Telecoms Sustainability

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Clumsy claims and other pitfalls of emissions enablement and how to avoid them

Telecoms operators provide enabling technology to help their customers reduce carbon emissions. However, exaggerating claims of enablement may have adverse consequences. This article explores how telecoms operators should approach these claims.

Article

All emissions commitments are for zero, but some are more equal to zero than others

This is our latest article on operators’ transition to net zero and how many operators are (rightly) focusing on energy performance and efficiency as well as sourcing greener power for their operations. It highlights the challenges of green energy sourcing and provides an introduction into the main options.

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How can smart grids benefit from edge computing?

As the use of electricity soars in the move to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels, smart grids have become an essential element in enabling a stable energy market. An AI and analytics-based smart grid will require the ability to process data locally and quickly – this is where edge computing fits. This article explores the benefits of the combination of smart grids and edge computing.

Article

Will 5G facilitate or hinder our quest for a carbon-neutral future?

On the face of it, 5G promises to be a key enabler in our quest for a carbon-neutral future. The potential catch is that 5G will accelerate volumes and energy consumption from new applications and/or displace traffic from even lower energy fixed or WiFi connections.

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When it comes to selling the virtues of their services, mobile operators appear to be stuck in the 1970’s

Today, most networks are on full-power 24hrs a day 365 days a year. Network vendors have introduced a host of technologies that allow 4G and 5G networks to be partly shut down during off-peak times, thereby reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency.

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Where are telcos focusing sustainability efforts?

The 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and agreed upon by all 193 Member States. They are intended to be realised by the year 2030 and provide a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. But the focus on SGDs in telco sustainability initiatives is not consistent across telcos.

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Telco journey in reducing carbon emissions

There are over eighty telecoms operators globally that turn over $1 billion or more in revenues every year. As major companies, service providers (SPs) have a role to play in reducing global carbon emissions. So far, they have been behind the curve.

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Where are SPs in their roadmap to net zero?

The telecoms industry has a key role to play in reducing global carbon emissions, but as it stands there is huge variety in how close SPs are to achieving net zero. This article explores where SPs are in their sustainability journeys, and their key areas of focus moving forwards.

Telco roadmap to net-zero carbon emissions: Why, when and how

Based on discussions with 40 service providers (SPs) this report explores the challenges, priorities, strategies and best practices they identified around reducing carbon emissions.

Sustainability: Why it’s good for business

Telcos should embrace sustainability not just as a PR goal, but as a new heart to their purpose and strategy in the Coordination Age. By doing so they can unite and motivate employees, customers, investors and partners, and reignite growth and innovation.

Why energy management is critical to 5G success

Operators’ pursuit of growth through 5G is tied to meeting the challenge of lower, cleaner energy and practical guidance on how to achieve this

How 5G can cut 1.7 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2030

Based on extensive industry interviews and detailed modelling, 5G-enabled use cases can reduce carbon emissions in the energy industry by almost 1% by 2030. How – and what – should telcos, the energy sector and governments do to achieve this?

Curtailing carbon emissions – Can 5G help?

Data volumes are growing inexorably. With the right deployment, how could 5G help to improve networks’ energy performance and curtail carbon emissions?

Webinar

Clean energy: critical for 5G’s success?

5G promises to enhance telcos’ connectivity capabilities and bolster growth, but it also presents a challenge for them to keep operating costs down, meet their sustainability goals and mitigate new risks for customers, investors and governments. How should telcos approach their design, procurement, deployment and operation of 5G to minimise and de-carbonise their energy use, while also driving their customers’ transition to lower emissions through 5G-enabled services?

Webinar

5G’s role in reducing carbon emissions – over 1.6B tonnes by 2030

5G-enabled use cases are estimated to enable close to a 1% reduction in total global emissions by 2030 – this is equivalent to approximately half of all Canada’s carbon emissions in 2018. In this webinar STL Partners demonstrated which 5G use cases play the biggest role in reducing emissions and how the ecosystem must work together.

Webinar

5G key to enabling a carbon-neutral future webinar

In this session, Phil Laidler and Miran Gilmore explored how 5G can help to improve networks’ energy performance and curtail carbon emissions. Phil and Miran argued telcos need to achieve a step-change in networks and business practices. 5G New Radio, massive MIMO and mmWave technologies will be able to provide this step-change at first to contain, and then to reduce, carbon emissions from mobile networks.