INDUSTRY WATCH
40 % OF ENTERPRISES SURVEYED FOR THE REPORT INDICATED ENERGY EFFICIENCY SHOULD BE THE FIRST OR SECOND PRIORITY FOR TELECOM OPERATORS WHEN DEPLOYING 5G NETWORKS .
5G will be the most transformative
communications technology in a generation and enable a universe of new services , including advanced energy management capabilities that will be critical to solving growing energy and sustainability challenges . But new research highlights the practical challenges of 5G energy management facing telecommunications operators .
Estimates suggest 5G networks can be up to 90 % more efficient per traffic unit than their 4G predecessors , but they still require far more energy due to increased network density , heavy reliance on IT systems and infrastructure and increased network use and accelerated traffic growth .
The report from telecommunications consultancy STL Partners and Vertiv , a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions , concludes telecom operators should address these challenges in two ways : By adopting energy efficiency best practices across their networks and by encouraging their customers to adopt 5G-enabled services to reduce consumption and emissions in all walks of life .
STL Partners estimates global 5G traffic will overtake 3G / 4G as soon as 2025 , making sustainability an urgent priority for operators . In fact , 40 % of enterprises surveyed for the report indicated energy efficiency should be the first or second priority for telecom operators when deploying 5G networks .
The report , Why Energy Management Is Critical To 5G Success , uses research including a survey of 500 enterprises globally to outline the challenges telcos face as they wrestle with the increased energy use and costs associated with 5G . The paper identifies several best practices aimed at mitigating those increases and costs , organized across five categories :
1 . Network technology : Deploying hardware and software designed and operated for efficiency
2 . Facilities infrastructure : Including new edge data centers to support cloud-native IT
3 . Infrastructure management : Deploying the appropriate hardware and software to measure , monitor , manage , improve and automate the network
4 . Organization and evaluation : Taking a holistic , full lifecycle view of costs and investments across the network
5 . Working with others : Embracing innovative and non-traditional commercial models , standards and collaboration
“ Telecom operators making meaningful energy and cost reductions are doing so by evaluating the entire ecosystems around their network operations – people , objectives , infrastructure and partners ,” said Scott Armul , Vice President for Global DC Power and Outside Plant at Vertiv . “ Because of the reliance on IT to enable 5G applications , a high degree of collaboration will be required across operators , OEMs and infrastructure providers and customers to ensure deployments are optimized and every possible efficiency is pursued .”
5G as a tool for sustainability
The report makes clear that network efficiency improvements and best practices , while important , are only one piece of the energy puzzle that comes with 5G . Those efforts must be paired with a more holistic , societal approach to curbing energy use and emissions that leverages 5G capabilities in ways far beyond the control of the telco operator .
“ Operators are deploying 5G networks to grow new revenues . This growth will come from new connectivity and applications enabling operators ’ customers ’ own
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