A new report by Juniper Research has identified the world’s most sustainable mobile operators.
The study, which analysed the breadth and depth of sustainability initiatives and technological adoption, names Japan’s KDDI, Germany’s Deutsche Telekom, and the US-based Verizon as the top three operators globally in terms of their impact on sustainability.
KDDI was highlighted in the report for its circular economy efforts and commitment to cloud technology. Meanwhile, Deutsche Telekom and Verizon were recognised for their sustainability strategies and initiatives to reduce their environmental impact.
KDDI takes the lead in mobile sustainability
According to the report, KDDI recycled over 99% of its disused network hardware in 2023.
The Japanese operator has also taken steps to reduce its carbon emissions by embracing cloud computing, allowing for more efficient use of resources and energy.
KDDI’s use of Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) enabled the company to reduce the physical infrastructure required for its data centres, further reducing energy consumption.
These advancements in virtualisation and automation are central to the company’s sustainability strategy, allowing it to streamline operations and optimise energy use across its networks.
The operator’s sustainability strategy claims to focus on achieving carbon neutrality, promoting renewable energy, and supporting the circular economy.
Some of its key initiatives include the “Green Mobile” service for corporate customers powered by renewable energy and establishing the KDDI Green Partners Fund to support startups tackling environmental issues.
Deutsche Telekom and Verizon also performed well in sustainability
Deutsche Telekom and Verizon’s sustainability efforts also stood out in Juniper’s research.
Deutsche Telekom has been recognised for its commitment to environmental sustainability in the past, investing heavily in renewable energy and sustainable supply chain practices.
The German operator, the largest telecommunications provider in Europe by revenue, has implemented numerous initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, including the widespread use of renewable energy across its European operations.
On the other hand, Verizon has focused on integrating sustainability into every facet of its business, from network management to customer outreach, according to Juniper’s report.
The US-based firm has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2035 and has invested significantly in green energy projects.
What role does cloud computing play in network sustainability?
The Juniper Research report recognises cloud computing as one of the most impactful technologies driving sustainability in the mobile operator space.
“With the high levels of virtualisation across 5G and future 6G networks, it is predicted that centralising and automating network functions via cloud platforms will enable operators to reduce their overall energy consumption by over 2,000TWh globally in 2025,” the report says.
Senior market analyst at Juniper Frederick Savage, the report’s author, emphasised the importance of cloud computing in meeting sustainability goals: “Cloud computing is an instrumental strategy for operators to improve efficiency and meet sustainability goals.
“Cloud’s ability to dynamically allocate resources in real-time significantly reduces energy consumption, compared to the constant energy requirement from traditional networks,” he said.
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However, the data centres that power the cloud hyperscalers’ cloud computing operations are not carbon emissions-free. A recent Guardian analysis found that Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta data centre emissions could be 662% higher than reported due to “creative accounting”.
According to the International Energy Agency, data centres accounted for 1% to 1.5% of total global electricity consumption in 2022, and that was before the launch of ChatGPT.
Benchmark forecasts
In addition to analysing current practices, the Juniper report predicted that the global shift toward sustainable network practices will accelerate over the next five years, driven by advances in renewable energy, circular economy strategies, and sustainable supply chains.
Operators are expected to adopt more aggressive targets, such as the Science Based Targets initiative, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030.
