile communications technology. EDGE accelerated GPRS services, enabling data rates of up to 473 kbit/s. Today, GPRS/EDGE is frequently being replaced by 3rd and 4th generation mobile communications technology.
GPS stands for Global Positioning System and is a satellite navigation system for geographical positioning and measuring time. It was developed in the 1970s by the U.S. Department of Defense and is now also being used for civilian purposes. Nowadays, GPS is also a component of cell phones.
In our Green Car Policy, we have committed ourselves to a CO2-based selection process for company cars. Employees who choose a particularly low-consumption model receive a bonus based on the fuel cost savings. In contrast, drivers of high-consumption vehicles must make a financial contribution for the increased mobility costs and greater environmental impact.
According to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (Erneuerbare Energien Gesetz—EEG), electricity suppliers are obligated to help finance the remuneration paid for electricity fed into the grid from renewable sources. A levy is imposed to subsidize the fixed price payable for the supply of renewable energy. However, electricity suppliers that generate at least 50 percent of their electricity from renewable sources do not need to pay the EEG levy. This exemption is referred to as the "green energy privilege."
The term Green ICT refers to the efforts toward designing environmentally friendly and resource-efficient ICT products over their entire life cycle – from product design and production to usage and recycling.
The Group Situation Center (GSC) is a fundamental component of Deutsche Telekom’ s crisis and emergency management. As the central point of contact for all employees, it serves as an information hub in the event of all kinds of threats for the Group.
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)
Global standard for digital mobile communications.
A hackathon (formed from “hack” and “marathon”) is an event for collectively developing software. The aim is to encourage participants to jointly develop useful, creative, or entertaining software products during the time available.
High-frequency electromagnetic fields
High-frequency electromagnetic fields are EMFs in the 100 kilohertz to 300 gigahertz range. In everyday life they occur primarily during wireless information transmission for radio and TV broadcasting, mobile communications and other communication technologies.
When connecting multiple devices in a customer's home to the Internet, it does not make sense to connect each device separately. A home gateway, such as a DSL router, is used instead. The gateway assigns specific services to each device and/or enables access to these devices, connecting the local area network (LAN) to a larger network.
In compliance management, hospitality is subject to strict regulations governing the acceptance of gifts and benefits that have a monetary value.
HotSpot is the term for an area where customers can access the Internet using public wireless local area networks (WLANs). HotSpots are realized jointly by T-Home and T-Mobile.
Interface between HR and operational business
HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access)
Packet-based protocol that enhances data rates in UMTS networks and lifts transmission speeds into the megabit range.
HSE (health, safety and environmental management system)
HSE denotes comprehensive health, safety and environmental management systems. Based on various management standards such as ISO 14001 (environmental management) and OHSAS 18001 (occupational safety and health), HSE provides tools for continually improving a company's performance.
HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access)
HSUPA technology accelerates data upstreaming from mobile devices into the network and significantly reduces transfer durations (ping time). This makes HSUPA the ideal complement to HSDPA on the T-Mobile network. Together, HSDPA and HSUPA ensure that users on the move can access the Internet or intranet while experiencing a similar level of user comfort as with fixed-network DSL.
ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection)
ICNIRP is an international association of scientists who are researching the effect of non-ionizing radiation on people’s health. The association, headquartered in Germany, is associated with the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection but is legally independent from the latter organization.
ICT (Information and Communication Technology)
Information and communication technology.
The IDW PS 821 standard of the Institute of Public Auditors in Germany ensures that report contents correspond to the information needs of the target groups. The reporting organization can base its reporting on the criteria of the GRI, OECD or ILO or on its own list of criteria. These criteria must be classified as suitable by the auditor and be used to test completeness.
Reporting in compliance with the IFRS International Financial Reporting Standards.
ILO (International Labour Organization)
The ILO (International Labour Organization) was founded in 1919 and has been a specialized agency of the United Nations with its headquarters in Geneva since 1946. 182 states around the world are ILO members. They delegate government representatives as well as employer and employee representatives. The object of ILO is to advance the working and living conditions of all people in order to secure world peace. To this end, legally binding treaties and conventions as well as labor and social standards have been drawn up. The member states report regularly to the ILO on implementation of the treaties, and on the status of their national legislation relating to labor law and industrial safety legislation. On this basis, the ILO regularly compiles the Global 100 list of the world's most sustainable companies from the 1,800 corporate groups listed on the MSCI World index.
