Addressing an industry event, K. Rajaraman, secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and chairman, Digital Communications Commission (DCC) has stated that the country prepares to roll out 5G networks by the latter half of 2022 and there is a good case for developing energy-efficient 5G mobile networks.
Emphasising on the need for an energy efficient technology, Rajaraman mentioned that taking into account the need for a greater contribution towards net-zero emissions, it may also be a great idea to promote research and development (R&D) by all the device and equipment manufacturers in enabling the development of more energy-efficient equipment.
Meanwhile, various industry reports, according to the official, suggest that energy costs in a telecom company can be as high as 25-30 per cent, which gives rise to the idea of using an energy efficient technology. According to a GSMA-Nokia survey in 2021, 83 per cent of telecom companies see energy efficiency being a major transformation driver that will grow in importance with 5G, while 67 per cent companies expect their energy costs to rise over the next three years based on current trends.
Further, Rajaraman advocated the idea that the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) should develop and bring in ratings for critical network components, which could be on the lines of the energy star ratings for user devices. Notably, TEC, the technical wing of DoT, has set up a “Green Passport Lab” for the certification of telecom equipment for energy efficiency. The lab is conceptualised as a testbed created for a host of devices and test equipment offered.
Rajaraman also noted that telecom services providers as well as projects under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) are using local power generation, such as solar, as a means to meet the power requirements of telecom towers and base stations. The official exhorted that it is possible to arrive at a net-zero plan for telecom networks, adding that networks will guzzle more power as more users and devices get connected. Lastly Rajaraman noted that the country should strive towards working on the efficiency of the networks much more seriously than ever before, in order to keep the footprint of this particular sector at the lowest possible level.
