CR Facts provides background information on corporate responsibility (CR) and sustainability issues at Deutsche Telekom.
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Talent acquistion
For the third year in a row, the Corona crisis has had a massive impact on the world of work. In addition, society faces other challenges: the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February 2022 has made the world more uncertain, and the energy crisis, supply shortages and inflation are felt by everyone in their daily lives. These changes affect all areas of life and move people to want to make the world a better place. Candidates not only want a secure job, but also a sense of purpose in their work, self-fulfillment, continuous development and a contribution to society and the environment.
That is why we have redefined our employer brand in order to attract talented people to Telekom in the face of the known shortage of skilled workers and to convince them to follow their future path with us. For us, there is no specific destination at the end of the journey, but it is a journey that enables talents to realize their ambitions and grow together with us. With a global network of experts, our employees are part of the ever-evolving digital transformation, driving sustainable change and their skills. We call it Growthtopia. The times we live in demand that we express our shared values and that we stand together in the struggle for fairness and equal treatment. With target group-specific messages, authentic communication and the hashtag #QuestionTodayCreateTomorrow, we show what change means to us and what opportunities talents can discover at Deutsche Telekom.
Internet access on planes
Together with satellite company Inmarsat, Deutsche Telekom is offering the fastest inflight broadband service for European travelers.
The European Aviation Network (EAN) has been developed by Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom in partnership with leading European companies such as Thales, Nokia, Airbus, and Cobham. It marks a paradigm shift in the airline passenger experience, with incomparable speeds, uninterrupted coverage and significantly lower latency than any other inflight Wi-Fi network in the continent.
The award-winning connectivity solution has been available to over 85 million passengers to date, travelling on more than 650.000 flights throughout Europe, covering key destinations such as London, Madrid, Barcelona, Geneva and Rome. EAN has now been activated in 275 aircraft and is currently available with British Airways, Iberia, Vueling and Aegean Airlines.
Promotion of women in STEM professions#
Diversity is an integral part of our corporate culture, this is why we are increasingly trying to attract talented women to our company with target-group-specific speeches. As part of our partnership with Femtec, a cooperation of large well-known companies, the Fraunhofer Institute and major German technical universities (TU) as well as the ETH Zurich, which have set themselves the goal of finding and promoting young female STEM talents, we are hosting the Innovation Lab this year. The project topic is to develop a technically innovative solution for green, sustainable mobile sites - which almost 20 international female Femtec women have chosen.
With the Femtec Alumnae network, a 6-week training programme took place in the areas of artificial intelligence, leadership and agile working. 60 female IT experts or managers with 2-6 years of professional experience participated in the virtual expert sessions. We are also involved with Global Digital Women, an international network of female shapers in the digital industry.
All-round security for life in the digital world
Since the the Computerhilfe Plus service launch in 2016, the demand for support in matters related to digital security has continued to grow. That’s why we introduced the Digital Schutzpaket (Digital Protection Package) in 2018 and added the Digital Schutzpaket Business (Business Digital Protection Package) to this product at the end of 2019. The Digital Protection Package combines all relevant security services in one product and offers a central point of contact for all topics related to home networks and Wi-Fi, internet, and social media. A service number provides access to Deutsche Telekom experts for support on protecting the home network from external attacks, or help on the secure use of the internet, social networks, and passwords. In the event of data loss, we look after recovering files where possible. Other service components include financial protection from fraudulent use of bank details, fraud in private online trading, and protection and effective countermeasures against cyberbullying or insults on the internet. For business customers, reputation protection is also included, which supports the deletion of unstable negative ratings and provides tips on maintaining online reputation. ID-Alarm helps customers protect their digital identity and alerts them when stolen login data is found.
