Page 29 - Kaleidoscope Academic Conference Proceedings 2021

Table 1 – Spectrum management approaches in 5G the network architecture has a significant impact on total
energy consumption. Optimization of the collection,
Spectrum Local network processing, storage and transfer of data between different
management Role in 5G perspective locations and components becomes a complex task and calls
approach for the development of new metrics and measurement
Administrative Less used in 5G First-come first served methods to assess the sustainability of such solutions
allocation but made a come- nowadays used for including end-to-end energy consumption through different
back in local 5G awarding spectrum for network configurations.
spectrum awards local 5G networks
Market-based Dominant method MNOs can deploy local The telecommunication industry and operators play a key
mechanism in 5G through networks in their role in the ICT sector’s attempts to combat climate change.
auctions, licensed bands. License The telecommunication sector itself needs to go through a
typically MNOs holders can also trade major renewal of its own operations to contribute to meeting
acquire licenses. spectrum for local sustainability targets, in addition to its role as an enabler to
networks to different
stakeholders. renew the operations of other sectors of society. Self-
Unlicensed 5G technologies Possible for any assessment of its own operations and reporting on emissions
commons developed for stakeholder to deploy a and actions to achieving environmental targets is an
operations under network without a important starting point. The process should not be left only
the unlicensed license subject to in the hands of the telecommunication industry including
commons operational conditions operators, which corresponds to self-evaluation. This
approach. in the band. requires an open approach where the research community
can contribute its findings to the process. Detailed data and
5. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE 6G ERA actions on energy efficiency and energy consumption among
other sustainability-related metrics should be made available
The goal of sustainability through sustainable development to the research community to allow researchers to develop
and the role of spectrum management in this development, new methods to assess and reduce resources efficiently and
are brought together for the future 6G era by providing consumption based on real data, which today is a true
recommendations for the future. bottleneck. Therefore, sharing of methods and data on the
impact of the wireless communications sector between the
5.1 Sustainability perspective telecommunication industry, operators, and academia as well
as sectors that could benefit from wireless technologies
Driving 6G towards the big goal of sustainability through needs to be promoted.
sustainable development requires a major rethink of existing
practises against the triple bottom line of economic, social Table 2 – Triple bottom line of sustainability and 6G
and environmental sustainability from [1]. Since most
interesting challenges are found between these three bottom Sustainability Description [1] Implication on 6G
lines, special emphasis should be put on new innovations at element [1] development
the intersections. Table 2 outlines implications of the triple Economic Ensuring New business
bottom line of sustainability on 6G development. sustainability profitability of opportunity to help
business operations different sectors to
The role of wireless technologies for emitting less is equally (economic capital) reach sustainability.
important, as is support for absorbing more in the other Deployment of
sectors of society where impact could be achieved. Both developed technology
need to be addressed. As envisaged in the joint 6G vision is affordable.
building, 6G will combine communication services with Social Contributing human Increasing role of
other services, such as imaging, ‘sensoring’, and ‘locationing’ sustainability capital (e.g., public users (humans and
[7], providing a measurement tool to collect various data at health, skills and vertical sectors) in
education) and
defining 6G
hyperlocal granularity [8], which can be used to steer wider measures of a requirements.
operations towards sustainability targets [9]. The elaboration society’s health and Decrease digital
of this new role as a measurement tool needs further attention. wealth creation divide to include all to
potential (social society and leave no-
The need for significant improvement of energy efficiency capital) one behind.
of the wireless networks themselves is evident for 6G and the Environmental Forms of critical New indicators
development of new measures, measurement methodologies sustainability and renewable needed for 6G to
and techniques for improving energy efficiency of networks natural capital that assess its
from end to end is urgent. Better analysis of the impacts of are impacted by environmental impact
operating frequency and other elements on energy operations (natural e.g., energy efficiency
and consumption.
capital)
consumption is needed. New mechanisms need to be
developed to reduce the carbon footprint through sharing all
potential wireless communication resources. Additionally,

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