Liberty Global and EY report outlines path for telco sector to realise major AI-driven sustainability gains
Liberty Global and EY have released a report titled 'Smarter networks, greener planet' examining how AI can drive sustainability in the telecommunications sector. The report highlights that while AI implementation could consume significant energy (85-134 TWh annually by 2025), it also offers substantial benefits for operational efficiency.
In the most likely scenario outlined, telecommunications networks could handle 50 times more data traffic while increasing energy consumption by only 10%, eliminating Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and extending equipment lifespan by 70%. The report presents eight key recommendations, including comprehensive AI impact assessments, network optimization, renewable energy transition, and circular economy practices.
The telecommunications sector has already demonstrated efficiency improvements, carrying 10 times more data compared to five years ago while maintaining similar energy consumption levels. The report emphasizes the need for industry-wide standards, workforce development, and cross-functional collaboration to achieve sustainable AI implementation.
Liberty Global ed EY hanno pubblicato un rapporto intitolato 'Reti più intelligenti, pianeta più verde' che esamina come l'IA possa promuovere la sostenibilità nel settore delle telecomunicazioni. Il rapporto mette in evidenza che, sebbene l'implementazione dell'IA possa consumare energia significativa (85-134 TWh all'anno entro il 2025), offre anche notevoli vantaggi per l'efficienza operativa.
Nello scenario più probabile delineato, le reti di telecomunicazioni potrebbero gestire 50 volte più traffico dati aumentando il consumo energetico di solo il 10%, eliminando le emissioni di Scope 1 e 2, e prolungando la vita utile dell'attrezzatura del 70%. Il rapporto presenta otto raccomandazioni chiave, tra cui valutazioni complete dell'impatto dell'IA, ottimizzazione delle reti, transizione verso energie rinnovabili e pratiche di economia circolare.
Il settore delle telecomunicazioni ha già dimostrato miglioramenti in termini di efficienza, gestendo 10 volte più dati rispetto a cinque anni fa mantenendo livelli di consumo energetico simili. Il rapporto sottolinea la necessità di standard a livello settoriale, sviluppo della forza lavoro e collaborazione interfunzionale per raggiungere un'implementazione sostenibile dell'IA.
Liberty Global y EY han publicado un informe titulado 'Redes más inteligentes, planeta más verde' que examina cómo la IA puede impulsar la sostenibilidad en el sector de las telecomunicaciones. El informe destaca que, aunque la implementación de la IA podría consumir una cantidad significativa de energía (85-134 TWh anuales para 2025), también ofrece beneficios sustanciales para la eficiencia operativa.
En el escenario más probable descrito, las redes de telecomunicaciones podrían manejar 50 veces más tráfico de datos mientras que el consumo energético solo aumentaría un 10%, eliminando las emisiones de Scope 1 y 2, y extendiendo la vida útil del equipo en un 70%. El informe presenta ocho recomendaciones clave, incluyendo evaluaciones completas del impacto de la IA, optimización de redes, transición a energías renovables y prácticas de economía circular.
El sector de las telecomunicaciones ya ha demostrado mejoras en eficiencia, manejando 10 veces más datos en comparación con hace cinco años, manteniendo niveles similares de consumo energético. El informe enfatiza la necesidad de estándares a nivel sectorial, desarrollo de la fuerza laboral y colaboración interfuncional para lograr una implementación sostenible de la IA.
리버티 글로벌과 EY는 '더 스마트한 네트워크, 더 푸른 지구'라는 제목의 보고서를 발표하여 AI가 통신 부문에서 지속 가능성을 어떻게 촉진할 수 있는지 조사했습니다. 이 보고서는 AI 구현이 상당한 에너지를 소비할 수 있지만 (2025년까지 연간 85-134 TWh), 운영 효율성을 위해 많은 이점을 제공한다는 점을 강조합니다.
가장 가능성이 높은 시나리오에서 통신 네트워크는 50배 더 많은 데이터 트래픽을 처리하면서 에너지 소비를 단 10%만 증가시킬 수 있으며, Scope 1 및 2 배출을 제거하고 장비 수명을 70% 연장할 수 있습니다. 보고서는 AI 영향 평가, 네트워크 최적화, 재생 가능 에너지 전환 및 순환 경제 관행을 포함한 8가지 주요 권장 사항을 제시합니다.
통신 부문은 이미 5년 전보다 10배 더 많은 데이터를 처리하면서 유사한 에너지 소비 수준을 유지하며 효율성을 개선한 사례를 보여주었습니다. 이 보고서는 지속 가능한 AI 구현을 달성하기 위해 산업 전반에 걸친 표준, 인력 개발 및 교차 기능 협력의 필요성을 강조합니다.
Liberty Global et EY ont publié un rapport intitulé 'Réseaux plus intelligents, planète plus verte' qui examine comment l'IA peut favoriser la durabilité dans le secteur des télécommunications. Le rapport souligne que, bien que la mise en œuvre de l'IA puisse consommer une quantité d'énergie significative (85-134 TWh par an d'ici 2025), elle offre également des avantages substantiels pour l'efficacité opérationnelle.
