As more 5G networks are deployed, the next generation of cellular wireless communication may reduce the cumulative CO2 footprint of mobile networks globally by half a billion tons by 2030, according to a new report from STL Partners.
"On the face of it, 5G promises to be a key enabler in our quest for a carbon-neutral future,” said Phil Laidler, partner at STL. “In simple terms, due to much lower energy required to transmit the same volume of data, 5G should outperform 4G by an order of magnitude and 2/3G networks by many orders of magnitude.”
Saving a half billion tons of CO2 is equal to the emissions from global international aviation in 2018 or 10 coal-fired power stations running for 10 years. It would take 35,000 acres of rain forest to sequester this amount of CO2 from the atmosphere over the same period, STL said.
Laidler said carrying more traffic on 5G should translate into lower energy consumption than leaving it on 4G or below networks. However, new applications that 5G may unlock could increase the use of mobile devices elsewhere. That said, because these efficiencies will carry over to other industries outside of just telecommunications, it could help in achieving carbon neutrality.
