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1 Motivation
The emergence of the metaverse, along with cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, IMT-2020 and beyond, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, robotics, VR/AR, and digital twins, represents a profound shift brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The environmental impact of current as well as new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs is frequently underestimated, even though it is crucial to maintain and expand the network infrastructure to ensure universal connectivity. These telecommunications/ICTs rely on ICT equipment, data centres, and telecom installations to facilitate seamless communication. Access equipment, routers, servers, storage systems, switches, and transport equipment play pivotal roles in enabling high-speed, large-scale broadband services and computational activities. To support the next generation of wireless networks and various IoT applications, additional radio base stations and data centres, including edge data centres, are indispensable. Unfortunately, the energy consumption of these equipment and installations is substantial, making a significant contribution to global carbon emissions. As we step into the era of augmented reality (AR) and the metaverse, it becomes imperative to address the environmental impact and develop sustainable solutions to mitigate the carbon footprint associated with the expansion of this digital infrastructure.
This Question explores the environmental efficiency needs of telecommunication and ICTs, covering aspects like water (used in cooling and humidification) and energy efficiency. It also examines how emerging technologies like AI, digital twins, and the metaverse are key to improving environmental efficiency in the ICT sector, reducing operational costs through better management tools. The focus is on developing technical solutions, metrics, key performance indicators, and accurate measurement methods for different telecom/ICT types. In addition, the lack of adequate broadband infrastructure is also limiting the adoption of telecommunications/ICTs in rural areas. Low-cost, portable and energy efficient powering units and broadband infrastructures can accelerate the adoption of ICTs in these areas.
This Question is also in line with the following Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 7 "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all"; SDG 9 "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation"; SDG 11 "Make cities and human settlement inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable"; and SDG 13 "Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact".
The following Recommendations and supplements, in force at the time of approval of this Question, fall under its responsibility:
- ITU-T L.1200, L.1201, L.1202, L.1203, L.1204, L.1205, L.1206, L.1207, L.1210, L.1230, L.1240, L.1241, L.1260, L.1300, L.1301, L.1302, L.1303, L.1305, L.1306, L.1307, L.1327, L.1360, L.1361, L.1362, L.1380, L.1381, L.1382, L.1310, L.1315, L.1316, L.1317, L.1318, L.1320, L.1321 L.1325, L.1326, L.1330, L.1331, L.1332, L.1333, L.1340, L.1350, L.1351, L.1390, L.1700;
- L-series Supplements 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22, 23, 29, 30, 31, 33, 36, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48, 53 and 59;
2 Questions
Study items to be considered include, but are not limited to:
- What study areas and Recommendations are needed to address energy and water consumption used in cooling solution of telecommunications/ICTs and infrastructure, including data centres, to improve environmental efficiency?
- What metrics/key performance indicators (KPIs) are needed for environmental efficiency, particularly in terms of water and energy efficiency of telecommunications/ICTs including data centres?
- What metrics/KPIs are needed for related measurement methods and reference values for power/cooling systems used in telecom and data centre installations?
- What are the technical specifications and best practices for energy consumption/efficiency of new and emerging telecommunication and ICTs, as well as related components and installations like next-generation telecommunication networks, data centre infrastructures, and radio sites?
- How can energy efficiency control and monitoring solutions be implemented to reduce the environmental impact of ICT installations and telecommunications/ICTs, including data centres?
- How can real-time energy consumption and carbon emissions of ICT infrastructure and even entire networks be visualized during operation?
- What energy efficiency solutions can be defined for telecommunications/ICTs by integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data to reduce consumption and emissions?
- How, from an environmental efficiency standpoint, can the future network architecture proposed by other SGs, SDOs and forums be evaluated and analysed?
- What green and low carbon requirements and suggestions should be considered for network deployment and facilities solutions for new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs (e.g., AI, IoT, IMT-2020 and beyond)?
- What recommendations, supplements, or technical reports are required to reduce energy consumption through hardware optimization design for ICT sector infrastructures and facilities, including ICT equipment, power systems, cooling systems, and management systems, while aligning with the goals of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement to reduce CO2 emissions?
- How can power and cooling systems in ICT networks be improved for energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, including features covering power feeding systems, air flow control technology, cooling technology, and renewable energy systems?
- What strategies can be employed to increase broadband coverage while providing affordable, environmentally efficient ICT equipment and infrastructures in rural areas?
- What Recommendations, supplements or technical reports are required for specifications of configuration and installation of power feeding systems in DC or hybrid AC and DC, including cable distribution methods, basic concepts (or architectures) of the power supply network for environmentally sustainable and low-cost solutions?
- What Recommendations, supplements or technical reports are needed to provide guidance on how to facilitate the use of renewable energy in the ICT sector and strategies related to the supply chain?
- What are the requirements for the application of smart renewable energy solutions in ICT installations, including data centres, IoT, M2M, radio sites, and customer sites?
3 Tasks
Tasks include, but are not limited to:
- Develop Recommendations and supplements on water efficiency and energy efficiency metrics and measurements for telecommunications/ICTs, including new radio access (IMT-2020 and beyond), related supporting network elements and the metaverse;
- Develop Recommendations, supplements and/or technical reports on the construction of green and low-carbon sites, telecommunication room and data centre;
- Develop Recommendations, supplements and/or technical reports to support the implementation of smart energy solutions (including cooling solutions);
- Develop Recommendations on water and energy efficient solutions for widespread ICT network implementation in order to improve the efficient use of energy and resources including IoT and IMT-2020 and beyond;
- Develop Recommendations, supplements and technical reports on control and monitoring solutions for facilities equipment and Power, Environmental, Energy (PEE) parameter telecommunications/ICTs, radio access (including IMT-2020 and beyond), the related supporting networks and the metaverse;
- Develop Recommendations, supplements and/or technical reports that contain requirements and technical specifications on low-cost, portable, and environmentally efficient ICT infrastructure for rural areas and communities in close cooperation with other Study Groups and SDOs operating in this area;
- Develop Recommendations supplements and/or technical reports on new energy-saving solutions and low carbon emission solutions, including key parameter requirements for telecommunication/ICTs equipment, network and deployment, including Data Centres;
- Develop Recommendations, supplements and/or technical reports on smart energy technologies and solutions for telecommunications/ICTs (including data centre, IMT-2020, big data, artificial intelligence, blockchain);
- Develop Recommendations, supplements and/or technical reports to improve the energy efficiency of ICT equipment through, for example, smart power management;
- Develop Recommendations, supplements and/or technical reports on facilitating the use of renewable energy in the telecommunications/ICTs sector and developing strategies related to supply chain;
- Analyse the environmental efficiency of basic future network architecture developed by other study groups, SDOs and forums, and provide requirements and suggestion to be considered for a low-carbon and environmentally sustainable network deployment;
- Maintain and revise existing Recommendations and other deliverables as needed.
An up-to-date status of work under this Question is contained in the ITU-T SG5 work programme (https://www.itu.int/ITU-T/workprog/wp_search.aspx?sp=18&q=6/5).
4 Relationships
Recommendations:
- ITU-T K- and L-series Recommendations
Questions:
- 7/5, 8/5, 9/5, 11/5
Study Groups:
- ITU-T SGs
- ITU-D SGs
- ITU-R SGs
Other bodies:
- ATIS
- CCSA
- ETSI
- ECMA
- IEC
- IETF
- ISO
- CIAJ
- GISFI
- 3GPP
- TSDSI
- IEEE
- CESI
WSIS Action Lines:
- C2, C7
Sustainable Development Goals:
- 7, 9, 11, 13
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