Press Releases

Earth Hour this year again with Magyar Telekom

Budapest, March 25, 2010 11:00

On March 27 the world will again turn its attention to the Earth Hour. Magyar Telekom and its offer brands, T-Home, T-Mobile and T-Systems will join the international campaign this year as well. The company's main light advertisements, T-Shops and office buildings as well as the [origo] news portal, iWiW social site and the OzoneNetwork TV channel will go dark for an hour in the evening. And, on the same day, a whole day's program will await those interested at Mezőcsát in Borsod County, where the opening event of the Jövő/Menő program will take place.

Magyar Telekom has joined the initiative as it intends to be involved in climate protection and it also intends to encourage others to do so by leveraging its size, importance and its leadership position in the infocommunication market, so that "the world could become a better place tomorrow". Magyar Telekom was the first among Hungarian large companies to join the international initiative of WWF in 2008 in the framework of which the Eiffel Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Coliseum and the Chain Bridge went dark for an hour. The campaign intends to draw people's attention to the danger and harmful impact of climatic change.

On March 27, 2010 lights will be turned off from 20.30 to 21.30 on landmark buildings of the world's large cities, on famous towers, skyscrapers and bridges. At the same time Magyar Telekom will turn off the light at 14 T-Shops still open during the Earth Hour, at its office buildings and the light advertisements of T-Home and T-Mobile. In the same hour internet sites of the market leader telecommunication company, as well its [origo] and iWiW portals will be displayed with dark opening pages in energy saving mode of operation, against a black background. An Earth Hour 2010 Club has been launched on iWiW, Hungary's largest social portal, where those who turn off their lights will be welcome. OzoneNetwork, one of Magyar Telekom's thematic TV channels, will interrupt its broadcast and go dark for an hour. The following text will be displayed against a black background: "It is Earth Hour now, the world's largest event of climate protection." Members of the OzoneNetwork Club will be sent a circular mail on the iWiW, while iPhone users will be reminded through the OzoneNetwork application at the time of the event that "Earth Hour is to begin now, turn off the light around you" and join the initiative.

Alos on March 27, Magyar Telekom joins one of its Strategic NGO Partnership Competition winner "Szívlapát" Foundation at Mezőcsát in Borsod County in offering a whole day's series of programs to those interested. With the help of students of the Szent István University of Gödöllő and the company's volunteers, as well as Chief Financial Officer Thilo Kusch and the Mezőcsát-born actor Péter Kálloy Molnár, residents of the region will assemble in local workshops beer-, solar and air collectors using alternative energy sources, which will be subsequently launched into operation. In the framework of the program "MediaSchool" lectures will be delivered on the topic of renewable energy and Chief Human Resources Officer Éva Somorjai will also be among the lecturers. The performing artist Péter Novák, who will be the host of the day and the series of programs, will make his appearance with the HappyPower Band in an energy saving mode of operation supported by a paddle power station.

Speaking about the event Éva Somorjai emphasised: "Enhancing sustainable development, recognition of the relationship systemof environmental-social-economic responsibility and its reinforcement through positive actions, belong to Magyar Telekom's long-term strategic principles. We consider it important that we keep an eye in our activities on these aspects and that we should be a role model in demonstrating what individuals can do for sustainable development, as all important things start with small steps!"

At the event the "Jövő/Menő" program will also be launched. The "Jövő-Menő" project of "Szívlapát" Foundation ( www.jovomeno.org) brought about with Magyar Telekom's support has set the objective of promoting the sustainable development of Mezőcsát, an area with 15 thousand inhabitants. They have chosen the area as it is heavily disadvantaged; it is characterized by high unemployment, a lack of specialized medical services, as well as generally low income from tourism and the unfavorable effects of digital divide. The goal of the "Jövő-Menő Program", which Magyar Telekom is to support for three years in the framework of the Strategic NGO Partnership, is to demonstrate potential ways of achieving sustainable development through life in Mezőcsát. The Foundation believes that the concept of sustainability is more transparent and understandable if seen through the programs and may at the same time build a more solid community of the local inhabitants. The program integrates Magyar Telekom's Digital Bridge initiative, the survey of the possibilities of e-health care and a local online catalogue will be a major project, in which local farms and producers can introduce themselves and their products.

Besides increasing awareness among locals a key objective is to familiarize them with sustainable solutions that make everyday life easier and, for example, they can learn the use of better, more economical and environmentally friendly heating solutions at the renewable energy workshops. An EuroVelo bicycle path has been built in the Mezőcsát region, however there are no signs to help tourists find their way, therefore, in the framework of the project, the paths will be cleared and signs will be installed, as a result of which it is hoped that there will be an upturn in local bicycle tourism and the number of visitors.

Climate protection is a key element of Magyar Telekom's sustainability strategy, so this issue enjoys special attention not only for an hour in the life of the company. Two years ago Magyar Telekom launched a climate protection program to raise awareness and make its employees more sensitive to the problem through dialogue. As part of the efforts to use equipment that put fewer burdens on the environment, the company has introduced free-air cooling equipment in its base stations, PEM energy cells, heat pumps and has added hybrid cars to its car pool. In addition to all this the company will cover more than 10% of its energy needs from renewable energy sources in 2010. Magyar Telekom has, since 2005, been managing under the auspices of ETNO the joint initiative with WWF called "Climate Protection at Light Speed". Under this project climate protection options of infocommunications have been examined at the European level, which recently has started to enjoy the support of the European Union.

About Magyar Telekom
Magyar Telekom is Hungary's biggest provider of telecom services. It provides a full range of telecommunications and infocommunications (ICT) services including fixed line and mobile telephony, data transmission and non-voice as well as IT and systems integration services. The business activities of Magyar Telekom are managed by two business units: Consumer services (the home-related services brand T-Home and the mobile communications brand T-Mobile) and Business services (T-Systems brand). Magyar Telekom is the majority owner of Makedonski Telekom, the leading fixed line and mobile operator in Macedonia and it holds a majority stake in Crnogorski Telekom, the leading telecommunications operator in Montenegro. Magyar Telekom's majority shareholder (59.21%) is MagyarCom Holding GmbH, fully owned by Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information visit www.telekom.hu.