Telecommunications leaders Ericsson and Beyon have signed an extension to their sustainability Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), deepening their commitment to energy efficiency, carbon emissions reduction, and circular economy initiatives across Bahrain.
Under the extended agreement, the two organisations will pursue further opportunities to enhance network efficiency and reduce operational emissions through technological innovations, including zero-footprint site configurations. The initiative also extends Ericsson’s E-Waste Programme, widens sustainability knowledge-sharing workshops, and explores new social impact projects.
The partnership, which operates primarily through Beyon’s telecommunications arm, Batelco, has already delivered measurable operational improvements over the past two years:
- Energy reduction: Deployment of Ericsson’s 5G Radio 6646 generated energy savings of up to 30 per cent across Batelco’s network, while AI-driven software features provided additional power reductions of up to 22 per cent. Furthermore, deploying the single-antenna Interleaved AIR 3218 achieved a further 18 per cent decrease in energy consumption.
- E-waste management: The collaboration successfully processed and responsibly recycled 54 metric tonnes of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment under Ericsson’s global E-Waste Programme.
- Capability building: Global experts from Ericsson conducted dedicated sustainability knowledge-sharing sessions for Beyon personnel to align domestic operations with international environmental standards.
Shaikh Bader bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer at Beyon, stated that the extension supports the group’s broader environmental goals while contributing directly to Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
Petra Schirren, President of Ericsson Gulf, noted that the joint achievements demonstrate the role of hardware and software innovation in lowering network energy demands and advancing circularity, adding that the renewed partnership will explore further technological solutions to support Bahrain’s sustainable development objectives.
