‘Green’ quest focuses on networks: Burdened with 80% of wireless’ carbon footprint

SAN FRANCISCO — The inevitable explosion in wireless data usage may well present the biggest challenge to an industry as eager as any other to go “green.”
Global telecom’s power consumption will more than double as data takes off, according to David Lewis, marketing director for Nokia Siemens Networks. And thus the race is on to squeeze efficiencies out of those networks by making them energy efficient, using alternative, renewable energy sources and automating site maintenance.
Data traffic is projected by the company to multiply by a factor of 2.5 by 2015 and soar to 3.5x to 20x by 2020, with the latter, fuzzy projection a reflection of market uncertainties that nonetheless are likely to have fundamental repercussions for the wireless industry.
But these basic projections also established an underlying theme to a morning session Wednesday on the topic: With networks consuming 80% of the ecosystem’s overall power, network efficiencies will be avidly sought, and that’s an example of corporate self-interest that can be spun into “green” gold for branding and imaging purposes.
Simply put, reducing one’s carbon footprint is good for a sustainable business, and more.
“Going green is not just about doing the right thing, it creates opportunity for brand image, drives new revenue, increases employee retention and reduces energy and materials bills,” said Joseph DellaTorre, president of SkyObs, Inc., a consultancy.
But before you pat yourself on the back about wireless’ interest in cutting its carbon footprint, consider another factoid: according to Mike DeVito, president of global telecom markets for the Americas at BT, the telecom and IT sector is responsible for 2% to 3% of the globe’s carbon emissions, roughly the same as the airline industry. Another factoid: data centers in the United States consume about $14 billion-worth of energy each year, the 5th largest consumer in the country. The ICT sector (Information and Communications Technology) has a long way to go.
Little wonder, then, that the morning’s speakers focused on how to reduce power consumption and increase the efficiencies of the network.
But the session also implied that the race to watch is the one that pits efforts to reduce power consumption and raise efficiency with the market’s increasing demand for more reliable, speedy and ubiquitous data services.
Wednesday morning’s session also established that “green” is about as malleable a concept in today’s world as “change” has been in the U.S. presidential election. The term means everything and it means nothing, though it is increasingly becoming ubiquitous.
Later in the day, the subject of handset recycling was examined by another panel, which reported that recycling rates are abysmally low and that the sheer volume of handset sales represents a threat to the planet’s air and water.
The panel handed out the “green” issue of RCR Wireless News, which contained a package of stories addressing handsets, networks and regulations pertaining to the subject.
“Everything you need to know about the subject is in that issue,” said Peter Schindler, president of The Wireless Alliance, a recycling and reuse firm. “We have a lot to deal with.”
“It’s a psychological issue,” said Mike Newman, vice president of ReCellular, another recycling and reuse firm, who said even his own employees admit that they have discarded handsets sitting in drawers at home.
Schindler said he was seeking industry support for a software program that could be activated by consumers that would wipe out any personal information on a handset, prior to recycling.
Jennifer Granick, civil liberties director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, agreed that consumers’ concerns over recycling devices with personal information is a significant barrier to recycling their handsets.