Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-01-31 04:00:39
The Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance is calling on telecommunications operators to take concrete steps to reduce their environmental impact and adopt more sustainable practices in the design, manufacturing, and operation of mobile networks. In its latest publication, ‘Reducing Environmental Impact: Best Practices and Recommendations’, the NGMN offers guidelines for mobile network operators on managing and lowering their impact on the environment, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, materials usage, and energy and water consumption.
The NGMN Alliance, which is composed of mobile operators, vendors, manufacturers, and research institutes, emphasizes the need to consider and manage environmental impact beyond just carbon emissions. This includes reducing the use of rare materials, plastics, and water footprint. The alliance outlines key strategies to reduce the use and to substitute or recycle materials, particularly harmful ones, rare elements, and those that require greater resources in mining processes.
Furthermore, the NGMN recommends that mobile operators establish harmful substance management for all network components and seek alternatives that contain no or minimal harmful substances. It also encourages the avoidance of plastics derived from fossil carbon sources and suggests using recycled plastics, plastics made from renewable precursors, or chem-cycled precursors.
Another important recommendation is the replacement of elements in network equipment systems with alternative recycled products, especially rare metals. Additionally, the NGMN suggests leveraging technologies such as AI, data augmentation, generative models, and laboratory automation to speed up the discovery of new, more environmentally preferable materials.
In terms of energy usage, the NGMN stresses the importance of evaluating the energy usage levels of servers, network infrastructure, and used equipment, as well as the corresponding greenhouse gas emissions related to their manufacturing and operation. The alliance also emphasizes the need to consider water usage and recommends measuring water footprint throughout the lifecycle of equipment and across the supply chain.
The NGMN urges companies to make calculations of the direct and indirect use of water and to reduce freshwater usage within their operations and buildings. It also advises addressing local water challenges through partnerships and funding of watershed restoration projects.
Overall, the NGMN Alliance’s publication provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for mobile network operators to reduce their environmental impact and adopt more sustainable practices in their operations. This holistic approach aligns with global efforts to mitigate the impact of telecommunications on the environment and promote responsible and sustainable business practices.