Immissions are noises, vibrations, air pollution, heat, radiation and similar environmental effects that impact people, animals, plants or objects.
A share index is a figure indicating the change in value of a group of shares. A sustainability index is subject to environmental or ethical selection criteria. Like any other stock market index, it covers a range of shares and securities. However, a sustainability index lists only companies that have particularly good environmental, social, and ethical credentials.
Industry 4.0 is an initiative launched by the German federal government that aims to contribute to maintaining Germany's competitive edge in the technology sector. Industry 4.0, or Industrial Internet, means that intelligent machines can communicate with each other, improving work processes without human intervention and facilitating machine operation.
The Swiss rating agency uses its own sustainability ratings to create "investment universes," e.g., the "Futura Global Stock" fund issued by Switzerland's Raiffeisen banks.
The Internet of Things refers to connecting objects to the internet to enable them to communicate autonomously online and thus to perform various tasks. Everyday objects are transformed into smart objects that react to their surroundings and can communicate with each other through data streams (e.g. a smart home).
IP stands for Internet Protocol and is a data encryption system for data exchange over the Internet.
Each computer that is connected to the Internet has a clearly identifiable, numeric address, the IP address, comprising four sequences of digits that are separated by periods, e.g., 217.247.84.89 (example: T-Online). Static IP addresses enable the same computer to be contacted under the same address at any time (e.g., by a web server). Dynamic IP addresses are used, for example, when T-Online customers dial into an Internet connection. Each customer receives an available IP address, but not the same one each time.
IP radio-relay systems are used to transmit data across large distances via radio relay. Data is transmitted in separate packets using the Internet Protocol (IP). In radio-relay systems, special directional antennas are used to focus radio waves and transmit them in a certain direction, and to receive them accordingly.
The ISAE 3000 standard of the International Federation of Accountants provides an international framework for testing non-financial information and can therefore also be used for sustainability reports. The principles of materiality, relevance and integrity are applied to the object under test, which is specified by the customer and the auditor in advance.
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
Integrated Serviced Digital Network ISDN integrates telecommunications services such as telephone, fax, and data communications in a single network. ISDN digitizes the data, which improves transmission quality, enhances transmission speed compared to the previous analog transmission system, and enables packet-switched transmission.
ISO 50001 is a global standard for operation of energy management systems at companies.
ISO 9001 is an international standard that specifies minimum standards according to which processes must be configured in a company. This ensures that customers receive the expected quality. ISO 9001 concerns the quality and reliability of services and deliveries but is not a product certification.
Project to make personnel costs and remuneration structures transparent at national companies throughout the Group
LGBTI stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersexual (the asterisk * indicates that no one is excluded). It covers people with a variety of sexual orientations and forms of identity. LGBT, LGBTQ, and LGBTQI+ are other commonly used acronyms.
Load management refers to targeted measures to adapt power requirements to the available capacities. Such measures are used in both the electricity and mobility sectors – when charging electric cars, for instance.
Load shifting can be used within a smart grid to reduce the load on power lines during peak load times. To do this, ICT is used to schedule power consumption, e.g. by switching on appliances such as washing machines or charging electric car batteries during off-peak periods. Load shifting results in lower costs if using flexible power rates and precise billing periods. Consumption of electricity can also be more effectively adjusted to fluctuating sun and wind energy, which is becoming more frequent as a result of the switchover to renewable energy sources in Germany.
Energy-efficient operation of equipment such as data centers or network nodes. In load-adaptive operation, only those components that are actually needed at that moment to process current data traffic are activated.
Location-based values are determined using the average emission factors of the area where power is being consumed.
The term “low-carbon society” refers to a scenario for future development of the world economy in which greenhouse gas emissions, above all CO2 emissions, are greatly reduced in order to slow down the ongoing climate change. Increased efficiency based on the use of innovative information and communication technologies can play a vital role in this field.
