DATA CENTRE PREDICTIONS
The 5G conversation turns to energy consumption and efficiency : In this early stage of 5G planning and launches , the discussion has rightly focused on the ultimate benefits of the technology – increased bandwidth and reduced latency – and the applications it will enable . But , as many countries begin their 5G rollouts this year and the early adopters start to drive breadth and scale , the focus will shift to the significant energy consumption increases brought on by 5G and strategies to deploy more efficiently and effectively . The network densification necessary to fully realise the promise of 5G unavoidably adds to the increased energy demands – estimated to be 3.5x more than 4G . This year will see greater focus on managing that significant increase in energy consumption by exploring more efficient products and practices .
“ Australia and New Zealand are now at the forefront of 5G and driven by streaming and OTT content , we will continue to see data centre limits tested , driving up heating and power loads . Mitigation strategies will be absolutely critical in maintaining 5G business viability and the good news is we ’ re already
THIS YEAR WILL SEE A WAVE OF INNOVATION FOCUSED ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY ACROSS THE DATA CENTRE ECOSYSTEM .
seeing this across the board . In 2021 , telcos will continue driving solutions which support this goal and maximise 5G-led revenue streams ,” said Robert Linsdell , Managing Director Australia and New Zealand at Vertiv .
Sustainability comes to the forefront : 5G is one piece of a broader sustainability story . As the proliferation of data centres continues and even accelerates , especially in the hyperscale space , those cloud and colocation providers are facing increased scrutiny for their energy and water usage . The amplification of the climate change conversation and shifting political winds in the United States and globally will only add to the focus on the data centre industry , which accounts for approximately 1 % of global energy consumption . This year will see a wave of innovation focused on energy efficiency across the data centre ecosystem . The benefits for data centre operators are clear , starting with cost reduction , compliance with existing and anticipated regulations and the goodwill that comes with establishing a leadership position in the global sustainability movement . Look for important innovations across the data centre infrastructure space and especially in the area of thermal management .
“ While the energy required to move a packet of information has reduced , our unquenching thirst for more data is causing power consumption and costs to increase ,” said Linsdell . “ Data volumes will continue to sky-rocket and with the climate change conversation rising again , we ’ ll see technology and infrastructure solutions a big agenda item to enable green practices .” ◊
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