BUILDING a sustainable future is not optional but, rather, a deliberate choice we have to make for a safe future. To reach these decarbonisation goals, telecom operators are trying to have a leadership position in sustainability and the use of renewable energy sources. The Green Telecom Network is now explored as a potential application of green solutions as the globe looks for better energy sources.
Using energy-efficient technology, smart network design, renewable energy use and environmentally-acceptable consumables are all necessary for a telecom network to be implemented. In places where they do not have a network, operators might think of sharing a nearby existing tower instead of establishing their own. The telecom industry鈥檚 overall energy consumption will drop because of such an agreement that is called a corporate power purchase.
These days, the global energy consumption for telecom operators is about 2鈥�3 per cent, making them some of the most energy-intensive businesses in respective regions. Operators鈥� carbon footprint increases along with their energy use, harming not only the environment but also their reputation and position.
After an unprecedented consumer demand for digital communications and the rising demand for fast speed in digital communication during the Covid pandemic, telecom infrastructures are using more energy than ever. The information and communications technology industry and telecom providers have a large impact on both CO2 emissions and waste since worldwide data traffic is anticipated to expand by a significant number annually.
So, it is necessary for telecom providers to control network capacity along with aggressively adopting green ways of conducting large-scale operations. Otherwise, the energy sector will continue to contribute to climate change through emissions from electronics and waste production. They can also contaminate the soil or other ecosystems in the vicinity of production or disposal sites.
Telecom companies are exploring ways to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of their data centre operations. This includes implementing energy-efficient technologies and practices, such as server virtualisation, data centre consolidation and an increased use of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. Many telecom companies are also investing in advanced power management tools and technologies. Investment in artificial intelligence and machine learning is also introduced to optimise power consumption and reduce energy waste.
Eco-friendly networks are the ones that are built with low power consumption and energy efficiency in mind. The primary goal of green networks is to reduce energy consumption while increasing efficiency and optimisation. Although implementing green networks has unquestionably become morally necessary, the cost of energy now represents mostly telecom operating expenses. The need to reduce these expenses through the implementation of green mobile networks is both a social and a financial necessity.听
Renewable energy-powered networks minimise the amount of carbon that is emitted during their daily operation. Typically, a tower is run on a grid and battery combination and when both sources are unavailable, diesel generators are switched on to ensure network availability. The industry鈥檚 endeavour should be to make this generator redundant and run the network on green energy sources like solar, wind, hydrogen fuel cells, or enhanced battery capacities (lithium ion, lithium phosphate) for extra backup in the network building, supply and manufacturing processes. Networks should be considered for their complete supply chain.
Some of the telecom towers in Bangladesh have successfully started deploying diesel-free sites and a better grid power availability is on the rise to adhere to the quality standards laid down by the government. Energy consumption, renewable energy sources and a CO2 reduction strategy are the three vital elements that must work in tandem for a network to be considered green.
Low-powered rectifiers, Li-ion/LFP batteries and advanced solar power controllers should be deployed to address grid power interruption and fluctuation. Upcycling the setups with the implementation of energy-efficient solutions can be a great opportunity to drive change in the carbon-free emission agenda.听
Network infrastructure energy efficiency is a priority for operators as the base stations represent most of the energy consumption. With a significant increase in the amount of data traffic since the launch of 5G, it presents a unique challenge of supplying reliable and clean energy to telcos and tower cos. Stabilisation of power-on-demand is critical for handling the transition from 4G to 5G, edge computing and IoT, and further related technologies.听
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Rifaque Ahmed is an engineer.