Low-frequency electromagnetic fields
Low-frequency electrical and magnetic fields (between 1 hertz and 100 kilohertz) are primarily generated by technical applications. Electrical and magnetic fields that are significant in everyday life are mainly generated by power supply, household appliances and electrical installations.
LTE – Long Term Evolution
New generation of 4G mobile communications technology using, for example, wireless spectrum on the 800 MHz band freed up by the digitalization of television. Powerful TV frequencies enable large areas to be covered with far fewer radio masts. LTE supports speeds of over 100 Mbit/s downstream and 50 Mbit/s upstream, and facilitates new services for cell phones, smartphones, and tablets.
Market-based values relate to the emission factors of the electricity supplier or specific electricity contract.
Materiality is a basic principle in CR and financial reporting. The concept of materiality makes sure that a company's situation and performance are presented appropriately and in balance. Instead of trying to identify the materiality of topics on their own, companies need to engage in dialog with their stakeholders to find out which topics matter the most. To do this, Deutsche Telekom conducts a systematic materiality process.
Mbit/s (megabits per second)
Unit of data transmission speed.
The “Media, sure! But secure.” website pools our initiatives for greater media skills and provides support for proficient and secure use of digital media.
Meet & Connect Hubs are modern-day workspaces – meeting places where teams come together to collaborate creatively. Cutting-edge technical equipment also makes these hubs ideal for hybrid working, with various modules such as desk sharing zones, meeting rooms, workshop sections, and chill areas.
Memes are photos or videos of well-known people, situations, etc. that have attracted media attention. Comments often change the original sense or meaning. Successful memes are widely shared by internet users and go viral.
Unlike a macro analysis, a micro analysis does not look at how an indicator has developed, e,g., whether a limit has been exceeded, but at the causes of that development.
The Minamata Convention will take effect under the United Nations Environment Programme in 2020. From 2020, the highly toxic heavy metal mercury is to disappear from all light sources. Some 128 nations – including Germany – have already undertaken to abstain from using mercury.
Mobility as a Service (MaaS)
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) combines public and private transportation offerings via a single access portal. The entire journey is booked, organized, and invoiced via a single portal, even when different suppliers and modes of transportation are selected.
MPEI (Monetary Power Efficiency Indicator)
The Monetary Power Efficiency Indicator (MPEI) is the ratio between a company's energy consumption and its annual revenues and enables an assessment of the company's energy management independent of market developments.
Multipurpose hardware or multipurpose systems refer to standard servers or switches as they are used in IT/computing technology at data centers. They can run different types of functions (just like a normal standard workstation computer can run different programs) unlike other highly specialized devices used in telecommunications networks, which are designed and optimized for very specific functions. Multipurpose systems are said to be particularly effective when it comes to more cost-efficient operation and greater agility and speed in providing new services.
Devices equipped with the new NarrowBand IoT (NB-IoT) network technology offer a long range and battery life. Consequently, this technology creates the basis for innovative cost- and energy-efficient applications.
Nearshore sites are cost-effective sites outside the home country that are nevertheless nearby. Examples relating to Germany include Poland, Romania, and Ukraine.
The Network Enforcement Act (Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz – NetzDG) entered into force on October 1, 2017. It aims to combat hate crime, fake news, and other unlawful content on social network platforms more effectively. Examples of such content include libel, slander, defamation, public incitement to commit criminal acts, hate speech, intimidation, and the depiction of violence.
Network nodes are devices that connect two or more transmission paths of a telecommunication network with each other.
NGN (Next Generation Network)
In the classic architecture of modern telephone networks, voice and data connections are routed via different technical platforms. The aim of a next generation network is to combine both functions to provide integrated voice and data services. NGNs are based entirely on IP technology.
With NGO Radar, we chart the various publications of NGOs that have to do with the topic of sustainability. In this way we can identify (new) issues and intensifying issues early on and, if needed, react to them.
Notice and takedown policy
A notice and takedown policy is a policy that requires online service providers to delete illegal content upon being notified of such content. This can apply to slander or violation of copyright, for example.
