WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 5G
connectivity will play a significant role in enabling the U.S. to
meet the Biden Administration's climate change goals, with
5G-enabled use cases projected to make up to a 20% contribution
toward the country's carbon emission reduction targets by 2025,
according to a new Accenture (NYSE: ACN) study commissioned by
CTIA, the wireless industry association.
"This study confirms that U.S. 5G wireless networks will be
instrumental in tackling the pressing challenge of climate change,"
said Meredith Attwell Baker, CTIA
President and CEO. "America's wireless industry is building a
world-leading 5G platform that will spur the investment and
innovation necessary to meet our country's climate objectives."
The report, titled 5G Connectivity: A Key Enabling Technology
to Meet America's Climate Change Goals, finds that use cases on
5G networks will enable up to 330.8 million metric tons of carbon
dioxide equivalent (MMtCO2e) of additional abatement by 2025. That
is the equivalent of removing 26% of all the passenger vehicles
from the road in the U.S. for a year—roughly 72 million
vehicles.
The report examined 31 use cases for 5G across five industry
verticals: transportation and cities, manufacturing, buildings and
energy, agriculture, and working, living and health. The report
discusses the following three verticals in depth, where 5G will
have significant downstream carbon abatement potential:
- Transportation and cities: 5G-enabled use cases in the
ground transportation and cities vertical can total up to 86.5
MMtCO2e of carbon abatement in the U.S., thanks to reduced traffic
congestion, reduced vehicle idling at signals and while parking,
shorter routes optimization, and greater adoption and opt-ins of
more sustainable choices such as public transportation. The carbon
abatement in this vertical is equivalent to the carbon sequestered
by 106 million acres of U.S forests in a year.
- Manufacturing: 5G-enabled use cases in the manufacturing
vertical can total up to 67.4 MMtCO2e of carbon abatement in the
U.S., thanks to enhanced inventory management, real-time asset
monitoring, predictive maintenance, process augmentation, and
travel avoidance. The carbon abatement from inventory management by
2025 alone is equivalent to removing CO2 emissions from 17 coal
fired power-plants in a year.
- Energy and buildings: 5G-enabled use cases in the energy
and buildings vertical can total up to 67.9 MMtCO2e of carbon
abatement in the U.S., thanks to real-time monitoring, increased
green energy use, fuel savings through reduced transport
facilitated by remote operations, building energy management
systems, commercial HVAC controls, smart meters and smart grids,
and renewable microgrids. The carbon abatement from energy and
buildings by 2025 is equivalent to removing CO2 emissions from
electricity consumed by 12 million homes in a year.
"This study shows 5G networks can bring material reductions in
our country's carbon footprint," said Peters Suh, Accenture's North
America Communications and Media industry lead. "The crucial piece
will be how industries leverage cloud-first 5G networks to bring
greater innovation into key operational processes. With appropriate
education and ecosystem changes, organizations can reap the climate
benefits of 5G across their cloud continuum, which includes
everything from the public cloud to the edge."
"U.S. 5G networks already cover 305 million people, we're
building out 5G faster than we built out 4G, and every day, the
wireless industry is working to make these networks go faster and
farther," added Attwell Baker.
"Taken together, America's wireless ecosystem is positioning U.S.
innovators across these key industry verticals to quickly unlock
these climate benefits."
Report Methodology
Accenture developed a carbon
abatement model to quantify the potential incremental carbon
abatement opportunity of downstream use cases enabled by 5G
networks. The Accenture model is an adaption of the published
methodology and use case analysis created by GSMA in "The
Enablement Effect" report. A total of 31 use cases where 5G could
be leveraged by mobile technology to reduce carbon emissions were
identified. Accenture then calculated the avoided emissions for
each case using an avoided emissions factor, a 5G-driven quantity
variable, and a 5G downstream enablement multiplier.
A copy of the report can be downloaded here.
About CTIA
CTIA® (www.ctia.org) represents the U.S.
wireless communications industry and the companies throughout the
mobile ecosystem that enable Americans to lead a 21st century
connected life. The association's members include wireless
carriers, device manufacturers, suppliers as well as apps and
content companies. CTIA vigorously advocates at all levels of
government for policies that foster continued wireless innovation
and investment. The association also coordinates the industry's
voluntary best practices, hosts educational events that promote the
wireless industry and co-produces the industry's leading wireless
tradeshow. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, D.C.
About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional
services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and
security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills
across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting,
Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by
the world's largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent
Operations centers. Our 674,000 people deliver on the
promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving
clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change
to create value and shared success for our clients, people,
shareholders, partners, and communities. Visit us
at accenture.com.
Accenture's Communications and Media industry group helps
communications service providers, as well as media and
entertainment organizations become leading providers
of next-generation IP services and immersive customer experiences.
To learn more,
visit https://www.accenture.com/us-en/industries/communications-and-media-index.
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