Energy management has emerged as a critical topic of discussion in the telecom industry in recent years. Cost pr­essures resulting from a combination of en­vironmental concerns and supply chain disruptions have created an urgent need for operators to reduce their energy consumption. According to GSMA research, energy costs account for 20-40 per cent of a telecom company’s operational expenditure. However, there are several challenges that hinder the implementation of energy management practices in the telecom sector. A look at some of the challenges faced while deploying energy-efficient solutions…

High upfront costs

The implementation of sustainable technologies often necessitates substantial up­front investments, which can pose a financial burden for telecom operators, especially smaller entities. Energy-efficient technologies such as smart grids, intelligent power distribution units and advanc­ed battery storage systems often have higher price tags compared to their traditional counterparts. While the potential for long-term cost savings may be considerable, the initial capital expenditure can be a significant challenge.

Technological limitations

The advancement of certain sustainable te­chnologies has not reached the stage where they can be fully integrated with specific infrastructure configurations, such as older structures or remote areas with limited access to renewable energy sour­c­es. Meanwhile, several technological constraints hinder the widespread adoption and effectiveness of energy storage solutions in telecom applications. For instance, current energy storage technologies, such as lead-acid batteries, are characterised by limited energy density, indicating a relatively low storage capacity per unit weight or volume. This poses a significant challenge for telecom applications with several space and weight constraints.

Limited renewable energy sources

The limited availability of renewable energy sources in the telecom industry can also pose a challenge for operators seeking to re­duce their environmental impact and en­hance their sustainability efforts. Rene­w­a­ble energy sources are intermittent in na­ture, implying that their availability fluctuates in response to prevailing weather conditions and the time of day. For ex­am­ple, so­­lar power generation peaks during daylight hours, while the wind power output is co­n­tingent upon wind speed and direction. This intermittent nature can pose a significant challenge in aligning energy supply wi­th demand in telecom networks, which operate 24×7 uninterruptedly. Further­mo­re, renewable energy sour­ces, such as solar and wind power, often exhibit a concentrated distribution within specific geographic regions, while telecom networks span ac­ross diverse and varied la­ndscapes. This non-uniform distribution can pose significant challenges in consistently harnessing r­enewable energy for telecom operations across all locations.

Lack of regulatory support

The absence of comprehensive regulatory support for energy management within the telecom industry presents a substantial obstacle to the widespread adoption of energy-efficient practices and the evolution of sustainable telecom networks. This challenge can be further exacerbated in several ways, such as:

  • The lack of stringent monitoring and re­porting requirements for energy cons­u­mption by telecom operators can hinder the ability to track progress and identify areas for improvement.
  • The absence of financial incentives or preferential policies for telecom operators that implement energy-saving mea­s­ures can deter investment in energy management solutions.
  • The absence of well-defined and enfor­ceable energy efficiency standards for telecom equipment and infrastructure can impede progress towards reducing energy consumption across the industry. Without clearly established benchma­rks, it can be challenging to evaluate the energy performance of diverse techno­lo­gies and enforce standards among ma­nufacturers and operators.

Managing supply chain sustainability

Managing supply chain sustainability in the telecom industry poses a complex set of challenges due to the industry’s global nature, intricate supply chains and diverse environmental and social considerations. These obstacles can hinder efforts to reduce the environmental impact of telecom operations, ensure ethical labour practices and promote transparency throughout the supply chain. Telecom operators may encounter challenges in ensuring that their suppliers and partners also adopt sustainable practices, which can constrain the effectiveness of their own initiatives to minimise their carbon footprint.

The way forward

Notwithstanding the advantages of green telecom networks, the industry faces several obstacles in adopting sustainable practices, including substantial upfront expenses and a lack of uniformity in sustainable practices. Additionally, there is the issue of how telecom service providers can ensure energy-efficient network operations without compromising the reliability of network delivery. Nevertheless, to establish effective en­ergy management systems, these challenges must be addressed.