The phone and internet companies make up about 2-3% of the world’s greenhouse gases that cause climate change. As more people use the internet on their phones, these companies need to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
Ericsson is one phone equipment company leading the way. They promised to have zero carbon emissions in their business by 2030. An independent research company called ABI Research named them the “Most Sustainable Telecom Company” for their work on using less energy.
One way they did this was by using AI software to cut energy use in mobile networks by up to 10%. Their 5G designs also improved efficiency by 10% for radio towers and 2% for power units. As 5G spreads globally, solutions like these could reduce emissions even as data use grows fast.
As reliance on digital connectivity grows, cable providers like West Palm Beach Cable providers must take the lead in sustainable operations to curb their rising carbon footprint.
The Role of Product Energy Management
The energy performance of telecommunications equipment plays a major role in determining emissions from network operations. With mobile data traffic expanding, reducing product energy consumption is vital.
Ericsson focuses on this challenge from the initial design phase. Hardware and software are optimized for efficiency while ensuring high speeds and capacity. Components also allow intelligent power scaling – ramping up or down based on real-time bandwidth needs.
Their approach has enabled huge efficiency improvements:
– Up to 90% savings between legacy 2G networks and new 5G deployments
– Up to 30 times lower energy consumption per subscriber between 3G and 5G equipment
As 5G continues to proliferate, such optimized product performance will compound emissions reductions globally.
Optimizing Networks for Energy and Carbon Savings
Using less energy across the full mobile network is key for phone companies to be greener. As 5G networks spread and get more complicated, artificial intelligence (AI) tools help make them run.
Ericsson uses AI in a few cool ways:
First, the network can tell when very few people are using it, like late at night. It then switches some equipment into low-power “sleep mode” to save 65% of energy during these times.
Second, AI optimizes the size of network towers’ coverage area based on the number of users and their data needs. The towers then only send enough signals for that specific area. This change happens to keep efficiency high.
Third, AI predicts how much power the network’s supply units need for a certain area’s traffic. This stops extra unused capacity from wasting energy across the whole system.
The network tunes the radio signals based on changing connection speeds and bandwidth needs. This optimization reduces energy use by 10-15%.
As 5G expands globally, solutions like these will compound the energy savings. AI helps make the networks greener at scale. Phone companies use it to get the best balance of network performance and lower electricity use.
Core Areas Driving Sustainable Operations
Beyond products and services, three core areas are shaping cable providers’ sustainability journeys:
Transition to Renewable Energy
Switching to solar, wind, and hydroelectricity can reduce phone companies’ emissions. For example, 73% of the power Ericsson uses comes from clean sources. They are on target to reach 100% renewable electricity by 2030. Ericsson has two main plans to hit this goal:
First, they are signing deals to buy renewable electricity from utility companies through what’s called “power purchase agreements.”
Second, they are adding solar panels and wind turbines to generate clean energy at their equipment sites.
In 2020 alone, Ericsson signed 13 big new contracts to buy 760 gigawatt-hours yearly of green power from utilities. That’s enough to run over 86,000 homes! The company said these new electricity purchases are “instrumental” to shrinking their carbon footprint.
Adopt 5G and Advanced Technologies
With up to 90% lower power consumption than 4G, 5G allows more data transmission for less energy. New technologies like massive MIMO antennas, software-based networks, and AI are making a big difference in handling the increasing demand for data.
Imagine you have a radio with more antenna parts (massive MIMO). It can handle more data without needing more energy. This kind of setup has shown it can save more than 75% of energy in real networks.
Then there’s software that helps a lot. It allows different parts of the network to work together better, reducing the need for extra hardware. And AI is like having a smart helper. It adjusts settings based on how much traffic there is, helping to use less energy when it’s not needed as much. All these technologies are making our networks smarter and more efficient.
Optimize Product Design
It’s crucial that phone equipment makers like Ericsson consider environmental impact early when developing new products.
For example, Ericsson’s newest 5G radios are 93% more energy efficient than past ones. The company achieved such huge savings by optimizing the hardware and software for efficiency during the research and development phases, before even bringing the 5G radios to market.
Implementing Sustainable Manufacturing
From raw materials to finished products, manufacturing practices also have sizable sustainability implications in telecommunications.
Ericsson’s 5G “Smart Factory” in Lewisville, Texas provides insights into green manufacturing advancements. Leveraging a digital twin model of the entire factory, each stage of the assembly process is orchestrated by AI. This ensures streamlined material flows, minimizing waste. Production operations are also automated using IoT sensors and advanced robotics – reducing environmental footprint.
Moreover, by using renewable energy, responsible sourcing policies for materials, and sustainable logistics, the factory serves as a blueprint for green, high-tech manufacturing.
The Path to Broad Sustainable Impact
As people are urging cable providers to be more eco-friendly, there are new and exciting ideas coming up. Things like AI and machine learning can help make networks work better and need less maintenance. Using cloud-based software and open interfaces also makes networks more efficient and flexible.
Groups that set the rules for technology are also making sure it’s more sustainable. For example, the 3GPP is planning to make sure that new 5G equipment uses 50% less energy in its upcoming rules. With these cool ideas and rules, the goal is to make the telecom industry produce zero emissions, which is an important idea.
FAQs
1. Why is the impact of cable providers on the environment significant?
Cable providers play a part in global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing about 2-3%. As our use of digital connections increases, it’s crucial for cable providers to operate sustainably and reduce their carbon footprint.
2. What challenges do cable providers face in becoming environmentally friendly?
The main challenges include updating old technology, as well as a lack of clear standards for sustainability. Tracking emissions in their supply chains can also be tough due to their complexity.
3. How can consumers help cable providers become greener?
Consumers can choose providers that use renewable energy or share their concerns through surveys and social media. Being mindful of how much data we use also helps by reducing the need for expanding energy-hungry network capacity.
Closing Thoughts
Ericsson focuses on being a top sustainable choice for phone companies globally. Along with making money, they focus on reducing their environmental impact in three key areas. First, the products themselves like 5G radios and equipment. Second, how their telecom networks operate day-to-day. Third, their manufacturing process to build products. Thinking about sustainability isn’t only due to regulations. It’s because people today care more about climate change and want companies to take action. Ericsson believes succeeding financially and environmentally can happen together through smart technology innovations. They aim to prove concepts like powering strong network connections, driving economic growth, and lowering emissions aren’t conflicting goals. By being both profitable and green, Ericsson hopes to show the telecom industry that caring for the planet matters. They want to set an example that technology can enable sustainable progress globally.