PASM (Power and Air Condition Solution Management GmbH) is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG. PASM is responsible for procuring, provisioning and delivering power, including the associated support services, within the Group.
PCF (Product Carbon Footprint)
The term "product carbon footprint" is defined and used differently by at the international level. In the given context, the term means the balance of greenhouse gas emissions along the entire life cycle of a product in a defined application and related to a defined unit of use.
Pension funds in Germany are a type of company pension scheme that can be set up by an employer. Unlike direct insurance schemes, up to 90 percent of a German pension fund’s assets can be invested in shares.
Pooling services involve combining journeys with similar routes – with minor detours – so as to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads.
POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) is a corruption of the technical term, PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) for analog telephone service, which is outdated in most areas. The term has become standard technical jargon. POTS is used to refer to any service feature that could already be used in analog networks.
The power-down mode is a defined state of a microprocessor in which its executing units and caches are switched off and do not use any power. The mode helps reduce stand-by power consumption.
Privacy by design basically means that appropriate technical and organizational measures and procedures shall be implemented to guarantee that data privacy and the user's private sphere are taken into account when developing new technology. These measures and procedures are designed to make sure the user's private sphere is protected and that users have control over their own information. Companies can also use privacy by design to give themselves a competitive advantage. The idea is that users who are debating between two products will choose the product that offers higher data privacy.
A prototype is an initial design/version of a product. It is a trial model whose functions serve the relevant purposes but is often simplified, and is produced for testing a product or process. The prototype is used to examine a product’s suitability and also acceptance by potential customers.
Public key infrastructure
A system that can generate digital certificates.
PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness)
The PUE factor (PUE: Power Usage Effectiveness) is an indicator of improved efficiency at data centers and fixed-line nodes. It compares all of the electricity used by a data center/node to the electricity used by IT. A PUE factor of 2.0, for example, means that the total amount of power used at the facility is twice as high as the amount of electricity consumed by the servers. The power not consumed by the servers is primarily used for cooling and to operate the converters.
RECS (Renewable Energy Certificates System)
RECS was introduced in 2002 to promote the development of renewable energy sources at the international level. The system now operates in 24 countries in Europe as well as in Canada, the U.S. and South Africa. The standard certificate awarded by RECS guarantees that identifiable amounts of electrical energy are supplied from specific regenerative sources, thus making regenerative, CO2-neutral energy freely tradable. Procurement of these certificates when buying energy means that the quantities purchased can be traced directly to the certificate acquirer.
Rectifiers are used in electrical engineering and electronics to convert AC (alternating current) into DC (direct current).
Relative energy consumption
In contrast to absolute energy consumption, the relative energy consumption is calculated in relation to a specified reference value. This may be the number of consumers, for example, or a company's revenues.
Remote control connection
A remote control connection is used to transmit electronic data across large distances, e.g., via satellite. For example, it is used in network control systems to transfer network data between the switch and a control unit.
Responsible Business Alliance
The Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) is a nonprofit organization that includes companies from the electronics, trade, automotive, and toy industries. Its goal is the worldwide support of the rights and well-being of workers and associations that are part of the global electronics supply chain or are affected by it. RBA members are obligated to uphold a common code of conduct and make use of a series of training and evaluation instruments in order to further continual improvement of their supply chain regarding social, ecological and ethical aspects.
Sharing rides by app is becoming increasingly popular in urban environments. A subform of ride sharing is ride pooling. Ride pooling means that an algorithm ensures passengers with similar destinations are brought together efficiently, so that passengers do not have to organize themselves.
A feature of cellular mobile communications networks that ensures that activated mobile stations remain accessible, regardless of location, in all radio cells of the entire area served by the network. Roaming can also include similar networks run by different operators, as is the case with international roaming within the pan-European GSM system.
RobecoSAM is an international asset manager specializing in sustainability investing. Within the scope of their Corporate Sustainability Assessment, RobecoSAM analyzes the sustainability performance of 2,800 listed companies each year.
