Eco-efficiency is not just about environmental responsibility. It is also a major economic issue. Operators who anticipate these changes and invest in sustainable solutions will gain a clear competitive advantage. Ericsson has called for urgent action to strengthen Europe’s digital competitiveness. This commitment includes promoting sustainable and energy-efficient technologies for network infrastructures.
The year 2024 marks a decisive turning point for mobile operators and TowerCos: the need to innovate while reducing their energy footprint. As demand for connectivity skyrockets with 5G and soon 6G, environmental and economic pressures are pushing industry players to deeply transform their network infrastructures. Mobile traffic is expected to grow by more than 20% per year until 2030. It is important to note that mobile and fixed network consumption already accounts for over 75% of telecoms’ total energy consumption. The industry as a whole has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest, and the most ambitious operators are striving to reach this goal even sooner.
Mobile operators and TowerCos face a complex equation: ensuring ever-improving connectivity while managing rising energy costs and meeting regulatory requirements for CO₂ emissions reduction. In Europe, the Green Deal sets ambitious energy efficiency targets, and many governments are strengthening their eco-design policies for digital infrastructures.
At the same time, consumers and businesses demand concrete commitments to sustainable development. Telcos can no longer rely solely on a purely technological approach; they must integrate an environmental dimension into their growth strategy.
Fortunately, solutions are emerging. Among the notable initiatives in 2024:
- Radio equipment optimization: Orange and Vodafone are testing smart antennas that adjust their power based on network load, thereby reducing electricity consumption during off-peak hours. Huawei has developed solutions integrating Massive MIMO and beamforming technology to optimize energy consumption by precisely directing beams to users.
- Dynamic frequency shutdown: Some operators, such as Telefonica and Deutsche Telekom, leverage AI to automatically switch off unused frequency bands at night, an effective way to reduce consumption without impacting service quality. ZTE was the first to work on dynamic sleep mode technologies to lower base station energy consumption based on network load.
- Renewable energy and storage: American Tower and Cellnex are accelerating the deployment of sites powered by solar panels and battery storage, particularly in rural areas where grid connectivity is costly.
- Data center cooling: More and more operators are adopting liquid cooling solutions for critical network equipment. Singtel, for instance, has reduced its data center energy consumption by 30% using these technologies.
- Infrastructure sharing: Sharing sites and equipment among operators helps reduce the number of installations and, consequently, overall energy consumption.
While these innovations are promising, they are not sufficient on their own. One of the main challenges remains the high initial investment, particularly for TowerCos, which must amortize these costs over long cycles. Additionally, standardizing solutions and ensuring their interoperability with existing infrastructures are key issues to avoid added complexities.
Finally, collaboration between operators, equipment suppliers, and public authorities will be crucial. Some alliances are already emerging, such as the Telco Energy Efficiency Taskforce in Europe, which pools efforts to define energy efficiency standards. Nokia has developed AI-powered automation solutions aimed at managing networks more efficiently.
There is no doubt that reducing energy consumption will become a standard in the telecom industry. Energy-efficient infrastructures are no longer just a constraint but a real lever for differentiation and performance. The players who fully embrace this transition will gain a significant competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving market.
The future of the sector is being shaped now. Energy efficiency must not be an option but a strategic imperative for the telecoms industry of tomorrow.