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The impact of spectrum policy on carbon emissions

Author

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  • Zagdanski, Jakub
  • Castells, Pau

Abstract

By assigning rights and conditions of use, spectrum policy regulates how radio frequencies can be used by mobile networks. We develop a parameterised calculator tool to estimate the impact of various spectrum policy aspects on the emissions of the mobile sector. We model the impacts during the main phase of 5G rollout (2022-2031) in representative medium-sized low-income and high-income countries. (population: 80 million). We find that the carbon footprint of the mobile sector can increase between 1% (up to 0.4 MtCO2e) as a result of fragmented 5G spectrum, and up to 9% ( up to 2.6 MtCO2e) as a result of a two year-delay to 5G assignment Importantly, we find that the potential impact on the emissions of other sectors and households as a result of lower adoption of emission-saving use cases could be many times greater. A two-year delay to assignment of 5G spectrum could lead to emissions in other sectors and households increasing by up to 37 MtCO2e.

Suggested Citation

  • Zagdanski, Jakub & Castells, Pau, 2023. "The impact of spectrum policy on carbon emissions," 32nd European Regional ITS Conference, Madrid 2023: Realising the digital decade in the European Union – Easier said than done? 278024, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:itse23:278024
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    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/278024/1/Zagdanski-Castells.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hanna Pihkola & Mikko Hongisto & Olli Apilo & Mika Lasanen, 2018. "Evaluating the Energy Consumption of Mobile Data Transfer—From Technology Development to Consumer Behaviour and Life Cycle Thinking," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Lehr, William & Queder, Fabian & Haucap, Justus, 2021. "5G: A new future for Mobile Network Operators, or not?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(3).
    3. Dag Lundén & Jens Malmodin & Pernilla Bergmark & Nina Lövehagen, 2022. "Electricity Consumption and Operational Carbon Emissions of European Telecom Network Operators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-27, February.
    4. Joshua Aslan & Kieren Mayers & Jonathan G. Koomey & Chris France, 2018. "Electricity Intensity of Internet Data Transmission: Untangling the Estimates," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 22(4), pages 785-798, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Radio spectrum; spectrum policy; emissions; climate change;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • D44 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Auctions

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