As 5G roll out nears, Indian telecom industry needs a green revolution

Achieving a green telecom network involves utilisation of energy efficient technology, effective network planning, using renewable energy sources and using environment friendly consumables. TSPs should consider entering into an intra circle roaming pact in those areas where they don't have a network (instead of establishing their own network). Such an arrangement will decrease the overall energy consumption of the telecom sector

Global warming is a challenge currently the world is facing. Green House Gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere cause an increase in the average temperature of earth by trapping the heat. Main GHGs are water vapour, CO2, methane, ozone, N2O and chlorofluorocarbons. The reason for increased GHGs is due to the increased energy consumption leading to burning of more fossil fuels. As per international agreements, India has pledged to reduce GHG emission intensity by 33 per cent below 2005 level by 2030 and also make non-fossil share of cumulative power generation capacity to 40 per cent by 2030. It has also set the target of achieving 175 GW of renewable energy installed capacity by 2022.

World wide ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector consumes 4 per cent of electricity. It contributes to 2 per cent and the telecom sector contributes to 0.7 per cent of global CO2 emission. The Indian telecom sector is contributing 1 per cent of the country's CO2 emission. Enhanced emissions are expected in future due to increase in the need for computation, data storage and communication. 5G, IOT and AI implementations will increase energy consumption. Energy consumption of 5G will be 2 to 3 times that of 4G. Because of deployment of micro cells in 5G, energy consumption worldwide will increase by 150 per cent.

Achieving a green telecom network involves utilisation of energy efficient technology, effective network planning, using renewable energy sources and using environment friendly consumables.

TSPs (Telecom Service Providers) should consider entering into an intra circle roaming pact in those areas where they don't have a network (instead of establishing their own network). Such an arrangement will decrease the overall energy consumption of the telecom sector.

TSPs should review the traffic sector wise in the BTSs (Base Transmitting Stations) and reduce the number of TX/RX units in those sectors where traffic is low. For example, because of the work from home scenario, traffic has decreased in the sectors towards offices and so traffic handling capacity in those sectors can be downgraded. Even the BTSs working exclusively to cater to the office traffic can be switched off.

Green telecom equipment manufacturing

There should be reduction in use of hazardous substances like chromium, lead and mercury in the manufacturing of telecom equipment, as well as reduction of harmful emissions. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool for estimating the total environmental impact of a given product or service throughout its lifespan, from cradle to grave- production, transportation/distribution, usage and disposal.

Waste disposal

Mobile phones, network equipment and other material should be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way by ensuring that toxic material does not get absorbed into the atmosphere, water or ground. Especially the transportation and disposal of discarded batteries should be done without causing environmental hazards. In the recent Tokyo Olympics, discarded mobile handsets were gainfully utilised in making the medals.

Government initiatives

l As per DOT directives to TSPs, 75 per cent of rural towers and 33 per cent of urban towers are to be powered by hybrid power (conventional+solar+wind). Total power consumption of each BTS (Base Transmitting Station) should not exceed 500W for 2+2+2 configuration.

l Target for reduction in average carbon emission is set as 40 per cent by the year 2022-23, taking base year as 11-12.

l Carbon credits are given when CHG emissions are reduced. Utilisation of Renewable Energy Technology (RET) that is using solar power/ wind power/ fuel cells solutions and carrying out tree plantation will generate carbon credits.

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidising agent into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells work like batteries but they do not run down or need recharging. In addition to pure hydrogen type there are hydrocarbon type fuel cells.

One carbon credit is equivalent to one ton of CO2 or equivalent CHGs not emitted into the atmosphere. Carbon credits are tradable and are known as Carbon trading (one carbon credit is equivalent to $4.73 in 2021).

- Carbon footprints are to be reported annually to DGT (Director General Telecom) office on self certification basis by the TSPs.

TSPs energy saving initiatives

- Turning off radios during 2 to 5 AM, when traffic is very low.

- Adopting Smart lighting system (installation of motion sensors on every floor of the server room)

- Adoption of RET and using a high efficient battery bank.

- As consumption of diesel causes carbon emissions, lithium ion batteries are being used which have reduced the need for diesel generators for emergency power. Lithium ion batteries are the next generation storage technology because of fast charging cycles, long life, reliability, safety, low maintenance costs, high energy efficiency and the ability to operate in a wide range of environmental conditions.

- Conversion of BTS sites from indoor type to outdoor type (air conditioning is not required for the outdoor sites).

- Use of free cooling units instead of AC units

- Sharing of passive infra by the TSPs has reduced the overall carbon footprint of the telecom industry. It has led to over 25 per cent reduction in energy intensity in the case of sharing by two operators, 40 per cent in the case of sharing by three operators and 45 per cent in the case of four.

- Mobile telecom industry has an ambition of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Provisions included in national digital communication policy 2018

- Encouraging the utilisation of small cell fuel batteries, lithium-ion batteries or other similar technologies to improve the energy consumption efficiency

- Promoting R&D of green telecom

- Rationalisation of taxes and levies on the manufacture, production and import of such equipment.

Improved grid supply has reduced dependency on diesel. Solutions such as solar, wind and biomass are gaining traction. Biomass fuels are organic materials produced in a renewable manner. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is also a source of biomass fuel. DG startup battery containing highly toxic lead is being replaced by a state of the art, capacitor based cranking system.

Digitisation supporting decarbonisation

Mobile technology enabled smart agriculture, smart buildings, smart energy, smart manufacturing, smart transport, smart cities, smart working and smart living and health lead to global reduction in GHG emissions. This reduction is ten times higher than the global carbon footprint of the mobile industry.

Mobile technology is uniquely positioned to provide and enable tools for climate change mitigation, weather disaster response and pollution & environmental monitoring.

Way forward

- Further reduction in carbon footprint can be achieved if active infrastructure is also shared among the TSPs. DOT field units should proactively encourage and monitor sharing of infra by the TSPs.

- Financial assistance under various government schemes should be extended for deploying RET. The benefit of accelerated depreciation, concessional loans with long tenure should be extended for adopting RET.

- GOI has set a target for utilisation of natural gas to the tune of 15 per cent in the Indian fuel basket from the current level of 6 per cent by 2030. Adoption of PNG (Piped Natural Gas) technology will reduce the carbon footprint of the telecom industry although replacement of DG sets is required.

- Power efficient modulation methods should be invented.

- As the reliability of batteries has increased, instead of installing battery sets in 1+1 configuration, installing single sets at switching centres and transmission centres will be helpful in the reduction of carbon footprint.

- RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Companies) generate power through alternate energy sources near telecom towers and sell power to the telecom companies and also to the communities in the nearby areas. This model has to be encouraged as it addresses the energy needs at the tower, although there are challenges with regard to scalability and financial viability.

- DOT should encourage MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) to have competition in the market without increasing the number of BTSs and the necessary infrastructure.

(The author is a former Advisor, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India)