The carbon impact or carbon footprint generated by the activities of various industries and companies is now a matter of paramount importance in their strategies. It’s not just about complying with regulations or implementing responsible ESG policies—although, of course, that is part of it too. We’re talking about a matter directly tied to market competitiveness, efficiency, and even future survival. For companies with considerable energy consumption, such as those in the communications sector, energy efficiency should be at the top of the list of priorities, if not the absolute number one.

Sustainable practices in telecommunications to enhance energy efficiency

Fortunately, technological innovations like 5G and Artificial Intelligence, even when working in tandem, can be powerful allies in reducing the carbon footprint. This dynamic duo should become a prominent factor in any industry, but especially in telecommunications, which is responsible for between 1.5% and 3% of global electricity consumption in a single year.

Commitment to renewable energy sources

The biggest “bite” in tackling energy efficiency should be made through the use of renewable or green energy sources. This is particularly true for data centers, but also for any other infrastructure or facility that requires a substantial energy consumption. Solar, wind, geothermal, or any other viable alternative energy sources are fundamental pillars, not only to keep the carbon footprint in check but also to achieve greater cost efficiency in the long term, as they are much more economical than fossil fuel-based energy sources.

Operational energy efficiency

In addition to utilizing green energy, telecommunications companies must go the extra mile to adopt energy-efficient processes, choose technologies and developments that maximize the use of available energy, and minimize waste as much as possible by selecting cooling mechanisms that allow for full operational capacity without causing energy consumption to skyrocket. Data processing and transmission always lead to increased temperatures in processors, which is almost always responsible for a proportional increase in the overall energy consumption of the system.

AI and 5G: a sustainable duo

As mentioned earlier, 5G and Artificial Intelligence—particularly in combination—can significantly help control energy efficiency. 5G technology is much more efficient in terms of energy consumption compared to previous generations of mobile networks, which means that even with higher data traffic in the future, the amount of energy required to transmit that data will be significantly lower.

Meanwhile, AI algorithms can analyze large volumes of data and make real-time recommendations to optimize energy usage in telecommunications systems. For example, AI can predict peaks in data demand and adjust the energy required for telecom towers, reducing unnecessary energy consumption during periods of low usage.

In recent years, the telecommunications industry has faced harsh criticism from certain sectors, as it is often perceived as a major contributor to global warming and the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Without delving into debates about the validity or basis of these accusations, it is clear that companies in the sector now have the opportunity to lead the change and spearhead a shift in corporate culture, as well as the transition towards a new energy consumption paradigm, to achieve a connected future and, ultimately, a cleaner tomorrow.