At Sofrecom, we assist in defining and operationally implementing CSR strategies, ensuring an all-encompassing approach based on interaction and co-construction, to transform linear business models into sustainable circular models and advance towards a low-carbon, more inclusive digital world.
The digital sector currently contributes 3.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a figure expected to escalate with growing usage. However, each technological transition presents an opportunity to enhance energy efficiency and minimize carbon impact.
Sofrecom helps the operators for a more inclusive and sustainable digital world with definition of their green strategy based on the world industry best practices and trends.
Optimizing the energy efficiency of infrastructures
The eco-efficiency of data centers is measured by its Power Usage Effectiveness. Today data centers contribute more than 16% and networks 5% (ADEME-ARCEP 2022 study). Some emerging technologies, allowing natural cooling and air conditioning, significantly reduce this PUE: free cooling, liquid cooling or adiabatic cooling. The waste heat generated can be reused to heat homes with an adaptation of existing heating networks. Finally, the deployment of 400-volt DC power supplies guarantees better efficiency than 220-volt AC or 48-volt DC power supplies. On the measurement side, AI can help analyzing data center consumption to manage resources and improve PUE.
The choice to rely on containerized solutions in a native cloud should be considered, enabling a greater flexibility of resources. Cloud solutions may also rely on edge computing to host frequently requested data as close to the user as possible and centralizing other data in a central cloud hosted in hyper-efficient data centers.
The management of shared networks consumed on demand, known as “Network as a Service” (NaaS), will help to go beyond current practices of sharing infrastructures between several operators (FTTH networks, passive mobile infrastructures, power supply infrastructures,…etc).
Transition from one network generation to another brings on mid-term a gain in energy efficiency but the right decision to switch must consider carbon impact with a life cycle analysis : Phase out of 2G and 3G technologies and move from copper to fiber are currently delivering significant gains.
Intelligent solutions such as IoT smart meters, Big Data Energy management and deep sleep mode antennas can help to reduce energy bills and contribute to decarbonization ambitions. But others new solutions are coming with 5G SA such as “slicing” which offer different qualities of service depending on needs (reliability, bandwidth, latency) and allowing optimization in real-time to evolve towards low-carbon networks thanks to AI operations.
Producing electricity from renewable energy sources
To free itself from fossil fuels, the telecom sector is betting on solar energy with the construction of
photovoltaic farms that can cover 20–70% of electricity needs, depending on the geography. However, in terms
of life cycle analysis, the electricity produced from photovoltaic panels is not yet carbon neutral as the manufacturing and management of the end-of-life of the panels are energy intensive. As for wind power, it proves effective only for powering mobile sites on buildings over 50 meters, hence few sites are eligible.
Engaging in the circular economy
The circular economy is the cornerstone of reducing its carbon emissions, particularly in Scope 3.
Sofrecom helps transforming linear business models into circular models involving a responsible purchasing policy that challenges suppliers to integrate life cycle analysis of equipment from manufacturing to waste management; extending the life of equipment; working with the entire ecosystem to reduce the footprint...
In a forward-looking vision, blockchain could enable better management of the life cycle of each piece of
equipment. Similarly, digital twins in the metaverse with tests in digital format could help reduce the carbon footprint.
At Sofrecom, we can help from defining a CSR strategy to implementing it operationally, our approach is all-encompassing, based on interaction and co-construction.