RRH/RRU systems (Remote Radio Head/Remote Radio Unit)
RRH or RRU systems are used for weatherproof installation of transmission and receiver systems directly onto antenna masts for mobile communications. They need only a short high-frequency line to connect the antenna, which allows reduced transmission power and increased efficiency.
Salary sacrifice scheme for bicycles
Since 2015, we have offered our employees in Germany the chance to purchase a bicycle or e-bike as a green and healthy alternative through salary sacrifice schemes. With the support of Telekom MobilitySolutions, employees can lease a bicycle through their employer for three years. The monthly payments are subtracted from the employee’s gross salary. Since 2018, employees have also had the option of obtaining a second bicycle through salary sacrifice schemes.
SAM Research AG (Sustainable Asset Management Research AG)
The SAM research team assesses the sustainability performance of more than 2,000 enterprises all over the world. Its assessments form the compilation basis for the Dow Jones World Index and the Dow Jones STOXX Index (Europe).
SAR stands for specific absorption rate – a measure of the electromagnetic fields absorbed by the body. It is expressed in watts per kilogram of body weight.
SAR (Specific Absorption Rate)
SAR is measured in watts per kilogram of body weight. It is a measure of the rate at which electromagnetic energy is absorbed and converted to body heat. The SAR levels of all mobile phones sold by T-Mobile comply with the limits set out in international guidelines, and generally fall well below them.
The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol divides emissions into the Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 categories, depending on the degree to which they can be influenced by the reporting company: Scope 1 accounts for all direct GHG emissions. Scope 2 accounts for indirect emissions associated with the generation of electricity, steam, or heat purchased from external sources. Scope 3 allows for the treatment of all other indirect emissions associated with logistics, use of materials, supplies, and waste disposal, including emissions generated by service and manufacturing companies working for the reporting company and their upstream suppliers.
The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol divides emissions into the Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 categories, depending on the degree to which they can be influenced by the reporting company: Scope 1 accounts for all direct GHG emissions. Scope 2 accounts for indirect emissions associated with the generation of electricity, steam, or heat purchased from external sources. Scope 3 allows for the treatment of all other indirect emissions associated with logistics, use of materials, supplies, and waste disposal, including emissions generated by service and manufacturing companies working for the reporting company and their upstream suppliers.
The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol divides emissions into the Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 categories, depending on the degree to which they can be influenced by the reporting company: Scope 1 accounts for all direct GHG emissions. Scope 2 accounts for indirect emissions associated with the generation of electricity, steam, or heat purchased from external sources. Scope 3 allows for the treatment of all other indirect emissions associated with logistics, use of materials, supplies, and waste disposal, including emissions generated by service and manufacturing companies working for the reporting company and their upstream suppliers.
Scoris SiRi (Scoris Sustainable Investment Research International)
scoris GmbH is the German partner of SiRi (Sustainable Investment Research International Company Ltd.). scoris last compiled a sustainability rating of all DAX 30 companies in November 2007 (scoris DAX 30 study). Numerous investors see the SiRi database, with its overview of internationally relevant data on sustainable investment, as the basis for their investment decisions. scoris GmbH changed its name in February 2009 and is now known as Sustainalytics GmbH.
Shares are holdings in a company (a stock corporation) and give investors a small interest in this company. These investors receive a share of the company’s profits by way of a dividend and can help decide the items on the agenda at the annual general meeting.
Central departments at Deutsche Telekom. These bundle similar processes from different areas of the company and provide them to the entire Group as centralized, consolidated services.
Simple language is a special form of communication that is particularly easy to understand. Its purpose is to make it easier for people who, for various reasons, have limited language skills, to understand texts and make information more accessible. Simple language uses sentences with simple structures (no minor clauses) and tries to keep information concise and specific. Terms such as pre-paid or PIN are explained in detail and abbreviations like MMS are even written out.
Single RAN (Radio Access Network)
Single RAN (Radio Access Network) is a radio access network technology that digitally controls the radio connections of different mobile communications standards (2G, 3G, 4G) on one platform.
The acronym SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, time-bound – five criteria that help define a goal in concrete terms and realize it.
A smart grid is a power grid that uses information and communication technology (M2M = machine-to-machine communication) to collect data automatically and then respond to that data in order to improve the efficiency, reliability, cost-efficiency and sustainability of energy production and distribution.
