Green Future Networks

Developing sustainable and environmentally conscious solutions​.

Programme Leads

Objectives

With Green Future Networks, NGMN is enabling the mobile industry to further transform and meet its environmental and sustainability goals. Since the initiative started in 2021, we have identified the key opportunities and challenges and made actionable recommendations on several key areas.   Develop requirements with a strong focus on customer-centricity. Engage with various stakeholders, monitor external 6G developments, and facilitate timely bilateral exchanges with relevant external organizations. Identify and analyze relevant standards development organizations (SDOs) and industry bodies to maximize the impact of NGMN.

NGMN Work Programme

“The future is green when innovation grows with responsibility.”

Laurent Leboucher, Orange, Chairman of the NGMN Alliance Board

Green Future Networks 2024-2025

Energy Management
  • How to optimise use of renewable energy in mobile networks?
  • Role of MNOs in wider energy management of energy grids
Environmental Sustainability and Reporting
  • How to optimise use of renewable energy in mobile networks?
  • Role of MNOs in wider energy management of energy grids
Metering
  • Requirements and recommendations towards metering in transport networks
  • Requirements and capabilities to compare energy efficiency of different RAN deployment options

Energy Management

Project Leads

Objectives

The growing need for sustainability in telecommunications raises important questions about how renewable energy can be more effectively integrated into mobile networks, and what role Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) can play in the broader management of modern energy grids.   Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

Environmental Sustainability and Reporting

Project Leads

Objectives

The telecommunications industry encounters several significant challenges when striving for accurate assessment and transparent reporting of its sustainability efforts, including data collection complexities, standardisation of metrics, and integration of diverse technologies. Overcoming these obstacles is crucial to demonstrate genuine environmental impact, meet regulatory requirements, and drive continuous improvement toward greener operations.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

Metering

Project Leads

Objectives

Understanding the requirements and best practices for metering in transport networks is essential to accurately monitor and manage energy consumption. Equally important is the ability to evaluate and compare the energy efficiency of different Radio Access Network (RAN) deployment options, which requires clear criteria and measurement capabilities. Together, these aspects enable operators to make informed decisions that optimise network performance while minimising environmental impact.   Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

Building a Sustainable Future for Mobile

Phase 1
2023/24

High relevance to MNOs, industry and globe

Phase 2
2022/23
A multi-year project (started 2021) to guide the industry with roadmaps and actionable recommendations
Phase 3
2023/24
Phase 4 deliverables due in Q2 2025 – 3 Publications
Phase 4
2023/24
Project currently discussing Phase 5 scope

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Publications

Environmental sustainability and reporting

April 2024

The publication, “Green Future Networks: Environmental Sustainability and Reporting”, offers practical recommendations for addressing Scope 3 emissions – those generated across the broader value chain – which represent approximately 90% of total emissions for mobile network operators (MNOs). 

NGMN advocates for a shift toward using primary (unit-based) emissions factors rather than traditional financial (price-based) ones to enhance reporting accuracy. The guidance also emphasises the need for greater collaboration and industry-wide alignment of calculation methods.

Green Future Networks: A Roadmap to Energy Efficient Mobile Networks

July 2024

This latest NGMN publication outlines 16 different energy saving techniques and intelligent solutions that are currently used or under development in the industry. Supported by real-world data, the publication highlights the energy saving potential of each solution and classifies each by type and by the time needed to develop and deploy them.

According to the publication, energy consumption can be reduced through process optimisations, engineering and operational improvements, and the deployment of recent technologies. This is the latest phase of NGMN’s Green Future Networks programme, building on the previous publications that addressed the short-term solutions that mobile network operators (MNOs) could deploy.

GFN_Energy_Efficiency_Roadmap_V1.0.jpg

Green Future Networks: Metering in Virtualised RAN Infrastructure

April 2024

Being “green”, which entails energy efficiency and sustainability without compromising performance, is increasingly recognised as a hot topic and a prerequisite for enduring success today and in the future.

Through this publication, the NGMN Alliance delivers vital recommendations for industry standards, facilitating more precise and real-time estimations of energy consumed by virtualised or cloud-native network functions. It highlights the necessity of enhancing current 3GPP Virtual Network Function (VNF) / Cloud Network Function (CNF) energy consumption estimation frameworks for more precise measurement of energy consumption by VNF/CNF on shared IT/Cloud infrastructure.

Furthermore, the publication emphasises the implementation and the consideration by standardisation bodies of the Redfish® model published by DMTF as a starting point, and addresses the questions which data/parameters are measured, how, and which standards to align to.

Network Energy Efficiency Phase 2

October 2023

The mobile industry through NGMN’s Green Future Networks Programme has come together to find solutions to increase network energy efficiency and enable operators to reduce their electricity consumption. In this publication we outline and prioritise the various options available to increase network energy efficiency. In particular energy saving approaches are organised into three broad categories (and time-horizons):

• process optimisations – short-term (chapter 2)
• engineering optimisations – medium-term (chapter 3)
• new technologies – long-term (chapter 4)

For each energy saving approach information is provided – based on data from live networks and/or simulations – on the size and scope of the potential energy savings.

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Events

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