Action in case of violations of data protection rules, legal obligations/regulations and policies
With our global data privacy organization, we are constantly working to provide a transparent and high level of data privacy in all our companies. As far as legally possible, the companies of the Deutsche Telekom Group have also committed themselves to the Binding Corporate Rules Privacy (BCRP), which are intended to ensure a uniformly high level of data privacy for our products and services. Violations of behavioral requirements, legal provisions, internal guidelines (such as the Binding Corporate Rules Privacy BCRP) and regulations can have serious consequences not only for individuals personally, but also for Deutsche Telekom. Therefore, on the basis of the Deutsche Telekom Code of Conduct, reproachable deliberate misconduct will not be tolerated. Deutsche Telekom sanctions such misconduct and violations consistently and without exception within the framework of the legal provisions, without taking into account the rank and position of the acting and affected person.
The Internet of Things
Machines and products are constantly becoming smarter. The technologies that make these developments possible are bundled under the term Internet of Things, or IoT.
IoT can help ideally coordinate the processes of various devices, vehicles, and entire industrial facilities. This increases industrial productivity and ensures efficient logistics, thus helping reduce energy consumption and conserve resources.
We also support the German federal government’s Industry 4.0 initiative through our involvement in IoT. The initiative’s objective is to maintain Germany’s competitive edge in the technology sector.
Digital Solutions: Connected Car – preventing traffic jams with connected cars
T-Systems has been developing and operating Daimler’s Connected Car platform (Daimler vehicle backend) worldwide since 2013. The platform is the technical basis for the Live Traffic service, which provides drivers with real-time traffic information, Live Traffic prevents about 30 percent of traffic jams per vehicle. This means the approximately 24 million vehicles equipped with Live Traffic consumed about 26 million liters less fuel. This translates into CO2 savings of around 65,000 metric tons.
Digital Solutions: The EU’s FENIX project – a platform for more efficient and climate-friendly logistics chains
FENIX = Federated European Network of Information eXchange in LogistiX
Development of a European federated architecture for data sharing serving the European logistics community
- More transparency through real-time information
- Standardized interfaces for ETA, etc.
- Innovative software modules (SDK) from the cloud
- Intermodal transport solutions within EU guidelines
Development, testing and validating practice-relevant services, e.g.:
- Container arrival times (ETA)
- Digitization of customs systems
- CO2 monitoring
Project goals:
- Overcome the fragmented goods transportation causing economic bottlenecks in the EU member states
- Harmonize and optimize cross-border logistics along selected European transport corridors
- Establish ICT standards for seamless communication of cargo flow addressing all modes of transport
Benefit:
Partners with profound market knowledge develop an architecture for a collaborative IT environment bringing together logistics information systems on an operational level
LCMM App (Low Carbon Mobility Management): Helps to improve individual, environmental-sensitive driving style
LCMM (Low Carbon Mobility Management) is a complete system developed for managing logistics fleets. DHL and DB Schenker,
for example, use the patented system in China and Europe and have reduced harmful emissions by an average of 20 percent (saving of 468 kg CO2 per HGV within one month). Fuel costs also went down by as much as 15 percent. This solution starts by analyzing
individual driver behavior. The app helps drivers to develop a more environmentally focused driving style. A cloud backend with corresponding dashboards helps fleet operators to manage their vehicle fleets as efficiently as possible (including up-to-date positioning of each vehicle).
In 11/2020, LCMM has been awarded with the "#GreenMagenta" label of Deutsche Telekom.
Digital Solutions: SHOW – Connecting automated vehicle fleets with the main axes of local public transport, making urban mobility more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Project goal:
SHOW aims to support the deployment of shared, connected and electrified automation in urban transport, to advance sustainable urban mobility.
- Demonstrations in 20 cities across Europe
- Integration of automated fleets in Public Transport
- Including 69 partners from 13 EU-countries
- International cooperation with organizations from the US, South Korea, Australia and China
Benefits:
- Reduction of 20% energy consumption and 10% emissions
- Reduction of overall number of private vehicles through intelligent combination of smart Public Transport solutions
- Improved traffic flow
- Establish new business models and improve virtual validation
Impact measurement: EcoSIM
Sustainability Challenges we are facing is that although the state-of-the-art SIM card is the eSim, we still sell 9 million SIM cards per year.
Our solution, from 2022, the environmental footprint of physical SIM cards will be further reduced by using recycled material instead of virgin plastic.
