Page 48 - Market Analysis Report of Optical Communications Field in China & Global market 2023

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speed digital services provide daily benefits. But those the information and communications technology (ICT)
unconnected experience a different reality, and inequalities sector contributes about 2% of greenhouse gas (GHG)
are evident in meeting basic needs such as protection, emissions, which comes mainly from energy used for
education, and health. In 2020, the United Nations connected devices, data centers, and networks. With rapid
stated that reliable mobile and internet connectivity is a digitalization, this figure is expected to increase unless
fundamental human right, enabling citizens in the world efforts are taken to improve efficiency.
to be agents in their own progress, with dignity and self-
reliance [2]. Optical fiber intrinsically provides opportunities to reduce
the environmental impact of the ICT sector. Optical fiber
The linkage between connectivity and economic growth supports higher data transmission rates and achieves lower
is also well established. RTI International, an independent energy consumption in telecommunication networks
nonprofit research institute, estimates that the impact of compared to copper. In transoceanic networks, for example,
2Africa, one of the largest subsea cable projects in the optical submarine cables replaced copper alternatives in
world, will likely be an increase of 0.42 to 0.58 percent in the 1990’s. Corning’s research of public data indicates that
African GDP within the first two or three years of going transoceanic capacity accelerated scaling to approximately
live [3]. According to the Fiber Broadband Association 35% per year (from 25% per year in the era of copper
(FBA), cities with broadly deployed fiber have had 64% cables) while maintaining a steady 20% per year reduction
higher economic growth than cities without fiber [4]. in energy per bit. In access networks, optical fiber reduces
power consumption by up to 54% depending on the
Sustainability considerations for communications network type (e.g., 4G and 5G) when compared to copper,
technology according to a 2022 study from the Politecnico di Milano
As demand for bandwidth continues to grow and the [6]. Given these findings, operators in countries like Spain
need for connectivity becomes more critical, developing have decided to close entire copper networks and replace
sustainable solutions becomes a focal point. A deeper focus them with fiber.
on how society is impacted, how environmental resources
are used, and how costs of development are mitigated is Moreover, driven by its high data capacity, optical fiber
imperative. networks have a wider service area. According to an FBA
study [7], optical fiber can deliver gigabit services without
In addition to enabling massive bandwidth, optical fiber additional active components such as amplifiers over 10
networks offer environmental benefits over traditional times farther than those associated with copper-based
telecommunications networks that use copper. Low energy networks.
consumption, low maintenance, and future readiness are
amongst the most evident advantages, and have been Resilience
quantified extensively. Less often talked about is the Optical fiber networks require less equipment, resulting
embodied carbon of optical fiber. Corning quantified this in reduced environmental impacts and operational costs.
additional advantage through a life cycle assessment (LCA), Consequently, optical fiber systems have fewer failure
detailed later in this paper. points, lower maintenance requirements, and a reduced
need for maintaining active power components, battery
Overall, fiber has the potential to meet the present need for replacements, and recurring inspections. Together with
pervasive connectivity while minimizing environmental more efficient power consumption, these benefits make
impact, providing sustainable solutions for future optical fiber systems more robust than traditional copper
generations. networks.

Efficiency and power consumption Furthermore, optical fiber does not corrode like metals
A recurring theme in sustainable policy making and do, resulting in networks that can last for more than thirty
strategy planning is the environmental impact of human years [8]. According to a Tier 1 North America carrier, “one
activities where energy consumption is often at the center of the most important benefits of a fiber network is the
of attention. According to a white paper by IDATE [5], remarkably long lifespan of optical cables. Case in point:

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