While the issue of the environmental bill for digital stirs debate, Bouygues Telecom has just announced a measure that could lower it — at least on its 4G and 5G mobile network.
The Bouygues group operator indicates that it is preparing to deploy a hydrogen power supply solution to some of its mobile sites. Its management argues that the measure – which is currently limited to some temporary or inaccessible mobile sites – could reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the sites in question by 70% and reduce their noise level by 20 decibels compared to sites still powered by conventional heat generators.
In detail, Bouygues Telecom relies on mobile devices mounted on trucks to deploy its mobile locations during off-the-recurring events. Called BTruck5G, these devices can be installed anywhere in the region to allow operator subscribers to receive a signal “during event operations such as during sports competitions, trade fairs or festivals”.
The operator also wants to simplify the deployment of 4G sites located in steep or inaccessible areas, which are sometimes difficult to connect to the traditional electricity grid. To do this, it relies on the Hyvision solution to supply green hydrogen developed by Bouygues Energies & Services. This has already been published in Meyrargues, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, to operate a 4G mobile site, previously powered by a heat generator.
Reducing the environmental bill for networks
“This green hydrogen supply solution is a new illustration of our commitment to aligning digital technology with the environment for the benefit of regions, and our desire to invest in beneficial innovations,” said Jean-Paul Arzel, Bouygues Telecom Deputy General Manager. While viewing this solution.
As a reminder, the digital system – which today accounts for 3 to 4% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 2% of the national carbon footprint – could see its carbon footprint rise to 6.7% by 2060 if nothing is done to reduce it.
And if stations account for 79% of the carbon footprint of digital technology in France, far ahead of data centers (more than 16%), the networks themselves are not left out, as they make up 5% of the bill for France’s digital environment, according to a study Jointly between Arcep and ADEME and published at the beginning of the year. An environmental bill owes above all, once, that it is not a habit, for its use, which accounts for 87% of its environmental impact, as against 13% for its manufacture.
It should be noted that if fixed networks focus the majority of impacts (between 75 and 90%), “compared to the amount of GB consumed on each network, the environmental impact of fixed networks becomes less than that of mobile networks.” The authors of this study reported mobile networks having an impact nearly three times greater than that of fixed networks per gigabyte of data consumed.
“Devoted gamer. Webaholic. Infuriatingly humble social media trailblazer. Lifelong internet expert.”
