Axiata Group – Efforts to Strengthen Climate Resilient Networks 

For Axiata Group, adaptation and resilience are critical to safeguarding the reliability of its telecommunications infrastructure across Southeast and South Asia, where operations are increasingly exposed to physical climate risks due to geographic conditions. Its networks underpin essential connectivity for societies and economies, particularly during extreme weather events. Strengthening climate resilience helps safeguard service continuity, protect asset integrity, and ensures Axiata can continue delivering trusted connectivity that supports socioeconomic growth across the region. 

In 2025, Axiata conducted its first Group‑wide physical climate risk assessment and scenario analysis, aligned with IFRS S2 Climate‑related Disclosures. The assessment focused on Axiata’s principal business sector and covered the majority of its network assets. Physical climate risks were assessed under two climate scenarios: an intermediate transition scenario (SSP2‑4.5) and a high‑emissions scenario (SSP5‑8.5). Key climate hazards assessed included flood, temperature, extreme weather, fire and geotechnical risks. 

By integrating asset‑level geolocation data, historical incident records, and climate projections, Axiata is better positioned to translate climate science into practical, decision‑ready insights for future measures in adaptation planning and investment prioritisation. The success of the initiative was underpinned by strong cross‑functional collaboration between Sustainability, Finance, and Technology teams across both the Corporate Centre and Operating Companies (OpCos). 

• On the ground, actions implemented by Axiata’s OpCos to strengthen resilience to climate risks include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• In Cambodia, Smart Axiata implemented a multi‑layered flood‑protection strategy, including Ingress Protection (IP65) rated cabinets, elevated concrete foundations up to 1.5 metres, and real‑time water‑ingress sensors at high‑risk sites. These measures support early detection and rapid response during monsoon flooding. Following severe historical flood events, Smart Axiata prioritised critical network sites for structural hardening to protect core connectivity. 

• In Sri Lanka, Dialog Axiata embeds climate risk directly into site selection and design. Flood‑prone locations use elevated civil structures, while areas exposed to landslides are assessed with guidance from national geotechnical authorities before construction. Heat‑resilient equipment, enhanced cooling systems and fire‑protection materials are deployed to maintain stable network performance under rising temperatures. 

• In Bangladesh, Robi Axiata works closely with TowerCo partners to ensure new and existing sites comply with the Bangladesh National Building Code, strengthening resilience against flooding, extreme weather and other natural hazards. Sites are equipped with intelligent ventilation systems, insulated generator exhausts and fire‑resistant materials, backed by comprehensive insurance coverage across the network estate. 

• Axiata’s tower infrastructure arm, EDOTCO Group, integrates climate resilience into the engineering standards applied across its multi‑country portfolio. Towers are designed using wind‑speed thresholds derived from historical extreme weather data, flood exposure is addressed through raised equipment platforms, and passive and active cooling solutions are deployed to reduce overheating risks, embedding resilience as a baseline requirement rather than a reactive add‑on. 

The initiative has significantly deepened Axiata’s understanding of climate exposure across more than 64,000 network assets, and will further enable early identification and prioritisation of high‑risk locations before disruptions occur, in the future. 

The results of the analysis are intended to provide valuable guidance for future network deployment as part of business expansion, particularly for Axiata’s OpCo. markets, which witness higher exposures to climate hazards. 

By strengthening resilience at the asset and network level, Axiata has reduced the risk of service outages caused by floods, heatwaves and other extreme weather conditions, supporting faster recovery times and more consistent network performance. Proactive maintenance planning informed by climate risk insights allows potential issues to be addressed before they escalate, helping our customers stay connected to emergency services, financial systems and loved ones at all times.

A key challenge was the granularity of asset-level data required in the climate scenario analysis, as components within the same site/geolocation can have different elevations and therefore, varying climate risk exposures. Data collection of these fragmented inputs across multiple systems in different OpCos also highlighted the need for stronger data harmonisation and system integration to enhance future assessments.