Dans le scénario le plus probable décrit, les réseaux de télécommunications pourraient gérer 50 fois plus de trafic de données tout en n'augmentant la consommation d'énergie que de 10%, en éliminant les émissions de Scope 1 et 2, et en prolongeant la durée de vie des équipements de 70%. Le rapport présente huit recommandations clés, y compris des évaluations d'impact de l'IA, l'optimisation des réseaux, la transition vers les énergies renouvelables et les pratiques de l'économie circulaire.
Le secteur des télécommunications a déjà démontré des améliorations en matière d'efficacité, traitant 10 fois plus de données par rapport à il y a cinq ans, tout en maintenant des niveaux de consommation d'énergie similaires. Le rapport insiste sur la nécessité de normes sectorielles, de développement des compétences et de collaboration interfonctionnelle pour parvenir à une mise en œuvre durable de l'IA.
Liberty Global und EY haben einen Bericht mit dem Titel 'Intelligentere Netzwerke, grünerer Planet' veröffentlicht, der untersucht, wie KI die Nachhaltigkeit im Telekommunikationssektor vorantreiben kann. Der Bericht hebt hervor, dass die Implementierung von KI zwar erheblichen Energieverbrauch verursachen könnte (85-134 TWh jährlich bis 2025), jedoch auch erhebliche Vorteile für die Betriebseffizienz bietet.
Im wahrscheinlichsten Szenario könnten Telekommunikationsnetze 50-mal mehr Datenverkehr bewältigen, während der Energieverbrauch nur um 10% steigt, die Scope 1 und 2 Emissionen eliminiert werden und die Lebensdauer der Ausrüstung um 70% verlängert wird. Der Bericht präsentiert acht zentrale Empfehlungen, darunter umfassende KI-Wirkungsanalysen, Netzwerkoptimierung, den Übergang zu erneuerbaren Energien und Praktiken der Kreislaufwirtschaft.
Der Telekommunikationssektor hat bereits Effizienzsteigerungen gezeigt, indem er 10-mal mehr Daten verarbeitet als vor fünf Jahren und gleichzeitig ein ähnliches Energieniveau aufrechterhält. Der Bericht betont die Notwendigkeit branchenweiter Standards, die Entwicklung von Fachkräften und die interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit, um eine nachhaltige KI-Implementierung zu erreichen.
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The report – ‘Smarter networks, greener planet’ – takes an in-depth look at how the telecommunications industry can harness artificial intelligence (AI) in the coming years to help meet important sustainability goals in the sector.
Whilst acknowledging the energy intensity of AI – through practices such as the widespread integration of GenAI features into mobile applications - the report also highlights the technology’s potential for driving operational efficiencies within the telco sector. These include applications such as optimizing energy use in mobile and fixed networks and using AI-enhanced video technology to improve efficiency in network builds.
The scale of the challenge created by AI-driven applications is illustrated by research cited in the report that shows that in just two years’ time the AI sector could consume between 85 and 134 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity annually – approximately
Sustainability gains through AI would leverage the sector’s long-standing reputation for innovation, illustrated by research in the report which states that telco operators now carry as much as 10 times more data compared with five years ago, whilst maintaining similar levels of energy consumption.
Overall, the report strikes an optimistic tone. Outlining four hypothetical outcomes for AI and sustainability in the next ten years, it predicts that the most likely is a scenario whereby AI helps minimize the extra energy required to support a huge growth in volume of data carried over telecommunications networks, while also yielding a number of other benefits. This would be achieved by the telco industry utilizing advanced AI to optimize the allocation of resources, predict maintenance needs in advance and manage network traffic in real-time.
In this scenario – labelled ‘Growth’ in the report - telecommunications networks would handle 50 times more data traffic than now, while increasing energy consumption by only
The report outlines eight key recommendations that can lead the telecommunications sector to reach such a desirable outcome:
- Conduct comprehensive assessments of AI's sustainability impact to identify opportunities for reducing energy consumption and waste
- Prioritize AI-driven network optimization to enhance efficiency across mobile and fixed-line networks
- Accelerate the transition to AI-managed renewable energy sources by optimizing integration of diverse energy sources, managing storage, and predicting future needs
- Implement AI-enhanced circular economy practices to extend equipment lifespans and improve recycling and reduce waste
- Develop comprehensive AI governance frameworks that integrate sustainability considerations
- Foster an organisational culture that values both technological innovation and sustainability through cross-functional collaboration
- Invest in workforce development - equipping teams with necessary skills in AI, data analytics, and environmental management
- Lead efforts to develop industry-wide standards for sustainable AI, establishing common metrics for measuring environmental impact
Mike Fries, Chief Executive Officer, Liberty Global, comments: "As data traffic continues to grow exponentially, we are committed to playing our part in reducing emissions throughout our networks and operations. We're excited about the potential of AI to help us do this - and we're already seeing the benefits in areas such as the optimization of energy use in our networks and making our network builds more efficient."
Dr Harvey Lewis, partner for AI at EY and the author of the report, adds: "While the scenarios we present are speculative, they highlight the strategic potential of AI in the telco sector. Success will depend on network collaboration across
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