The sector’s progress is largely driven by a significant shift in power procurement. According to the Mobile Net Zero 2026 report, which tracks 110 operators representing 85% of global connections, the industry utilized 70 TWh of renewable electricity in 2024—a volume matching the total renewable output of Indonesia. The proportion of electricity sourced directly from renewable projects has climbed from 10% to 24% over the last five years.
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Mobile Industry Faces Renewable Energy Hurdle on Path to Net Zero
Mobile operators have successfully decoupled network growth from carbon output, cutting operational emissions by 13% since 2019 even as data traffic quadrupled. Despite this decoupling, the GSMA’s latest industry report warns that reaching net-zero targets by 2050 now hinges on securing wider access to renewable energy sources.
John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer at the GSMA, noted that while the industry has proven that digital expansion and climate action are not mutually exclusive, the pace of decarbonization remains uneven. Emerging markets, in particular, face challenges in securing clean power infrastructure. The report calls on policymakers to modernize electricity markets and streamline permitting processes, arguing that regulatory support is the primary lever needed to sustain the current momentum toward a net-zero future.
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