Market Report
Telecom Energy & Sustainability Tracker (TES) | Scope 1–3 CSP Benchmarks
Report Abstract
Telecom Energy & Sustainability (TES) Tracker | Scope 1, 2 & 3 Carbon Emissions, CSP ESG Benchmarks & Net Zero Progress Across 66+ Global Communication Service Providers
The TES Tracker is the most comprehensive telecom sustainability benchmarking dataset available for the global telecommunications industry. Produced in collaboration with MTN Consulting and Téral Research, it tracks Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions alongside key ESG performance indicators across 66+ of the world's leading communication service providers (CSPs) — from AT&T and Verizon to Vodafone, Orange, NTT, and beyond.
Built from operator sustainability reports, and normalized against a consistent reporting methodology, the TES Tracker delivers analysis-ready data that enables like-for-like comparison across CSPs, regions, and time periods. In a sector where telecom sustainability disclosures are growing in volume but remain inconsistent in methodology, we discern the significance from the noise.
More than 90% of operators' operational carbon footprint is due to electricity used to power their networks and as 5G rollouts accelerate energy demand, Scope 3 emissions from device manufacturing and customer energy use are gaining attention as CSP reporting matures. The TES Tracker covers all three scopes in full, making it the essential resource for analysts, investors, vendors, and operators who need to understand telecom's carbon reality.
Coverage
- Operators: 66+ CSPs globally, including major integrated operators, mobile network operators (MNOs), and regional challengers
- Emissions: Scope 1 (direct combustion), Scope 2 (purchased electricity and heat), Scope 3 (full value chain — device manufacturing, supply chain, use-phase)
- ESG indicators: Renewable energy mix, energy intensity, net zero target status, SBTi validation, CSRD and ESRS alignment, CDP disclosure status, data centre PUE
- Regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America
- Time period: Multi-year historical data with year-on-year trend analysis
What You Get
- Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions per CSP — absolute figures and normalised intensity metrics (per subscriber, per terabyte of traffic, per unit of revenue)
- Year-on-year carbon emissions trend data across all 66+ tracked operators
- Renewable energy percentage
- Energy efficiency indicators in the analysis (e.g., RAN energy intensity, data center power usage effectiveness (PUE), and cooling technology)
- Regional peer benchmarks enabling comparison within each operator's competitive and regulatory context
- Identification of leading and lagging CSPs on decarbonization progress across all five regions
- Data delivered in Excel format, fully structured and analysis-ready for immediate use
Why Scope 3 Matters for Telecom
For most advanced CSPs, Scope 1 and 2 emissions have been substantially reduced through renewable energy procurement and network virtualization. By analyzing the decarbonization levers available across the full telecom value chain, McKinsey found that 60% of an integrated operator's emissions could be abated for less than $100 per metric ton of CO₂. The frontier of telecom decarbonization is now Scope 3 — and it is where the largest benchmarking gaps remain. The TES Tracker is one of the only datasets to systematically track and normalize Scope 3 disclosures across a peer group of 66+ global operators.
Request a Sample or Get the Full TES Tracker
To request a sample of the TES Tracker, purchase full access, or discuss licensing options for your organization, contact us at contact@teralresearch.com
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About the Author
Stéphane Téral, Founder & Chief AnalystWith over 35 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, including 28 years in Silicon Valley, Stéphane Téral is regarded as one of the top analysts in his field, having been the trusted advisor at some of the world's largest telecom providers and manufacturers. He specializes in next-generation wireless infrastructure including 5G and 6G, network disaggregation and automation, cloud and quantum networking, programmable core networks and communications service provider digital transformation.
As an advisor to start-ups, service providers, vendors and the investment community, Stéphane helps clients identify new market opportunities, conducts due diligence, and advises on positioning, product development, business plans and M&A. A highly sought thinker and speaker, Stéphane is frequently quoted in prestigious publications such as The Economist, Nikkei Asia, Le Monde, Les Echos, L’Usine Nouvelle, Barron's, and The Wall Street Journal. He also chairs and presents at global industry events including Brooklyn 6G Summit, FYUZ, GSMA Mobile World Congress, OCP Regional Summit, and NGMN IC&E. Stéphane has been a frequent expert judge for industry and technology innovation awards, such as the GSMA Global Mobile Awards (the GLOMOS), and the Layer123 World Congress.
Stéphane founded TÉRAL RESEARCH in January 2023 after 2 years as a Chief Analyst at LightCounting, which he joined in May 2020, after serving as a Technology Fellow at IHS Markit where he was also rewarded with the 2016 Market Research Excellence Award. Previously, he spent 8 years as a principal analyst at Infonetics Research after starting his analyst career at RHK, where he developed the European optical coverage and helped carriers migrate from PSTN to next-generation networks. Prior to RHK, he was an R&D engineer and project manager with Alcatel where he deployed the CATV optical networks that allowed the 1992 Olympics and the grand opening of Euro Disney to be televised using fiber optics for the first time. Stéphane is a McGowan Scholar at the McLaren School of Business of the University of San Francisco where he received his MBA with an emphasis in telecommunications. He holds an engineering degree in telecommunications from the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France.