How do you build the infrastructure of the future without deepening your impact on the planet? That’s the question echoed across boardrooms, climate dialogues and sustainability forums worldwide.
At stc group, a leading digital enabler, this question is answered daily through the operation of one of the region’s most-advanced digital ecosystems. With a presence that spans Saudi Arabia and beyond, the group is working to deliver world-class connectivity sustainably, and build systems that serve more people, consume fewer resources and create long-term benefit for communities. The aim isn’t to choose between ambition and responsibility, but to move forward with both.
For stc, growth is about strengthening the systems that support people, protect the planet, and power the digital economy of tomorrow. This thinking underpins the 2024 Sustainability Report, and its theme, From Vision to Value: Creating Legacy Impact. The report captures how stc is shaping digital progress and reflects a broader philosophy inside the organization — one that sees sustainability as fundamental to how progress is defined.
A network built for tomorrow
Building digital infrastructure at scale often comes with environmental cost. For stc group, the priority has never been growth at any price. It has been to expand with purpose, invest in systems that help reduce emissions, manage resources more intelligently, and prepare the network for long-term performance.
The results speak for themselves. In 2024, Scope 1 emissions fell by 3.6%, led by targeted improvements in fuel use and fleet operations. Scope 3 emissions, which include supply chain activities and are largely outside a company’s control, dropped by 14.6%. These are among the hardest to reduce, yet stc’s progress shows what is possible when sustainability is not a target, but a mindset.
In 2024, stc group reduced its energy intensity by 9.8% (GJ/petabyte of data), reflecting smarter energy tracking, real time monitoring and deliberate system upgrades that made every unit of data delivered more efficient than the last. Energy consumption across technical facilities (exchanges) also declined by 8.44% — a clear result of targeted energy upgrades. These are not isolated changes, but part of a long-term shift toward precision, sustainability, and smarter growth.
Behind the numbers is a network that is quietly transforming. More than 370 tower sites now run on renewable energy. Power use is monitored in real time. Facilities are being tuned for precision, not excess. These are not box-ticking changes. They are signs of a business that is serious about building for the future — one decision, one system, one site at a time.
A more inclusive digital future
The need to invest in the future of digitalization is critical, preparing for the next generation of technology, but stc isn’t only looking to the next generation. Digital empowerment must also be inclusive, bringing those who built the infrastructure of today’s society along for the digital transformation. This is the focus of stc’s Smart Truck Initiative, a mobile classroom that has brought hands-on digital training to more than 9,000 elderly citizens across Saudi Arabia. For many, it was a meaningful step forward in their digital journey and proof that inclusion is not about age, but about access and opportunity.
Inclusion at stc group is not limited to access. It is about creating real opportunities for leadership and long-term impact. In 2024, women made up a growing part of that change: the group increased its female workforce by 14%, raised the share of women in managerial roles to 6.25%, and brought board-level representation to 18%. These shifts speak to a deeper transformation, one that reflects the changing face of leadership in the region.
That same belief in potential is shaping how stc develops talent. More than 476,000 hours of training were delivered through stc Academy last year, reaching over 33,000 individuals across employees, contractors, vendors and future talent. This work is helping to build the skills, confidence, and capabilities needed to keep pace with a rapidly evolving digital economy and to ensure that people grow alongside the systems they power.
A foundation built on trust
stc group’s growth has always been shaped by national priorities. In 2024, the group recorded more than SAR 28.6 billion local procurement spending, underscoring its continued commitment to supporting local content and contributing to the national economy. A key enabler of this commitment is rawafed, stc’s flagship local content program, which has strengthened the national economy by promoting local businesses and aligning with the broader goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The aim is simple — invest in local industry, grow national capability, and keep more value in the Saudi economy.
That same commitment carries through to governance. The group achieved 100% compliance with mandatory integrity training, reinforcing a culture of accountability and transparency.
This responsibility also extends to how stc group safeguards its networks and the people connected to them. As telecom networks grow more complex, the risks tied to cybersecurity and data privacy are rising across the industry. In 2024, stc reported zero data breaches and no incidents involving customer’s personally identifiable information (PII). In At a time when data protection challenges are intensifying globally, the group’s performance reflects a long-standing investment in security, resilience, and trust.
As a member of the GCC ESG Telecommunications Alliance, stc is also focused on helping to shape how sustainability will evolve across the region, working with peers to develop industry-wide climate action priorities and advance knowledge sharing. stc contributed to joint innovation projects and regional policy reports, helping to ensure that sustainability is not just a local mandate, but a regional movement.
These results are not going unnoticed. In 2025, stc group was named the third strongest telecom brand in the world by Brand Finance, and ninth globally in brand value. It was a moment of recognition, not just for scale, but for how the group continues to grow with purpose, clarity, and care.
From vision to value — and onward to legacy
Legacy is often measured by what endures. In Saudi culture, the date palm has long stood as a symbol of that endurance, planted for the benefit of future generations, cared for by those who may never see its full reach. That spirit runs through stc group’s sustainability journey. The 2024 report captures a clear focus on turning intention to action and turning long-term vision to shared value. stc group is not only building digital infrastructure, but enabling progress that expands access, supports inclusive growth, and reduces environmental impact.
Sustainability at stc is focused on how growth is designed, and that design is driven by the belief that real progress is not just delivered. It is passed on.
