A new report from consultancy firm EY and European broadband operator Liberty Global, which alongside Telefonica is also a parent of the merged Virgin Media and O2 UK, has today argued for the “strategic adoption” of AI in the telco sector to help drive “major sustainability gains over the next decade“. Just don’t worry about its power consumption.
The report – ‘Smarter networks, greener planet‘ (PDF) – argues that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help broadband and mobile operators to “build smarter, more efficient networks that are kinder to our planet“, such as by optimising energy use in networks, as well as monitoring and predictive maintenance to reduce downtime, and extending the life of infrastructure and mobile handsets etc.
However, the report also acknowledges that AI is not a panacea, and its benefits must out way the costs. For example, research cited in the report shows that in just two years’ time the AI sector could consume between 85 and 134 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity annually – approximately 0.5% of total global consumption and roughly equivalent to the current electricity usage of the Netherlands.
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On the flip side, other research in the report 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. But it’s worth noting that a lot of this has to do with evolutionary improvements in the energy efficiency of CPUs (processors), lasers, the growing use of fibre optic lines and so forth – not strictly AI.
Manuel Kohnstamm, SVP and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Liberty Global, said:
“Despite these challenges, I’m optimistic about our industry’s future. Our research points towards a scenario we call ‘Growth’ — where the strategic application of AI not only leads to significant energy efficiency across telco operations but also helps establish best practices for sustainable AI across all sectors.
We’re already seeing promising signs, with some operators managing to carry ten times more data than five years ago without increasing their power consumption.”
Dr Harvey Lewis, partner for AI at EY and Report Author, 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 Europe, investment in skills and infrastructure to create more competition, and a holistic approach to AI adoption that balances immediate efficiency gains with long-term sustainability impacts.”
The admittedly quite speculative “Growth” scenario mentioned above would see telecommunications networks handle “50 times more data traffic” than now, while increasing energy consumption by only 10%. This, claims the report, would see the elimination of both Scope 1 and 2 emissions, a 70% increase in the lifespan of equipment, and networks becoming net contributors to clean energy production.
Quite a lot of this AI related investment and development is already happening. Testament to this is the fact that not a week seems to go by these days without at least one big announcement dropping into ISPreview’s inbox about new AI related technologies being adopted into modern digital networks, often alongside big claims of energy efficiency.
On the other hand, quite a few of those same AI announcements often read more like an attempt by marketing departments to repack routine enhancements in network automation and machine learning as something more sophisticated. The result is often one that dilutes the very meaning of AI in order to sell new products that aren’t really all that different from what came before. But experiences do vary, and more sophisticated AI solutions and Large Language Models (LLM) are at play in some areas.
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The industry also faces some real hurdles, like the complexity of integrating new technology with existing infrastructure and the evolving, while not always predictable, regulatory landscape. The report thus concludes by outlining eight key recommendations that it claims could lead the telecommunications sector to reach a desirable outcome.
The 8 Recommendations for AI in Telecommunications
• 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.
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They’d be bettoer off replacing MPs & ‘government with ai, rather than trying to create a market to peddle more over hype, and keep people employed.
And g forbid anyone would greate a ‘political’ ai!