The iBus ESG Management System defines corporate policies, assigns ESG responsibilities, allocates budgets, and aligns their business Key Performance Indicators (KPI) with the company’s sustainability commitments. These policy commitments include to become net zero for carbon emissions (scopes 1-3) by 2028, support for employee diversity and inclusion, contributing to healthy communities, and maximizing corporate governance transparency. iBus also have a Health, Safety, and Working Environment (HSW) policy that includes procedures for OHS risk identification and mitigation, for example how to be safe when working at hights or doing electrical work. This policy applies to all iBus staff, vendors, and subcontractors. The iBus Board members on the Executive Committee (EC) appoint their representatives to the ESG Council that manages the day-to-day actions required to achieve the company’s ESG priorities. The ESG Council monitors and reports to internal and external stakeholders on emergency preparedness and fire safety, HSW performance, and emissions and management of waste materials, among others.

iBus Human Resources (HR) policies and procedures are also largely consistent with national labor regulations and IFC PS2 Labor and Working Conditions requirements. For example, the iBus Employee Handbook describes staff and management rights and obligations applicable to recruitment, compensation, grievance redress, sexual harassment, Code of Conduct, etc. In relation to third-party contractor workers iBus will implement a Contractor Management Procedure in line with IFC PS to: i) assess and monitor their contractors’ E&S and HSW capacity and performance; ii) assess their contractors’ compliance with applicable labor and working conditions regulations and IFC PS2 requirements; and iii) include  obligations aligned with PS2 requirements in their legal agreements with contractors (see ESAP#1).

 iBus will also enhance its supply chain risk management through adopting a Supply Chain Risk Management Procedure in line with IFC PS2 (see ESAP#2).    

In terms of resource efficiency and pollution prevention, iBus operations are not resource intensive, nor do they generate significant by-products. The company is nonetheless seeking to establish itself as a green digital infrastructure corporate citizen. For iBus, this means becoming carbon neutral by 2028 by adopting significant decarbonization measures around energy, materials, and waste. For example, by shifting from conventional to renewable energy, installing smart meters for use with their Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS), replacing copper cable with fibre optic ones, and replacing diesel generators as the primary redundancy for DAS sites with long life, higher reliability battery technology. iBus activities produce limited amounts of e-waste in the form of cables and network hardware. The afterlife of these products is generally managed by on-site building authorities who are required by law to contract accredited collectors for disposal.  

The proposed project risks and impacts to community health, safety, and security are also likely to be extremely limited. Through application of iBus commitments reflected in their ESG, HSW, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies, the company ensures that all such potential risks are identified and managed effectively. For example, installation and maintenance activities are generally scheduled for evenings when their client’s facilities are closed to the public. Furthermore, iBus do not employ security personnel. If security personnel are present at iBus operations, they are hired and managed by iBus clients including hotel and office managers, airports and malls, etc. These large corporate clients typically also have well designed community health, safety, and security programs covering everything from infrastructure and equipment design to emergency preparedness and response.      

iBus stakeholder engagement is limited, however broadly commensurate with the also limited nature and scale of the proposed project’s E&S risks and impacts. For example, stakeholder identification and planning are primarily designed to inform iBus CSR activities, rather than to assess attitudes towards company activities or to receive external communications. These actions focus on improving social outcomes related to education, health, environment, and gender equality. Going forward, iBus will develop a Stakeholder Engagement Procedure in line with IFC PS1 to: i) Define communications channels for external stakeholders; ii) Communicate this process to staff and contractors; and iii) Display Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) contact information at iBus installation and operations sites (see ESAP#3).    

Contact: Mr. Ram Sellaratnam

Title: CEO of iBus Network and Infrastructure Private Limited

Email: info@ibusnetworks.com

Mailing Address: 3rd Floor, IndiQube Logos, No. 206 M.G Road, Bengaluru – 560001, Karnataka

Website: https://ibusglobal.com/