According to new research from the GSM Association (GSMA), 49 mobile telecom carriers representing 62 percent of the industry’s revenue have committed to reducing emissions significantly over the next decade.
This is despite a double-digit increase in data traffic and 5G extensions, according to the research.
Despite the challenges of Covid-19, this is an increase of 18 operators in 2020.
Furthermore, by revenue, 50% of mobile network providers have committed to net-zero objectives by 2050 or earlier.
According to the research, in 2021, operators will be able to keep carbon emissions to an average rise of 2%. Even when networks developed dramatically to meet customer demand, industry companies were able to reduce their carbon footprint by investing in more energy-efficient network equipment and lower-carbon energy sources.
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“We are delighted that the mobile sector continues to unite with the 1.5C decarbonization route, especially in the face of a double-digit increase in demand for mobile services,” said GSMA Director General Mats Granryd in response to the research. We still have a long way to go to meet our net-zero goals, but mobile will undoubtedly play a critical role in assisting enterprises and individuals throughout the world in reducing their carbon footprint.
Connected solutions like remote working, IoT, and automation, according to the GSMA Director, are significant facilitators in lowering travel, cutting emissions in other industries, and moving to a lower-carbon future.
While more effort is needed to achieve its net-zero goal by 2050, the mobile sector continues to make significant progress in effectively decoupling data traffic from power use and carbon emissions. Last year, data traffic increased by 31%, while power increased by 5%, yet linked carbon emissions only increased by 2%.
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and virtualization are increasingly using it in business to maximize power utilization in equipment, centralize network resources, and eliminate needless heating and air conditioning.
As well as harnessing operational efficiencies, operators are transitioning to more renewable electricity, with 18 percent of total electricity consumption sourced from renewable sources during 2021, up from 14 percent in 2020. Given the electricity demand to power mobile networks, the GSMA continues to call on governments to create suitable energy market frameworks for businesses to access renewable electricity at a competitive price.
