Telkomsel is drawing attention for a reason that goes beyond network expansion. The company says it will ensure that 100% of the electronic waste it generates is managed through recycle, reuse, and refurbish schemes by 2025.
The move puts sustainability at the center of operations, not as a side initiative. Telkomsel places the effort under its Jaga Bumi pillar, which is designed to reduce environmental impact while supporting a cleaner digital ecosystem.
How the circular model is applied
As telecommunication networks grow, companies routinely replace devices used in the field. Network equipment, BTS components, operational support devices, and information technology hardware can all become e-waste if they are not handled properly.
Telkomsel addresses that challenge with a circular economy approach built on three methods. Recycle is used to process materials that still have value so they can be used for other needs, reuse extends the life of devices that remain fit for use, and refurbish repairs or upgrades equipment to give it a longer service life.
This approach is meant to reduce the volume of electronic waste while making better use of existing resources. It also helps the company optimize assets that would otherwise be discarded too early.
Part of a broader sustainability push
Electronic waste management is only one piece of the Jaga Bumi pillar. The pillar also focuses on lowering carbon emissions, encouraging cleaner energy use, and strengthening operational resilience against climate-related risks.
Telkomsel has also expanded the use of renewable energy in its network infrastructure. By the end of 2025, 361 Telkomsel BTS sites were already using renewable sources such as solar panels and microhydro.
The company says this step is part of a strategy to reduce dependence on conventional energy. It also supports wider sustainable development goals across its operations.
Materials are changing too
Telkomsel’s sustainability efforts are not limited to equipment handling. The company has also switched all of its SIM card packaging to a paper-based material that is considered more environmentally friendly.
That change helps reduce the use of materials that can create hard-to-decompose waste. It also shows that environmental considerations are being built into more than one layer of the company’s operations.
With full e-waste management in place, Telkomsel is showing that digital growth can move forward alongside environmental responsibility. As Indonesia’s digital economy continues to expand, the company is framing reliable connectivity as something that should not come at the expense of more sustainable practices.