Continuing the panel discussion from 2024 at MWC about decarbonizing our supply chain at Deutsche Telekom, we are today joined by three key players in the industry to discuss how telcos are innovating in building and operating their network while keeping sustainability in momentum. Focus is on Deutsche Telekom's comprehensive sustainability strategy building on our CMD commitment (keeping energy consumption flat and 55% reduction of carbon emissions across the value chain until 2025), via network modernization and AI-driven optimizations across domains. Today, we will discuss the innovative technologies powering DT’s network and their contributions to our climate targets. 
We will look into it from 3 areas: 
- Hardware innovation
- Software innovation and
- Architectural improvements. 

Discussion on how telcos are innovating in building and operating their network while keeping sustainability in momentum.

Saima Ansari is the CR Segment Lead at Deutsche Telekom, responsible for driving sustainability and innovation across the Technology & Innovation board area. With a strong passion for sustainability and a commitment to leveraging technology for environmental impact, Saima leads cross-functional teams to advance Deutsche Telekom’s climate goals. She spearheads initiatives across architecture, engineering, and group strategy units, focusing on improving energy efficiency in mobile and fixed network infrastructure while embracing circularity principles. 
In addition, she plays a key role in addressing industry-wide sustainability challenges, leading projects like Green Future Networks at the NGMN Alliance. Saima holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from India and a master’s degree in Lasers and Photonics from Germany.

Saima Ansari 2025

Saima Ansari

CR Segment Lead, Technology & Innovation Board Area, Deutsche Telekom AG

Subhagata Mukherjee (Subho) is the Vice President and Global Head of Sustainability at Nokia and leads the company’s global sustainability strategy, programs, and initiatives, including its overall Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) responsibilities. In his previous roles at Nokia, Subho has led strategic initiatives across corporate strategy, technology strategy, research, partnerships, and venture capital investments, led global communications for group CEO, as well as led communications, marketing and business development across markets and business groups. 
Subho’s focus areas include climate, circularity, bridging digital divide, industrial decarbonization, responsible supply chain, human rights, responsible use of technology and new incubations in climate and nature related technologies. Under his leadership, Nokia featured as the most sustainable company in telecoms sector by Corporate Knights Global 100 ranking in 2025 as well as committed to 2040 SBTi Net Zero greenhouse gas emission targets.
Subho holds MBA from Asian Institute of Management, Philippines and from Nanyang Business School, Singapore. He is trained as a chemical engineer from Jadavpur University, India and has attended Strategic Leadership of Technology & Innovation from Harvard Business School Executive Education program, and Sustainability Leadership course from MIT Sloan school of management. 


Subho Mukherjee 2025

Subho Mukherjee

Vice President, Global Head of Sustainability

Jasmin Ella Masic works in Group Function Sustainability at Ericsson, driving the area of decarbonizing Industries and Society. Supporting operators, enterprises and society to use connectivity to reduce their environmental impact and increase social sustainability. Jasmin and the team collaborate across all functions to integrate and drive the importance of mobile connectivity to connect the unconnected, drive innovation and reach Net Zero together. 

Jasmin Ella Masic 2025

Jasmin Ella Masic

Sustainability Manager Group Function SCR, Ericsson 

Denise Lee is Vice President for Cisco’s Engineering Sustainability Office where she leads a team that is defining Cisco’s long-term sustainability vision and roadmap, building new business blueprints and embedding prototype offers across multiple portfolios.

Denise Lee 2025

Denise Lee 

VP, Engineering Sustainability Office at Cisco

Sustainable Network Innovation

As AI transforms industries and offers environmental benefits, it also raises concerns over its energy use and resource demands. The call for "Green AI" is more urgent than ever. In this session, we'll explore the state of Green AI in 2025, amid evolving regulations and political shifts. Telekom's Green AI principles, launched in 2024, guide sustainable development. Experts from Telekom, Intel, and IBM will discuss AI's impact, efficiency innovations, and challenges in adopting Green AI practices. Join us to learn how industries can balance AI's potential with sustainability in a rapidly changing world.

As AI's environmental impact grows, the call for Green AI is louder than ever. In response, Telekom introduced Green AI principles in 2024.

Ahmed is currently the VP Group Technology Strategy at Deutsche Telekom, overseeing end-to-end network strategy and leading Data and AI in networks besides special projects focused on converged "network and security" products & services, Wi-Fi sensing and AI for Networks. With over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, he has held various roles spanning strategy, network architecture, solution design, technology investments prioritization, AI and product development.
Obtained his Electronics and communications Bachelor in 2000 and finished his MBA in 2011 from Heinrich-Heine University in Düsseldorf.

Ahmed Hafez 2025

Ahmed Hafez

VP Group Technology Strategy, Deutsche Telekom AG

Melanie Kubin-Hardewig is Vice President, Group Corporate Responsibility at Deutsche Telekom. She is responsible for the group-wide design and execution of Deutsche Telekom’s Corporate Responsibility Strategy. This covers a wide range of from environmental to social aspects, including sustainable supply chains and finance as well as the development of DT’s targets and KPIs. She also leads DT’s top sustainability initiatives.

Melanie Kubin-Hardewig 2025

Melanie Kubin-Hardewig

Vice President, Group Corporate Responsibility, Deutsche Telekom AG

Eoin is CTO and IBM Industry Lead for Telecoms, Media and Entertainment a 1B+ dollar P&L, delivering technology, products and solutions to CSPs, MSPs, Media and entertainment companies. Eoin is a telecom industry veteran with nearly 30 years of telco industry experience. In over 10 years in IBM, Coughlan has led roles such as Head of Telecom Analytics to Global Industry CTO. Prior to IBM, Coughlan worked in Ericsson Ireland, UK and Sweden across 12+ years.

Eoin Coughlan 2025

Eoin Coughlan

Cristina Rodriguez is Vice President in Intel's Network & Edge Group and General Manager of the Communication Solutions Group, where she drives Intel's strategy to deliver innovative solutions across wireline, wireless, media, and enterprise networks to empower customers to build future networks and accelerate innovations across 5G & 6G, AI, edge and cloud computing.

Saima Ansari

Sessions where Saima Ansari takes part

Sustainable Network Innovation

Artificial Intelligence, Real Sustainability: The Road to Green AI in 2025