Summary

Recommendation ITU-T L.1391 specifies IMT-2020 (also known as 5G) network sharing and co‑construction (NSCC) and their contribution to climate change mitigation, identifies their key technologies and specifies how to assess NSCC in their adaptation to climate change. Recommendation ITU-T L.1391 also addresses the cost-benefit analysis and best practice for IMT‑2020 NSCC.

Mobile network operators around the world are facing unprecedented difficulties in IMT-2020 deployment. Restricted by expensive spectrum resources, the need for high investment and high energy consumption of IMT-2020, the profit gap between operators and equipment manufacturers is growing, and a large number of problems related to business increment with no increase in revenue are arising. Methods of reduction in the cost of network construction and operation, adaptation to climate change mitigation and enablement of the rapid benefits of IMT-2020, especially in underdeveloped communications regions, present major challenges to the global industry and operators.