Background
Energy efficiency is high on the agenda of mobile operators for both financial and environmental reasons, as network energy makes up the majority of their own emissions and a rising share of operating expenses.
As demand for widespread connectivity grows, so too does demand for mobile data. Throug hinnovation, the industry has boosted the efficiency of every new generation of mobile technology and 5G is the most energy efficient yet. The roll-out of 5G and densification of towers mean that, in the short term, mobile networks are expected to consume more electricity to support the increase in data traffic. This increase can be mitigated by retiring older, less energy efficient 2G and 3G networks, by switching from copper to fibre for fixed networks and by deploying energy-efficient features of 5G, such as AI-optimised sleep modes.
The industry is working on several fronts:
- Improving the efficiency of new networks with 5G specification by calling for a 90% reduction in the energy used to transfer each unit of data.25 GSMA Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure (CVD) programme.
- Switching off and removing legacy network equipment as soon as it becomes feasible to support migration to newer, more energy- efficient equipment.
- Running efficiency programmes to identify energy hotspots and deploy measures to reduce energy consumption – for example, through temperature optimisation, free cooling at cell sites and power-saving features such as AI, selective switch-off and generator battery hybrids.
- Encouraging mobile operators to earn the ISO 50001 certificate, which is the global standard for energy management systems in organisations.
- Sharing and encouraging alignment with energy best practice across the industry to effectively highlight operators’ energy- efficiency measures.
- Making fleets more energy-efficient by investing in more fuel-efficient and lower carbon vehicles, and by improving access to electric vehicle charging stations to facilitate the transition.
Debate
How can innovation in mobile technology support the aim of national energy efficiency improvements?
How can the mobile industry and governments work together to retire inefficient legacy equipment?
Industry position
Policies that support and incentivise the transition to more energy efficient networks and mobile industry practice are an important part of achieving carbon reduction goals.
The mobile industry calls on governments to:
- Support the roll-out of newer, more energy efficient networks such as 5G, where it is feasible to do so, including through efficient spectrum policy.
- Enable older, less energy efficient legacy equipment to be retired in regions where this is feasible and circumstances dictate market readiness for deployment.
- Provide incentives for businesses to deploy energy efficiency measures – for example, through reduced taxation for upgrading equipment, regulatory treatment and preference in public procurement.
- Support research and development for innovative, energy-efficient technologies – for example, for network equipment, data centres and buildings
Resources
5G Energy Efficiencies: Green is the New Black, GSMA Intelligence, 2020
Going Green: Benchmarking the Energy Efficiency of Mobile (Second Edition), GSMA Intelligence, 2023