While the telecoms sector is generally lauded for helping other industries reduce their carbon footprint, there is a vast opportunity for the sector itself to become more sustainable... and find revenues in it.
"The amount of gold in smartphones is about 350g per ton. A rich gold mine is usually between 4-8g per ton” - Lotfi Belkhir, McMaster University
Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing is positioned for greater things to come in Industry 4.0. By its very nature it leads to greater sustainability, especially compared to its subtractive sister. The ultimate goal is not just reducing waste, but preventing it altogether.
The KRIS X Biome project aims to create cities that combine renewable living, technology, and biodiversity in a destination that’s both educational and entertaining. The ultimate aim would be to build one on every continent, bringing together different aspects of regional ecologies. The first, however, is set to be in North America, not far from New York City.
This fledgling project aims to foster research into beyond-5G, and beyond-6G, technologies and services as the project builds out.
Circular economy is an approach to design and production of materials that can be reused in more than one item and by more than one player
Ana Galindo Serrano of Orange chats with Transforma Insights' Jim Morrish about the work Orange and the NGMN are doing to curb power consumption in the network.
Among other things, the pair discuss moves to reduce energy usage in datacentres and battery rooms; and global steps towards introducing control and optimisation processes to maximise energy efficiency throughout the network.
In this video interview Rob Tiffany, head of non-profit Moab Foundation, talks to Matt Hatton about creating free technology to connect devices and capture data in digital twins in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The pair talk about delivering a low-energy platform, design for sustainability and simplicity, and machine learning among other topics.
Saima Ansari of Deutsche Telekom sits down to chat with Jim Morrish of Transforma Insights about sustainability in the network. Among other things they discuss DT's goals of reducing their carbon emissions by 90% over the coming decade and, in particular, how DT is tackling the challenge of reducing energy usage within the network, especially in the face of a projected growth in usage and devices.
This short video is just one of a series of conversations for 6GWorld designed to illuminate different aspects of how the telecoms industry can reconcile growth and sustainability, and connects to Transforma Insights' latest research on Sustainability in New & Emerging Technologies.
Stephan Noller, CEO of UBIRCH, chats to Matt Hatton of Transforma Insights in this short interview as part of this exclusive series on the sustainability of emerging technologies for 6GWorld.
UBIRCH is a cybersecurity company using blockchain systems to secure IoT data. Blockchain has a reputation for being environmentally unfriendly; can it be a force for good, however?
Sponsored by InterDigital, Transforma Insights' new report shows the impact that emerging technologies will have on sustainability within the telecoms sector and other sectors. The cost-benefits are complex and vary significantly, but overall digitalisation should support a much smaller ecological footprint.
In total, new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things will save approaching 1.8 PWh of electricity in 2030, and an additional 3.5 PWh of (hydrocarbon) fuel use, resulting in total savings of 5.3 PWh of energy. Offset against this benefit is 653TWh of electricity consumption required to power solutions deployed using new technologies.
For comparison, the total electricity consumption of the global ICT industry is forecast to increase to around 8 PWh by 2030, meaning that together new technologies will generate energy savings equal to around 58% of the total power consumption of the ICT industry.
Download the whole report here.
Transforma Insights' Matt Hatton sits down with Gema Esteban, Head of ESG at IG4 Capital, as part of a season of interviews on sustainability exclusively for 6GWorld.
In this conversation Gema discusses the role of technology investment approaches in reducing the environmental impact of human energy and water consumption.
The conversation covers new business models; the impact of investors; and startup innovation.