NAME: Waseem Samsodien

There are a number of initiatives that can be undertaken at different levels within the company
in order to render it more environmentally responsible.

The first very obvious step is to stop unnecessary wastage of electricity in the company for
example turning lights off when they are not needed, putting computers on standby mode
when not in use and also making cut backs on electricity bills by lowering overall electrical
consumption. This can be done by toning down the use of air conditioners during the summer.
Then the results should be made public to show just how by adjusting our daily routines slightly
can both bring a financial benefice and help protect the earth.

Another step aimed at reducing power consumption but this time at base transceiver stations
(BTSs), which are the highest consumers of electricity in the network. First of all, the new BTS
installations should all be of a better design to cut power consumption. Secondly operating
profiles for existing BTSs should incorporate energy saving functions, for example during low
traffic periods network resources not in use should be put into standby mode. In doing so
network performance would not be compromised and it would lower power consumption. In
addition to these two items, the idea of using alternative energy sources to power the BTSs
itself should not be overlooked not just in remote areas but also in areas where the connection
to the utility grid is feasible. Alternative energy sources can be used to entirely supply power to
the BTSs or in a hybrid system with the utility grid.

The next steps are actually service related, by either introducing new services or altering
existing services to make them more ‘green’, and in doing so reducing the carbon footprint of
the company.

Firstly offer to plant trees for each new subscriber also to donate a certain percentage of the
subscriber bills to environmentally oriented charity organizations.

Introduce more environmentally friendly mobile phones, which can either be more recyclable
or even made out of recycled material. Also these phones could also be self sustainable and
there would be no need for conventional recharging methods.

Discourage users to upgrade phones annually, since mobile phones have a life span of about 5
years. The operator can provide special discounted subscription packages for users who opt to
not to upgrade their phones annually.

Also the operator can introduce a refurbishment and recycling services for mobile phones
where it would provide incentives to subscribers who opt to recycle or refurbish their phones
which would otherwise be disposed of in adequately leaving the environment just polluted but
also hazardous to life.

Of course the steps listed under the service part is not only limited to mobile phones but can
also be augmented to the other service the mobile operator may provide such as fixed line
services or data services