Page 49 - Market Analysis Report of Optical Communications Field in China & Global market 2023
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We are running modern, coherent transmission systems network. Corning calculated the carbon footprint of one
over portions of our metro and long-haul networks that optical fiber to be 2.3 kg CO eq/km [9], while two 0.5 mm
2
were installed prior to 1986, with excellent results.” copper wires [10] are estimated to have a carbon footprint
of 14 kg CO eq/km [11], 6 times the carbon footprint
2
With fewer failure points, modern optical fiber with higher of fiber over the same length. The latest fiber networks
energy efficiency also has the potential to overcome for home users, however, can deliver 2,000 times higher
the bandwidth limitations of existing networks. Energy, bandwidth over 7 times longer distances for the same
healthcare, and other critical infrastructures are becoming number of users.
more digitized and rely on high performance and high
reliability networks. Innovations in optical fiber network Based on these values, it is estimated that to achieve the
development can achieve this through a simplified network same transmission capacity, over the same reach, the
architecture. twisted copper pair has a carbon footprint up to 85,000
times higher than that of an optical fiber.
Fiber is the solution for pervasive connectivity that not
only provides high performance but also contributes to Based on these values, it is estimated that to achieve
achieving sustainable development. the same transmission capacity, over the same reach,
the twisted copper pair has a carbon footprint up to
Embodied carbon 85,000 times higher than that of anoptical fiber.
Lower operational costs, reduced environmental impacts
during service, and resilient transmission of information While this analysis is non exhaustive and excludes
are possible with optical fiber networks. They have shaped recycling and disposal as well as other materials and
our modern world and have the potential to enable greener equipment needed to make both cables and operate both
digitalization by providing more bandwidth with less networks, it conservatively elevates optical fiber networks
material. over copper from an embodied carbon perspective. This
complements the findings of other studies that have
The embodied carbon associated with raw material confirmed that environmental and economic benefits
extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and End-of- can be achieved with optical fiber by eliminating active
Life of network infrastructure is a critical element of components and simplifying network architecture.
comparing the environmental impact of competing digital Ultimately, studying the embodied carbon that results from
technologies. Corning executed an LCA of the materials the materials and manufacturing of optical fiber helps
contained in optical fiber and its manufacturing process Corning further improve its environmental performance.
to assess its environmental impact, quantified as carbon
footprint (CF). The results from this study were compared Corning’s Cradle-to-Gate LCA study
to the CF of copper based on publicly available data. An LCA is a standard methodology used to quantify the
potential environmental impacts of a product or process. It
Although different configurations will vary the transmission is performed by calculating the GHG emissions associated
capacity of a network, we can simplify the analysis by with the entire life cycle of the product. A commonly used
comparing one optical fiber to one copper pair. Consider metric that results from an LCA is the global warming
a twisted copper pair used in Asynchronous Digital potential (GWP), also known as CF. To estimate the CF
Subscriber Line (ADSL) and one optical fiber in an access
Figure 2. Cradle-to-gate comparison of twisted copper pair used in ADSL and optical fiber in access network
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