The term "smart home" refers to connecting building technology and household equipment as well as entertainment electronics. This lets users control lighting, heating and other electrical devices via their smartphone.
The service consists of the reading, processing, presentation, and billing of electricity and water consumption, and other meters in industry and homes. Smart metering reduces costs considerably and paves the way for a mass-marketable service. In particular, it gives energy providers, meter operators, and the housing sector the opportunity to offer their customers innovative products and services, as it delivers consumption data virtually in real time.
Smishing is when cybercriminals send fraudulent text messages to get recipients to reveal personal or financial information.
In order to embrace the Deutsche Telekom values throughout our procurement processes, special assessment procedures, known as social audits, are held on a regular basis. The key components of these social audits are: Risk assessment, supplier self-assessment, internal supplier assessment, personal contact and constructive dialog with suppliers and business partners, audit report, including audit rating
Social business is an economic concept whereby businesses follow the goal of solving social problems. At the same time, investors forego dividends from their investments. Profits are reinvested into the project as social gains.
Deutsche Telekom's Social Charter, which was adopted in 2003, sets out rules that must be followed throughout the company in the areas of human rights, the environment, equal opportunities, health and safety, and the right to set up and join a trade union. It is based on the principles of the United Nations Global Compact as well as on the conventions of ILO and OECD.
A speak-up culture is a company culture where team members are motivated to freely share their ideas, opinions, and concerns.
Split air-conditioning units have an external unit (capacitor/compressor) and an internal unit that is connected via refrigerant pipes (evaporator). VRV (Variable Refrigerant Volume) or VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) units make it possible to regulate the temperature in a building by changing the cooled volume or flow rate.
SPWG (Sustainable Procurement Working Group)
To ensure the implementation of a sustainable, universal procurement strategy, Deutsche Telekom set up the Group-wide Sustainable Procurement Working Group (SPWG) in 2007. The Working Group is the central point of contact for all issues and problems relating to sustainable procurement. The SPWG’s primary aims include clearly mapping out a corresponding procurement profile, devising exacting social and environmental standards as well as monitoring the procurement process in accordance with these standards.
SRI (Socially Responsible Investments)
Socially responsible investment (SRI) refers to an investment strategy that is based not only on income potential but also on ethical considerations.
The stakeholder approach is an extension of the shareholder value concept widely used in business management. In contrast to the shareholder value principle, which focuses on the needs and expectations of a company's shareholders, the stakeholder approach attempts to view the company in the context of its overall social background and reconcile the needs of the different stakeholders. In addition to shareholders, stakeholders include staff, customers, suppliers, the government, and the public at large.
With its comprehensive “Statement on Extractives,” Deutsche Telekom intensified its commitment to responsible raw materials extraction in 2009. In this context, the company also formulated a clear position on the “Coltan issue.”
STEM is an abbreviation that is made up of the first letters of the words “science”, “technology”, “engineering”, and “mathematics.”
STOXX Global ESG Leaders is a stock index that assesses companies based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria. The index is based on a comprehensive list of sustainability criteria and allows investors to flexibly weight individual criteria.
Sustainability indices measure and track the sustainability performance of companies. Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) are the leading global stock market indices for sustainable capital investment. More than 300 companies are listed on the DJSI. In cooperation with the Dow Jones Indices, the STOXX Limited Index for Renewable Energy, and the ratings agency Sustainability Asset Management (SAM), they provide asset managers with important benchmarks to establish and manage sustainability portfolios.
Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals are 17 goals for sustainable development that the member states of the United Nations adopted in 2015.
The T-Laboratories are a research and development institute that Deutsche Telekom opened in Berlin in 2005. It is an affiliated institute of Technische Universität Berlin and gives top scientists from all over the world the chance to work in an attractive research environment. The institute’s work focuses on the development of innovative services and solutions for Deutsche Telekom customers.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference hosted in Paris in 2015 saw the launch of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), which sets out to develop voluntary, consistent climate-related financial risk disclosures. In 2017, the TCFD published specific recommendations for putting these disclosures into practice, which companies can use as a guideline to inform investors, lenders, insurers, and other interest groups about the risks climate change presents for their business model.