The offer pays off on the following SDGs:
· SDG 12 - Using recycled material instead of virgin plastic
With an annual sales volume of 9 million SIM cards, we save 81 tCO2e annually with the EcoSIM.
We have labeled this solution #GreenMagenta.
Focus T-Systems South Africa
DT does not tolerate any irregular behavior.
The case in SA is not new. We are dealing with it since 2017 and it has been the subject of several public reports in Germany and South Africa. Most recently in the German business weekly Wirtschaftswoche (2021) or in the “Welt” (2022).
The case has been consistently and thoroughly investigated by T-Systems South Africa. Two years ago, we divested ourselves of the South African business.
A state commission has examined the events in great detail. So far, it has not made any recommendation to investigate or prosecute the TSSA itself or individual TSSA employees.
As a matter of principle, we do not comment on ongoing proceedings; this also applies to those of the Frankfurt public prosecutor's office.
The all-round app for the entire home and family - MagentaZuhause App
The Consumer IoT division has developed the open, cross-manufacturer smart home platform and the MagentaZuhause App. This gives customers the opportunity to combine devices from different companies easily and individually and to control them via app.
During the reporting period, the MagentaZuhause App was launched on the market. The app makes living together easier thanks to many useful functions and completely new options for home network management as well as extensive SmartHome functions.
With the MagentaZuhause App, our customers stay even more connected to their home and loved ones. Even when they are on the move. And the app is for the whole family - the whole home. To-do and shopping lists, reminder functions support our customers in their everyday organisation. Checking the home network, activating and sharing the guest Wi-Fi and optimising the Wi-Fi are just some of the numerous options for home network management with the MagentaZuhause App.
Wi-Fi or IP devices can be connected directly to the app and no longer require a SmartHome control hub. This makes it easier for our customers to get started in the connected home. In addition, the app can also be used to control MagentaTV content - also by voice.
During the reporting period, we were able to further increase the number of devices that are compatible with the Smart Home platform. Customers can already choose from several hundred different Smart Home devices: With a Speedport Smart 4, customers also have the option of using it as a Smart Home hub. In addition, the MagentaZuhause App now supports Wi-Fi radiator thermostats from the new partner Eurotronic and smart plugs with consumption measurement from WiZ as well as other devices from SONOS, D-Link and Ledvance.
At the Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design 2022, the MagentaZuhause app was awarded one of the coveted Red Dot in the category "Apps - Smart Homes".
Twice a year, the experts of the international UX Design Awards honour excellent design that contributes to the creation of a more positive living environment. The MagentaZuhause App was nominated by the jury in the "Product" category.
The World Smart Home Awards 2022 have been awarded - and four of our Smart Home products have been honoured: SmartHome Home Base, SmartHome door/window contact optical, SmartHome Wi-Fi adapter plug (indoor) and SmartHome Wi-Fi LED lamp E27 coloured.
The MagentaZuhause app offers a high level of protection - as attested by the independent institute for IT security, AV-TEST GmbH. The security test 01/2022 concludes for the first time that the app prevents manipulation by external parties and that communication is secure. The next test of the platform by AV-TEST GmbH is planned for the beginning of 2023.
The 80/20 model
Since 2017, we have been using the 80/20 model to give our employees the opportunity to spend up to 20 percent of their working time on projects outside of their usual remit. This allows them to work with teams from other departments. In this way, we break up departmental silos and can make better use of the company’s broad spectrum of talent. The model makes employees more visible and motivated, and enhances their network of contacts. Use of the model is voluntary and is tied to a specific Group project.
Physical Climate Risk Assessment and Adaption
Physical risks
Extreme weather conditions as a consequence of climate change will have a negative impact on our business processes and networks, leading to incidents or even network outages. Potential failure of network infrastructure may arise due to damaged secondary infrastructure (power outages, e.g.) or failed cooling equipment. Another risk is the possible damage to or failure of the network due to damage to the network infrastructure itself, which may occur as a result of extreme heat, heavy rain and inland flood.
