TeliaSonera’s Swedish operation – which provides services under the Telia brand – this week become the first carrier in the country to source all of its power from renewable sources, the company claims.

Telia uses a combination of green energy sources, including wind, water, solar and biomass and expects to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent with immediate effect.

Over the last six years, Telia has cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 70 per cent, slashing business travel, downsizing its office space and increasing its use of virtual working, with greater emphasis on conference calls and PC-based networked meetings. “We have a growing number of environmentally aware consumers and we want to give them the opportunity to also make a green choice for their telecom operator,” said Erik Hallberg, head of Broadband Services at TeliaSonera Sweden. “Those who choose a green alternative are choosing to make a minimum impact on the environment and help reduce the greenhouse effect.”

It doesn’t hurt Telia’s position as a telecoms carrier to promote the use of its services as a means to reduce environmental impact. But the fact that the carrier has made the effort to clean up its own house puts it safely out of reach of the cynics.

In a survey of its business customers, Telia found that 30 per cent of Swedes are expecting to increase their business travel in the coming year.