TelecomTV TelecomTV
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Events
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • Open RAN
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • 5G
  • Access Evolution
  • Private Networks
  • Cloud Native
  • Edge
  • Open Networking
  • Sustainability
  • AI, Analytics and Automation
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Security
  • More Topics
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • |
  • About
  • Contact
  • |
  • Connect with us
  • 5G
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Access Evolution
  • AI, Analytics and Automation
  • Cloud Native
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • Edge
  • Open Networking
  • Open RAN
  • Private Networks
  • Security
  • Sustainability
  • Connect with TelecomTV
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Sign In Register Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • Search

Sustainability

Sustainability

5G’s carbon footprint conundrum

Ray Le Maistre
By Ray Le Maistre

Mar 11, 2021

  • 5G can boast lower energy consumption per bit
  • But network densification is set to increase total energy consumption
  • Efforts underway to contain 5G’s carbon footprint

Energy consumption, and how to contain it as part of a broader sustainability strategy, is front of mind for network operators around the world as they build out and operate their 5G networks.  

But it’s a tough battle to densify networks by deploying more edge locations and small cells, while at the same time keep energy costs down and sticking to carbon footprint goals, noted a speaker during the DSP Leaders World Forum roundtable discussion, Maximising efficiency in the roll out of 5G systems.

“We are very concerned about the energy consumption of our mobile operator customers, because it represents between 20% to 40% of the network opex,” stated José Antonio Aranda, Innovation and Product Strategy Director at Cellnex, the European neutral host giant that manages tens of thousands of mobile infrastructure sites that are used by multiple service providers. 

The reality, he said, is that the densification of 5G networks coupled with increasing data traffic volumes “is going to increase the energy that is consumed and therefore the expense.”

Not that there haven’t been some notable advances in reducing the amount of energy consumed per Gigabyte of data. Jane Rygaard, Head of Dedicated Wireless Networks and Edge Clouds, Nokia, noted that the Finnish vendor conducted a study at the end of 2020 with Telefónica focused on energy consumption per bit in 5G networks, and “compared with earlier mobile technologies, we actually found that [5G] was 90% more efficient.” 

The roundtable includes plenty of further discussion about how energy consumption levels can be further reduced in 5G networks, and further aspects of the topic were covered during the live Q&A session focused on 5G and Sustainability, which took place on 11 March, featuring Miguel Carames, Director Network and Technology planning at Verizon, Paul Miller, Chief Technology Officer at Wind River, and Susan James, Senior Director, Telecommunications Strategy at Red Hat, as well as Rygaard and Aranda. That session, as well as the roundtable discussion, are available to view on demand.  

- Ray Le Maistre, Editorial Director, TelecomTV

Related Topics
  • 5G,
  • Analysis & Opinion,
  • Europe,
  • Global,
  • News,
  • Nokia,
  • Radio Access Network,
  • Sustainability,
  • Telco & CSP,
  • Telecoms Vendors & OEMs

More Like This

5G

​​Rakuten Mobile teams up with power grid firm to accelerate 4G/5G rollout

Jul 4, 2022

Access Evolution

Juniper Networks Announces Cloud Metro Innovation to Drive Sustainable Business Growth for Service Providers

Jul 4, 2022

Sustainability

Ribbon Wins TIA QuEST Forum Sustainability Award for Excellence in Network Equipment Sustainability

Jun 30, 2022

Sustainability

What’s up with… Chunghwa Telecom, Ericsson, MWC, UK telcos

Jun 27, 2022

Sustainability

Chunghwa Telecom cuts energy use by an average of 33 percent using Ericsson 5G solutions

Jun 27, 2022

Email Newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest industry developments: sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox – including our daily news briefing and weekly wrap.

Subscribe

Top Picks

Highlights of our content from across TelecomTV today

10:14

Executive Interview: Vodafone’s Lucia De Miguel Albertos on the ultimate RAN Intelligent Controller

39:34

Figuring out the TCO of Open RAN

6:47

Dell's Role in Open RAN

4:24

Executive Interview: Neil McRae on BT's Open RAN Plans

TelecomTV
Company
  • About Us
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
Our Brands
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • Great Telco Debate
  • TelecomTV Events
Get In Touch
[email protected]lecomtv.com
+44 (0) 207 448 1070
Connect With Us
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal Notices
  • Help

TelecomTV is produced by the team at Decisive Media.

© Decisive Media Limited 2022. All rights reserved. All brands and products are the trademarks of their respective holder(s).