Global data usage and traffic continue to grow exponentially, drastically impacting the environment. A Boston Consulting Group report predicts the information communications technology (ICT) sector will be responsible for 14% of global CO2 emissions by 2040. Currently, the ICT sector represents 3 to 4% of global CO2 emissions – almost twice the level of the aviation industry – with telcos making up 1.6% of those emissions.
Thankfully, the telco industry recognizes the issues of energy consumption and carbon emission and is actively implementing various methods to reduce its footprint and become more sustainable. Primarily, telcos want to switch to 5G technology and retire legacy infrastructure, which is less energy-efficient. Likewise, they are eager to leverage data analytics to optimize energy consumption across data centers, mobile networks and other operations.
While it is encouraging to see telcos embrace such plans, the reality is that they want to optimize energy consumption via 5G and data analytics because there are business and cost benefits associated with transitioning to 5G and leveraging customer data. Of course, telcos still value sustainability – but they do have real favoritism toward those projects that have more visible and tangible advantages. The challenge for telcos is to dedicate the same time and resources toward other initiatives, which might not be as lucrative but are equally vital to driving sustainability.
The telco supply chain and the circular economy
There is significant waste in the telco supply chain – particularly the single-use of precious metals. Rather than outright disposing of these valuable materials, the industry should seek to create a more circular economy where telcos refurbish, reuse and recycle products to maximize their lifecycle. Indeed, many of the materials required to make new electronic devices, including gold, silver, palladium and copper, can be retrieved from e-waste. Similarly, the telco sector should research potential substitutionary core materials.
Another way telcos can begin shifting toward a more circular economy is by reusing and repurposing 3G and eventually 4G devices, platforms and infrastructure during the transition to 5G. Of course, telcos must be mindful that many developing nations and some locations in developed countries are not in any position to transition to 5G, let alone 4G. However, when those areas and countries are ready to make the switch, telcos should have the necessary processes to help their constituents recycle as much of that legacy infrastructure as possible.
Telcos should also acknowledge that 5G will not save the world. Indeed, 5G is a double-edged sword. While having lower energy consumption, it also requires disruptive and large-scale construction and installation projects for new towers, fibers and data centers. Migrating to 5G too hastily could also create more waste than can get recycled. Plus, from a practical standpoint, people don't want a world covered in data centers with 5G towers on every block.
The underestimated physical footprint of data centers
There is also the growing issue of the physical footprint of data centers on the environment. While there is a buzz about using data centers to heat public swimming pools, this sentiment misses the point, as it focuses on the energy consumption aspect rather than the concerning physical footprint. Consider Ireland – over the past few years, it has become the ideal data center destination. There are 53 operational data centers today, with eight more under construction and 26 in planning approval, which will likely double by 2025.
These data centers usually get built on greenfield or arable land, diminishing available space for crops and natural habitats. Likewise, the transition from green to brownfields directly increases the likelihood of flooding – in most cases, the effects are irreversible. Moreover, data centers are typically built in either poorer or undesirable areas, creating clear societal impacts. Undoubtedly, resolving the physical ramifications of data centers will be a tricky knot to untie, but a necessary one if telcos are to prioritize sustainability.
Responsible and sustainable data storage
As the proliferation of data centers and data usage rises, telcos will, understandably, continue to pursue advancements in data analytics over other sustainability projects. Although it would be preferable for organizations to put equal interest in the circular economy and reusing precious metals, the excitement behind data analytics isn’t going to slow down. Nevertheless, telcos can still be responsible stewards of their data – namely, storing it in more sustainable and environmentally friendly ways.
While there is a desire among telcos (and any other business) that have an extensive backlog of customer data to comb through it and extract valuable insights, there is a point where the energy waste isn’t justifiable. Telcos must differentiate between the valuable data that needs to get maintained and the data that should get deleted after a set time, which will entail appropriate labeling and categorizing. Additionally, telcos must determine which tools to embed within their products and services to facilitate sustainable data capture and storage. And when launching new products, telcos can set KPIs to ensure a sustainable product cycle.
Moreover, telcos should demonstrate to their customers that they are using and collecting their data via ethical and sustainable methods. Consider that photos sent over WhatsApp, Facebook or Instagram get stored across all those different applications, including the sender’s messages and the recipient’s domain. Alternatively, sustainable products will store data in a single location instead of across multiple applications and services; however, telcos must be aware of the sentimentality of consumers’ data, especially for personal photos or videos.
Creating efficiencies in existing processes
Telcos can also promote sustainability by proactively thinking about how emerging technology can help develop new services and drive business in other industries, like automotive, education, energy and utilities, etc. For instance, one company uses data and 5G technology to help organizations in the agriculture sector create efficiencies and boost sustainability within existing processes.
A piece of automated weeding machinery uses video, AI/ML and 5G connectivity to identify whether a plant is a crop or a weed, eliminating the need for pesticides. Additionally, robotic harvesting technology removes waste by picking crops at the ideal time in their growing cycle. These unmanned machines need extremely low latency, high uplink throughput and real-time AI decision and control, which wouldn’t be possible without 5G capabilities.
Nevertheless, telcos must constantly evaluate if their products and solutions store data responsibly. In this agriculture example, the ML and AI element of the weeding machinery requires access to many thousands of photos to help it distinguish between a weed or a piece of corn. If sustainability is a core metric, telcos need to be willing to ask if it is beneficial to store this massive amount of data indefinitely.
True activism starts with education
Pleasing customers and stakeholders while abiding by ESG standards can be challenging. The end customer doesn’t always understand how rising data usage contributes to more CO2 emissions. Likewise, employees might not even be fully aware of the environmental impact of their industry or how their organization plans to curb such harmful emissions. In addition to promoting those less lucrative (but equally valuable) suitability initiatives, telcos must look inwardly and educate their people to foster true activism and drive meaningful change.
