How dose 5G Network affect the climate?

The new 5G cellular standard is significantly more efficient than the 3G and 4G networks. Indirect effects could even increase the climate protection potential of 5G technology.

The new 5G network achieves significantly higher bandwidths and significantly lower latencies than the current 3G and 5G networks. This is possible because the new

mobile radio standard uses higher frequencies and uses the individual frequency ranges more effectively. Unfortunately, this reduces the range, which means that significantly more antennas are required for a comprehensive mobile network.

Critics of the new mobile communications standard therefore often argue that, in addition to the supposed health risks of the technology, the high number of antennas in its construction and operation causes high greenhouse gas emissions. Proponents, on the other hand, take the view that the more efficient technology can even improve the carbon footprint of the mobile network.

5G cellular network in Switzerland

According to a press release from the Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt (Empa), scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) have therefore examined the climate footprint of 5G technology using the Swiss mobile network as an example. According to the head of the study, Jan Bieser, “the aim of this study was not to provide arguments for or against the development of 5G mobile networks in Switzerland. Rather, a specific aspect of 5G is to be highlighted: the expected effects on greenhouse gas emissions. Other aspects, such as safety or health, are expressly not considered in this study.

In the study (PDF), the scientists determine how high the CO2 emissions will be for setting up and operating the 5G network up to 2030. This takes into account the energy and material costs of the infrastructure and operation, as well as indirect effects that arise from new application options for the standard.

The study comes to the conclusion that the construction and operation of the 5G network will cause additional emissions of 0.018 megatons of CO2 equivalents per year by 2030. 57 percent of this is attributable to the production of the infrastructure, 43 percent to the electricity for operation. In addition, the 5G end devices generate 0.03 to 0.16 megatons of CO2 equivalents per year.

Compared to the current 3G and 4G cellular network, the new standard is therefore highly efficient. Currently, around 30 grams of CO2 equivalents are released per gigabyte. According to Bieser, the scientists expect the 5G mobile network to emit around 4.5 grams of CO2 per gigabyte in 2030, which is 85 percent less than today's mobile networks.

High climate protection potential of 5G technology

If the demand for devices and services in the 5G network increases significantly, this could ensure that the positive effects of the high efficiency disappear, according to the study. This could be offset by the indirect effects of 5G technology, such as intelligent power grids and increased location-independent work. In this way, greenhouse gas emissions of 0.1 to 2.1 megatons of CO2 could be saved each year by 2030.

In addition, there are other technologies based on the 5G cellular network such as autonomous cars and intelligent buildings, which will also save CO2. According to co-author Roland Hischier, these applications will not be able to exploit their potential so quickly.The full climate protection potential of 5G technology will therefore continue to increase over the year 2030.

Savings potential greater than greenhouse gas emissions from the 5G network

Overall, according to the study results, the 5G network can reduce CO2 emissions in the mobile communications industry if used appropriately. According to Bieser, "the total savings potential in the context of the applications examined in this study is significantly higher than the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the 5G networks.

In order to really be able to use the full potential for climate protection, other requirements must be met in addition to the technology, including flexible work models and new mobility services. As Bieser explains, in order to put 5G at the service of climate protection, it is necessary to systematically develop climate protection potential through 5G-supported applications and to avoid rebound effects.