Why we need to drive digitization responsibly

Upgrading #network infrastructure is an important objective to drive #digitization and support Germany’s #gigabit strategy. But digitization serves a much greater purpose. There are many crucial questions of tomorrow, which we as telecommunications industry need to talk about, also from a technological point of view: How do we contribute to saving the climate and the environment??How do we become more resilient??How do we achieve greater social justice??Questions to which there is an answer: Through responsible digitization.?

I was very pleased to talk about this with several industry experts at #connectconference2023 this week, which is hosted by telco magazine connect connect . I would like to share some thoughts here.?

We can achieve environmental and climate goals with digital technologies?

Of course, technology itself causes CO2 emissions. But the savings potential can be up to six times higher than their own emissions, according to industry association BITKOM. Especially the industrial sector, which is so important for Germany, can achieve greater efficiency in their processes and their CO2 balance sheet alike by implementing IoT, cloud and predictive maintenance solutions. And of course, we as a telco also want to become more efficient. We have ambitious goals to reach net zero CO2 emissions in our own operations by 2025 at the latest, and net zero emissions along our entire value chain by 2040.

Digitization makes us more resilient

With the help of digital technologies, companies can respond optimally to changing situations.?Digitized companies came through the Corona crisis better. They have increased their resilience in the face of supply chain problems. According to McKinsey, companies around the world accelerated the digitization of their customer and supply chain interactions and their internal operations by 3 to 4 years in the early Corona period. We as o2 Telefónica support this with various business solutions, such as private #5G networks.

Digitization can enable more social justice

Our networks and services provide both technical access to the digital world and the digital skills to use it. Mobile phones and apps like digital learning platforms give people access to education regardless of their social background and geographical location. It also supports people with disabilities and makes the previously inaccessible attainable on screen. ?

Disruptive technologies can support responsible digitization?

New technologies not only change the way we are deploying our networks and services. They sometimes even change our lives or the way we interact with each other. Artificial intelligence, especially #ChatGPT , is the most recent example for such a disruption. Undoubtedly, they carry risks we need to talk about. But #AI is so much more. It is a key technology of the future. AI can help with language learning, solve complex tasks or help debug code for new digital services, which accelerates innovation.?We are also using AI-based services, machine learning and automation to improve the quality of our networks and IT – for a better customer experience, a higher efficiency, faster deployment and to accelerate innovation.

I am convinced: If done right, digitization will help us to better meet the challenges of the future. We need to put digitization at the center of our considerations. This requires powerful networks, innovative applications and the right regulatory framework. We as telecommunications industry can enable and drive digitization – in a responsible way.?

#o2cando #responsibledigitization