CO 2 reduction in networks requires more than commitments
FUTURE TECHNOLOGY
CO 2 reduction in networks requires more than commitments
Oene-Wim Stallinga , Director of Marketing and Product Management , Nexans Telecom Systems
High demand for bandwidth globally and the need to achieve sustainability targets have led to increased discussions on the carbon footprint of networks writes Oene-Wim Stallinga at Nexans .
Global demand for bandwidth has never been greater . At the same time the pressure to achieve sustainability and climate targets is increasing . As a result , the carbon footprint of networks is a widely discussed issue . There are several benefits related to critically evaluating carbon emission aspects of products and processes .
Not only can this support your own sustainability goals and lower operational costs , but it can also ensure better CO 2 performance across complete projects , which is becoming an increasingly important factor in the selection of partners and suppliers .
When a provider , operator , or government commissions the rollout of a fibre network , sustainability is a more important consideration than ever . Everyone from incumbents and AltNets to equipment manufacturers is held to increasingly strict demands . This applies right across the entire supply chain . After all , the sustainability of an entire project will largely be determined by the weakest link in that chain .
Evaluating carbon emissions can lower operational costs , support sustainability goals , and improve CO 2 performance in projects , which is an important factor in selecting partners and suppliers . However , expressing a commitment to CO 2 reduction is not enough : you need to be capable of backing up these claims .
As more countries aim to become carbonneutral in the coming years it will be vital for operators to monitor and record the carbon emissions caused by networks , including all related processes . This will be particularly important for operators migrating from traditional copper technologies to fibre .
In fact , CO 2 reduction will be a driver in efforts to switch off copper networks . For network owners , sustainably designed and executed networks can be key to supporting corporate CSR and environmental policies , but studies also show that environmentally aware practices have a positive effect on companies ’ competitive performance . Apart from helping improve your
CO 2 performance , environmentallyfriendly designs also support reduction of operational and business costs . Product eco-design means focusing on using less material , increasing the life span of components , and reducing weight . Light and thin cables can be packaged efficiently , with more cabling per drum , and transported
using less fuel , for example . Smart designs mean that packaging , cables , and cable drums can be made , reused , and dismantled in ways that produce less CO 2
.
Longer lifespan minimises maintenance and repairs requirements and ensures fewer materials and less transport is needed .
It will be vital for operators to record carbon emissions caused by networks , as operators migrate from copper technologies to fibre .
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