The total cost of ownership approach is used during product development. To understand customers’ purchasing decisions, the total costs associated with a product – from purchase and usage all the way through to disposal – are taken into account.
TDM (Time Division Multiplex) is a method used for transmitting signals and messages in which data is compiled and then transmitted as bundled data.
TZ Darmstadt is one of the most important business and technology parks in Germany. Roughly 25 ultra-modern building projects featuring unique architecture were completed there on an area of around 50 acres in 2014. Deutsche Telekom commissioned CORPUS SIREO to manage the property.
The Telekom Innovation Pool (TIP) is a Deutsche Telekom investment fund for financing investments and start-ups that have a strategic focus and demonstrate clear collaboration with the Group’s business managers.
TESS relay services are available throughout Germany for people with impaired hearing. Call interpreting is available in sign language (TeSign) and in written language (TeScript). Emergency calls are received by an interpreter and forwarded to the responsible control center.
Thin clients are workstations whose operating system and software are located on central servers. Thin clients only run software that is required for accessing the applications hosted centrally.
Three-pronged innovation strategy
Our "three-pronged innovation strategy" is designed to generate growth from innovation in three different ways: through in-house developments, partnerships and equity investments. The central focus is placed on benefit for our customers.
We are committed to continuing to drive forward fiber-optic network expansion using micro-trenching. This method uses milling technology to form narrow trenches and grooves in asphalt. It requires little space, is around four times faster than conventional methods, and enables rapid completion of fiber-optic routes. Excavation work is eliminated in many areas. Shorter excavation times minimize the disturbance for companies and local residents caused by construction sites.
TRI*M (Measure, Manage, Monitor)
TRI*M stands for measuring, managing, and monitoring. Numerous large companies use this international analysis system to measure customer satisfaction. Each year, the independent TNS market research institute interviews around 20,000 consumers and business customers at Deutsche Telekom in Germany. This involves assessing our performance, the intention to continue use and recommend to others, and the competitive edge of our offerings. The results are presented in the TRI*M index.
Triple play is a marketing term that has been in use in telecommunications since around 2005 to refer to combined offers of three services: audio-visual entertainment (television, video on-demand), (IP) telephony and Internet.
Twitch is a live streaming video portal that enables players to share and comment on videos – or games – in real time.
Twitter is a website through which short messages are disseminated in real time. Private individuals, organizations, companies and media enter their tweets here, which are text messages containing 140 characters or less.
The value rates offered by T-Mobile USA are mobile communications services that are not tied to purchasing an end device or other advance payment.
VDSL represents a novel data transmission technology based on fiber optics. With VDSL, significantly higher transmission rates can be achieved for short distances than with transmission through normal telephone lines.
Vectoring (VDSL2 vectoring) is a control technology that minimizes mutual interference caused by neighboring DSL lines. Vectoring considerably increases the speed of data transmission via copper lines, making it possible to offer higher bandwidths cost-efficiently.
Vectoring / super vectoring
Super vectoring compensates for electromagnetic interference that arises between the copper lines on the way to households. This enables significantly faster data transmission, with speeds of up to 250 Mbit/s. The technology for this is installed in cable distribution boxes.
Vigeo is one of the leading rating agencies for CR analyses in Europe. Vigeo's SRI products include ESI (Ethibel Sustainability Index) and the ASPI Eurozone Index (Advanced Sustainable Performance Indices). The latter rates 120 of Europe's leading sustainability performers.
Virtualizing data centers enables flexible IT management, which increases adaptability, allows dynamic responses and can tangibly minimize the complexity of a data center's infrastructure. Computing and storage capacity can only be used truly efficiently once they have been virtualized. Instead of providing physical machines for customers, services and corporate applications, a virtualized IT landscape provides virtual resources that meet the capacities needed at that moment.
VPN (virtual private network)
A virtual private network (VPN) includes solutions that enable remote access to applications and shared resources without the VPN partner having a specific connection to the network. A VPN only ensures secure access to certain services from the other network.