Achieving Sustainability and Carbon Neutrality through Telco Infrastructure Management

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Matthias Gromman, Director of Business Line IT & Data Center Solutions at FNT Software

Telco companies and mobile network operators are at the forefront of a global movement towards sustainability. Recognizing their significant environmental impact, these organizations have set ambitious targets to reduce their carbon footprint. With goals to slash emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions between 2040–2050, telcos are undertaking monumental efforts to transform their operations and lead the charge towards a greener future.

One of the most prominent strategies adopted by telcos is the transition to 100% renewable energy to power their active infrastructure elements. By harnessing solar, wind, and other renewable sources, these companies are not only reducing their reliance on fossil fuels but also mitigating their contribution to climate change. This shift towards renewable energy is a cornerstone of their sustainability initiatives and reflects a commitment to environmental stewardship.

In addition to renewable energy adoption, telcos are implementing a range of measures to enhance energy efficiency and reduce e-waste. One notable action is the development and deployment of base station technology that consumes significantly less electric energy than previous models. Through innovations such as massive MIMO, beamforming, and dynamic power control, telcos are optimizing network performance while minimizing power consumption and interference. These advancements not only improve the sustainability of telco operations but also contribute to overall carbon footprint reduction.

However, amidst these commendable efforts lies a persistent challenge: accurately documenting and optimizing the eco-footprint of telco infrastructure. This challenge is twofold, encompassing both embodied emissions and emissions during the “use” phase of IT equipment lifecycle. The diverse and ever-changing nature of telco infrastructure poses significant obstacles to maintaining up-to-date carbon footprint documentation.

Understanding the Greenhouse Gas Protocol

To address this challenge effectively, telcos must adopt a holistic approach that encompasses the entire lifecycle of IT equipment. This includes understanding the greenhouse gas (GHG) protocol and its relevance to telco operations. The GHG protocol classifies emissions into three scopes, each with varying severity and tracking requirements. Success in decarbonization depends on efforts across all three scopes, necessitating robust data documentation and analysis.

Scope 1 emissions encompass direct emissions from sources owned and controlled by telcos, such as fossil fuel combustion. Scope 2 includes indirect emissions from purchased electricity consumption. Finally, Scope 3 covers embodied emissions, presenting challenges in accurately measuring and mitigating carbon footprints.

To overcome these hurdles, telcos must stay in control of their infrastructure composition, optimize decision-making processes, and actively manage the supply chain. This entails implementing sustainability strategies compliant with tightening regulations, ensuring access to corporate refinancing sources, and leveraging tax exemption programs. Telcos can also capitalize on incentives such as federal assistance programs and European directives to fund sustainability initiatives. Compliance with sustainability standards not only enhances environmental stewardship but also reduces operational costs and fosters eligibility for tax benefits.

Addressing embodied emissions requires a proactive approach towards sourcing low-emission equipment and documenting environmental impact data provided by manufacturers. The incorporation of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) offers valuable insights into emissions associated with equipment production and usage. By leveraging EPD data, telcos can make informed decisions that minimize their environmental footprint while maximizing operational efficiency.

Achieving Carbon Neutrality through Infrastructure Management

An infrastructure management solution with advanced inventory capabilities is vital to address the many challenges that come with carbon footprint documentation. Implementing such a tool can empower telcos to document emissions, track progress, and demonstrate compliance effectively. By utilizing a combination of EPD data, inheritance features, user-friendly interfaces, and APIs, telcos can streamline sustainability efforts and validate their environmental impact reduction strategies.

Benefits of a Telco Infrastructure Management Tool

Document emissions: Document the embodied emissions (CO2 plus the whole range of other eco impact factors like freshwater use, mineral resource depletion, acidification) as well as the CO2 emissions during the lifecycle phase use of every element in your IT, network and data center infrastructure – physical devices as well as every virtualized element.

Keep documentation up-to-date: Maintain current documentation with near-zero effort in an ever-changing infrastructure landscape where devices are constantly added, removed, relocated and changed in their composition.

Gain insight into trends: Use business intelligence to compare and analyze the infrastructure setup in regard to CO2 in every dimension: zonal location (building, floor, room, cage, rack), manufacturer (with product lines/families, models), organizational unit responsible and device type.  

Track progress and prove success: Show internal stakeholders and external auditors that your decarbonization strategy and device and resource purchase policies are working and that the IT, network, and data center are key contributors to helping the company meet its regulatory obligations and stay compliant.

Steps Toward a Sustainable Future

As leaders in the telecommunications industry, telcos have a unique opportunity to pave the way towards a more sustainable future, setting a precedent for other industries to follow suit. To further enhance the energy efficiency of their infrastructure, telcos are heavily investing in research and development. This includes the exploration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to optimize network operations and minimize energy consumption.

Additionally, many telcos are collaborating with industry partners, policymakers, and environmental organizations to drive collective action towards sustainability. By participating in initiatives such as the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the United Nations Global Compact, telcos are aligning their sustainability efforts with internationally recognized standards and best practices.

Telcos should also actively engage with their suppliers and vendors to promote sustainability throughout the supply chain. By implementing sustainable procurement practices and encouraging suppliers to adopt environmentally responsible policies, telcos can extend their influence beyond their own operations and into the broader ecosystem.

Another key aspect of telco sustainability initiatives is community engagement and outreach. By investing in education and awareness programs, telcos can empower their customers and communities to adopt more sustainable behaviors. This includes initiatives to promote energy efficiency, reduce electronic waste, and foster digital inclusion in underserved areas.

Finally, telcos can leverage their expertise and infrastructure to support environmental conservation efforts. For example, some telcos have partnered with conservation organizations to deploy sensor networks for environmental monitoring and wildlife conservation. These initiatives not only contribute to biodiversity conservation but also enhance the resilience of telco infrastructure to environmental risks.

In conclusion, the journey towards sustainability and carbon neutrality in telco infrastructure management is a complex and multifaceted endeavor. However, by embracing innovation, collaboration, and leadership, telcos can navigate the challenges ahead and emerge as true champions of environmental stewardship. As we look towards the future, telcos have a unique opportunity to drive positive change and create a more sustainable world for generations to come.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Matthias Gromann is Director of Business Line IT & Data Center Solutions at FNT Software. He has many years of experience as an IT technology expert and is FNT’s topic leader for service-oriented automation in infrastructure management. In his role, he shapes FNT’s solution approaches for enterprise IT, helping companies to achieve greater transparency, more security, and increased productivity in the operation of critical infrastructures.

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Categories: Energy · Industry Viewpoint