Environmental impact of digital tech: spectrum environmental efficiency

It was a real pleasure to join the Wireless World Research Forum’s (WWRF) 47th meeting held at the University of Bristol today, where at the invitation of Knud Erik Souby I presented a short paper entitled “Environmental impact of digital tech: spectrum environmental efficiency“. This provided a broad introduction to the reseach agenda of the Digital Environment System Coalition (DESC) Working Group on spectrum environmental efficiency.

In essence, the paper

emphasised the substantial amount of existing research on spectrum efficiency and energy efficiency;highlighted the lack of existing research on “spectrum environmental efficiency” (rather than just on energy);reflected on the observation that, although 5G is widely seen as being more energy efficient, the total increase in traffic (and sensors) means that 5G systems as a whole require more energy than was the case with previous wireless generations;emphasised the importance of future wireless generations being designed to reduce environmental harms;outlined aspects of the future research agenda of the working group, including:always taking environmental considerations (not just climate and energy) into our research practice;what are environmental implications of using different parts of the spectrum?how do different masts/antennae impact the environment?new ways of assessing landscape impactenvironmental implications of sensor networkrecommendations for good practices by telecom/wireless companies – and regulatorshelping develop a toolkit for the UN Partner2Connect digital coalitionhow can future wireless generations minimise environmental harms?links with DESC working group on satellites and outer space (with UNOOSA involvement);recognised the importance of listening to and understanding alternative/indigenous knowledges about the environment (and digital tech);noted that the WWRF is a formal partner of DESC; andinvited members of the WWRF, and especially those from the private sector, to join DESC and contribute to our future work.