Telefónica has channelled €77bn into resilient, future‑ready infrastructure during the first ten years of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, using connectivity as a lever for social and environmental progress. Prioritising SDG 9, the group has expanded access across cities and rural areas, reaching almost 350 million connections, passing 81.4 million premises with fibre, and achieving extensive 4G coverage in core markets. Spain, its flagship footprint, now leads Europe in broadband thanks to deep fibre rollouts that enable the retirement of legacy copper, cutting energy waste and supporting the digital transition.

Alongside network modernisation, Telefónica has pursued inclusive growth. Through Fundación Telefónica, 1.16 million people in 2024 alone received training to boost employability, advancing SDG 4. The company has also strengthened representation, with women now occupying 34% of executive roles, up from 19.1% in 2015, reflecting ongoing progress on SDG 5. These social commitments complement the operator’s push for responsible digitalisation, embedding sustainability into core business strategy.

On climate, Telefónica has set a net‑zero target for 2040, a decade ahead of global agreements, and reports a 52% reduction in CO2 emissions between 2015 and 2024, including Scope 3, while cutting energy per traffic unit by 90% despite soaring data volumes. By pairing fibre‑first architecture with efficiency gains, the company is shrinking operational intensity and the environmental footprint of connectivity. The next challenge is to sustain this pace, extending high‑quality access, deepening circular practices, and decarbonising the value chain, to ensure digital growth aligns with a genuinely green network future.