AXIAN Telecom’s 2024 Sustainability Report: SBTi Targets, 98% 4G Coverage, Solar Gains
AXIAN Telecom’s Sustainability Report 2024 presents a structured account of its ESG integration across nine African markets, covering governance, digital inclusion, climate action, and socio-economic impact.
The Group positions sustainability as “a continuous journey” (page 7), embedding it into corporate strategy under three pillars: Leading with Purpose and Responsibility, Empowering Lives and Building Communities, and Championing Environmental Stewardship (pages 10 & 14).
In 2024, AXIAN Telecom generated $1,407m in revenue and invested $367m in CAPEX, serving 40 million mobile subscribers and 16 million mobile financial service users (page 8).
The Group expanded network resilience, achieving 98% 4G coverage across markets (page 25) and increasing the network availability of Yas Tanzania to 99.85% (page 24). Digital inclusion efforts include device financing models that enable smartphone access at $0.25/day, with approximately 40,000 devices sold monthly (page 25).
Environmental performance advanced through the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validation of near-term decarbonisation targets in May 2024 (page 15). Solar integration now powers 25% of network operations (page 23), while 95% of off-grid sites are equipped with solar panels (page 8). The Group improved its CDP score from D (2023) to B- (2024) (page 15).
Socio-economic footprint analysis (independently assessed by UTOPIES) indicates 287,400 supported jobs in 2024, up from 254,900 in 2023 (+13%), and $2,189 million of wealth generated, representing a 49% year-on-year increase (page 19). Direct employment rose 8% to 4,517 jobs (page 9).
Governance oversight is structured through the Board and three statutory committees: Audit & Risk, Governance, and Nomination & Remuneration (page 12), with ESG monitoring mechanisms embedded across operating companies.
Overall, AXIAN Telecom demonstrates measurable progress in digital inclusion, the formalisation of governance, and climate ambition. Further enhancement in externally assured ESG disclosures and quantified long-term environmental targets would strengthen comparability and investor-grade reporting.
SDG ALIGNMENT
Strategic Alignment
AXIAN Telecom states that its sustainability efforts are “aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” (pages 3 & 7). The Group highlights contributions across:
SDG | Example Initiatives | Page |
|---|---|---|
SDG 5 – Gender Equality | Commitment to Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) (2023) | p.17 |
SDG 7 – Affordable & Clean Energy | Solar4All Programme; 95% off-grid sites solarised | p.8 & p.18 |
SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation | 5G deployment; NextA incubator | p.8 & p.18 |
SDG 13 – Climate Action | SBTi validation; CDP disclosure | p.15 & p.18 |
SDG 4 – Quality Education | Yas e-school Programme | p.17 |
The report notes that embedding the SDGs strengthened in 2024 across operations (page 17). The Geographic impact: Tanzania, Madagascar, Togo, Senegal, Comoros (pages 3 & 9).
ESG MANAGEMENT
Governance Structure
The board provides oversight across governance, compliance, risk, and sustainability (p.12). Subcommittees include:
- Audit & Risk Committee (risk strategy, compliance monitoring) (p.12)
- Governance Committee (ESG and ethics oversight) (p.12)
- Nomination & Remuneration Committee (board succession) (p.12)
ESG Frameworks & Ratings
Framework / Rating | Status | Page |
|---|---|---|
UN Global Compact | Member since Feb 2024 | p.15 |
SBTi | Near-term targets validated (May 2024) | p.15 |
CDP | Improved to B- (from D in 2023) | p.15 |
MSCI ESG Rating | AAA | p.15 |
Data is internally assured (p.2); no external audit of the report (Disclaimer, p.2).
INITIAL AREAS OF IMPACT
Primary impact areas:
- Digital inclusion: 98% 4G coverage (p.25)
- Financial inclusion: 16m active MFS users (p.8)
- Solar energy deployment: 95% off-grid solarisation (p.8)
- Job creation: 287,400 supported jobs (p.19)
- Reforestation initiatives: Tanzania & Madagascar (p.18)
METRICS FOR DEFINITION
Key ESG Performance Indicators (2024)
Metric | 2024 | 2023 | YoY Change | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenue | $1,407 million | — | — | p.8 |
CAPEX | $367 million | — | — | p.8 |
Direct Jobs | 4,517 | 4,177 | +8% | p.19 |
Supported Jobs | 287,400 | 254,900 | +13% | p.19 |
Wealth Generated | $2,189 million | $1,470m | +49% | p.19 |
Solarised Off-grid Sites | 95% | — | — | p.8 |
CDP Score | B- | D | Improved | p.15 |
Internal assurance noted (p.2). No third-party ESG assurance confirmed.
AREAS OF FOCUS
- Strategic commitments include:
- Expanding solar integration (Solar4All) (p.23)
- AI-driven network optimisation (p.24)
- Strengthening digital inclusion (Data4All) (p.25)
- Continued SBTi-aligned decarbonisation (p.4, p.15)
The CEO confirmed the continued investment in sustainability through 2025 (p.4).
MATERIALITY CONCEPTS
Material priorities are embedded in three pillars (p.10, p.14):
- Ethical and lawful conduct
- Digital and financial inclusion
- Climate action & biodiversity
The report outlines stakeholder engagement processes (p.13). However, no formal materiality matrix is disclosed in the excerpted sections.
SUSTAINABILITY RISK MANAGEMENT
Climate risks are integrated into strategic risk assessment (p.18).
Risk governance overseen by Audit & Risk Committee (p.12).
Mitigation measures include:
- Solar energy transition (p.23)
- Network resilience initiatives (Project Kiwango) (p.24)
- CDP climate disclosure (p.15)
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY CONCEPTS AND MANAGEMENT
Sustainability Framework (p.14)
Strategic Pillars:
- Leading with Purpose and Responsibility
- Empowering Lives and Building Communities
- Championing Environmental Stewardship
Core commitments include:
- Digital and financial inclusion
- Good governance
- Environmental impact reduction
- Shared value creation (p.14)
Disclosure Improvements
Progress
AXIAN Telecom demonstrates:
- Improved climate governance (SBTi validation)
- Enhanced CDP performance
- Measurable digital inclusion expansion
- Quantified socio-economic footprint
Improvements
To enhance ESG comparability and investor confidence:
- Introduce third-party assurance of ESG data.
- Publish Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions with year-on-year trend tables.
- Disclose formal materiality matrix with scoring methodology.
- Provide quantified 2030 targets with interim milestones.
- Standardise reporting under GRI or ISSB for greater benchmarking clarity.
Overall Assessment: AXIAN Telecom’s 2024 report demonstrates operational maturity, structured ESG governance, and measurable digital and climate disclosure.
Continued evolution toward externally assured, target-driven disclosures will further strengthen its sustainability leadership trajectory across African telecom markets.
Kindly note that Sustainable Stories Africa (SSA) has conducted this review independently, without any financial, material or other inducements, to ensure objectivity, integrity and transparency in highlighting AXIAN Telecom’s sustainability disclosures.
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
