CRA is riding the green wave – ESG Report
Sustainability speaks to every industry; even terrestrial digital broadcasting and the Internet of Things (IoT) can contribute to energy savings. CRA is also on the green wave, coming out with their first ESG report. This report is devoted to activities in all three sustainability areas: Environmental, Social, and Governance.
The transition to efficient DVB-T2 digital broadcasting technology has significantly reduced the energy costs of media content distribution. In addition, CRA has committed to using 100% renewable energy by 2025. We are currently at 47% and will quickly reach 100% thanks to purchased green energy and the gradual installation of solar panels.
In the Czech Republic, 26 large DVB-T2 transmitters and five dozen smaller ones are enough to broadcast a television signal via terrestrial digital channels. This is the gentlest way of spreading the TV signal. Terrestrial broadcasting is not only many times more energy efficient compared to internet television, but also more resistant when considering cyber security.
In addition, the 5G broadcasting technology, which CRA is already testing, will make it possible to broadcast terrestrial digital television directly to mobile phones, making this route greener as well. Besides that, the comprehensive IoT solution that CRA provides through their own LoRaWAN network, and the cloud also contributes to strengthening sustainability. IoT is used, for example, in measuring CO2 in the air or energy efficiency in warehouses.
By moving to digital networks and decommissioning analogue technologies, CRA got rid of bulky, high-consumption technologies, freeing up space for new data centres like the large data centre underneath Žižkov tower and the one that is currently under construction at the transmitter on Cukrák. In Prague's Zbraslav, CRA plans to build the largest data centre in Central Europe so far, which will be highly energy efficient with respect to the environment.
But sustainability does not only mean ecology. After the Russian attack on Ukraine, CRA launched a nationwide broadcast of Ukrainian radio from Žižkov and a temporarily nationwide terrestrial TV broadcast of the Ukrainian channel 1+1. CRA also supports the student community by hosting hackathons and collaborating with the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award to support the personal development of 14- to 24-year-olds. Furthermore, CRA values experienced colleagues who have been working for the company for decades, which is also part of their corporate culture.
Complete information on these activities can be found in the attached ESG report.