Among the effects of breakdowns is their massive impact on the management of rescue operations, for example, sometimes even rendering such emergency efforts entirely impossible.
In contrast to the physical risks due to climate change, we identified the increasing use of energy-efficient technologies (in grid operation, e.g.) and the growing demand for climate-friendly products and services as significant climate-related opportunities. For instance, we are offering our customers more and more sustainable products and services. The basis for these is Deutsche Telekom’s “green network”, which is powered 100 percent by renewable energies. More Details
Physical risk assessment
In various workshops with experts from technology, purchasing, strategy and risk management, we defined the material climate-related risks and opportunities and carried out an initial weighting. We considered the consequences for our business activities that could result from the physical impacts of progressing climate change.
We analyzed - on an initial exemplary basis - 500 Deutsche Telekom AG sites in Germany with regard to their physical climate risks. Such an analysis shall be extended similarly also to other countries. The climate risk analysis was prepared using the "Climate Change Edition" of the "Location Risk Intelligence" software from reinsurer Munich Re. The analysis comprises eight indices (see graph). We consider the risk exposure for the respective locations of fixed line and mobile technical sites (network operation, data center and office buildings) in two climate scenarios of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): a business-as-usual scenario (RCP 4.5), in which the global temperature increase will be more than two degrees, and a four-degree scenario (RCP 8.5). In addition to the climate scenarios, we also examine the risk exposure in different time frames: current, for the year 2050, and for 2100.
The results from this assessment are used to develop a climate change adaptation plan with mitigation measures that consider context-specific factors and different assets (network operation, data center and office buildings).
Adaptation measures for physical risks
We understand physical risk adaption as anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate action to prevent or minimize the damage they can cause. Our action plans consider all material risks that have been identified through our climate risk assessment. By considering context factors such as characteristics of your sites (region, proximity to rivers, …), we ensure tailored made action plans instead of “one size fits all” approach.
More specifically, we have implemented the following actions:
Measure | Description |
Business continuity management | To ensure business continuity, we have defined necessary responsibilities, processes, and measures in our internal “Group Policy on Continuity and Situation Management”.The policy also outlines how to handle emergency and crisis situations like for instance floods. |
New network infrastructure | We take possible consequences of climate change into account when planning new networks infrastructure. Our network infrastructure is set up to be better protected from storm conditions, changes in temperature, and high winds. |
Network modernization |
We conduct modernization measures such as |
Infrastructure facility inspections |
We conduct regular assessments to ensure sophistication and resilience of infrastructure facilities. We conduct approximately 80 location inquiries per year. Approximately 35 queries for risk buildings in Germany (plannable, current threat situation), 25 queries for international risk buildings (plannable, current threat situation), 20 queries for national and international locations in the context of projects or customer orders (short-term, current threat situation) Furthermore, in the near future we will check the approx. 20 T-Systems data centers for their "future security" (focus 2050). |
Physical climate risk analysis | In the future, we enhance our physical risk assessment. We plan to extend the physical climate risk analysis to further countries and context-specific assessment of the physical impacts of climate change for each asset (network operation, data center and office buildings) |
Further measures relevant e.g.: |
Contributions & Other Spending
Trade associations are the cornerstone of our public relations activities. Deutsche Telekom does not make any donations to political organizations, political parties, or elected officials on principle.
* Total amount according to the individual amounts reported in the lobby/transparency registers of Germany (federal level, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria / each since 2021), EU (Brussels) and USA (Washington / since 2020) - see also https://www.cr-report.telekom.com/crwissen/transparency-disclosures-lobbying-expenditures.
** DT does not make any donations to political organizations, political parties, or elected officials on principle – see also https://www.telekom.com/en/company/topic-specials/special-public-and-regulatory-affairs/detail/public-affairs-and-transparency-611136.
*** Trade associations are the cornerstone of the public relations activities by DT. The numbers listed above mean "LESS THAN 5 Mio. EUR per year" (value may vary slightly year-on-year; this is the maximum of an approximate value) – see also https://www.cr-report.telekom.com/2021/management-facts/strategy/political-advocacy#atn-19548-19551.