National Telecommunication Institute

For Policy Research, Innovation & Training

Welcomes all the Participants to the Webinar on

“Green Telecom- Issues & Challenges”

December 22, 2021

All the participants are requested:

1. To introduce themselves in the chat box (Name, Designation, Organisation/Unit, Location)
2. Keep Mic in Mute Mode and unmute when allowed by the Speaker.
3. During the Q&A session, use RAISE HAND feature for asking the question and also write
your questions in chat box
Introduction to Green Telecom &
Government Directives
 Agenda
• What is Green Telecom?
• Dimensions of Green Telecom Strategy
• Government Initiatives Chronology
• Government Directives of January 2012 & January 2019 for
Greening the Telecom sector
Climate Change

• Climate Change is one of the most compelling

challenges of our time.
– Natural calamities like typhoon, floods and changes in sea
level etc are some of visible effect of the climate change
– Increase in the average temperature of earth or Global
warming due to accumulation of Green House Gases
(GHGs) in the atmosphere
Green House Gases
• GHGs
– Gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat.
– They let sunlight pass through, but they prevent the heat that sunlight
brings.
– Main GHGs are water vapor, CO2 ,Methane, Ozone, Nitrous oxide,
chloroflourocarbons.
• The reason of increased GHGs in atmosphere is due to increased
energy consumption arising from the activities of humankind in an
increasingly industrialized and globalizing world, which require
burning of fossil fuels.
International Agreement
• Paris Agreement- Legally binding international treaty on climate change;
196 countries; 2015; limit global warming to less than 2 deg C and
reduce emission of green house gases
• India also pledged to reduce GHG emission intensity of its GDP by 33 to
35% below 2005 level by 2030.
• Non-fossil share of cumulative power generation capacity to 40% by 2030
(Conditional : If transfer of technology & low-cost international finance)
Greening of Telecom
• World wide: ICT sector- 2% & Telecom -0.7% (230 m tonnes of Co2) of global Co2
emission
• Indian telecom sector- 1% of country’s CO2 emission
• The contribution is less, but noteworthy in absolute term.
• Further, Enhanced emissions are expected in future:
– Due to increasing need for the computation, data storage, and communication
– Growing telecom Infra require electricity + diesel ; both contributing to GHGs and have negative
effect on environment
• Reduction of the GHG produced or caused to be produced by the telecom sector is
referred to as Greening of telecom.
Green Telecom Strategy

Green Telecom
Networks

Green
Waste Disposal Telecom Green
Manufacturing

Strategy

Green Building
 1. Green Telecom Networks
• It would essentially involve minimizing the consumption of energy
through
– utilization of energy efficient technology
– effective network planning
– using renewable energy sources
– eco-friendly consumables
• Carbon footprint of these networks are required to be estimated
and method of reporting is to be finalised.
 1. Green Telecom Networks
• After measurement of the Carbon footprint, Evolving a Carbon
credit Policy for reducing the carbon footprint

• Carbon credits are created when GHG emissions are reduced

below “business-as-usual” baseline. (Ex- Renewable Energy project,
tree plantation project etc. will generate carbon credits)
• One carbon credit is equivalent to one ton of Co2 or equivalent
GHGs not emitted into the atmosphere.
• Carbon credits are tradable and is known as carbon trading
(Average equivalent per year :- $4.33-2019, $5.6 -2020, $4.73 -2021)
 1. Green Telecom Networks
• Carbon Credit Policy
– Encourage reduction of Carbon footprint
– Drive processes in the direction of low emission or less carbon
intensive approaches
– Provide incentives for inventers and innovators
– Puts in place carbon trading mechanism
– Puts a cap on amount of GHG that can be emitted by a
company
– Ultimate objective may be to become Carbon Neutral. Firms
are required to hold a number of carbon credits equivalent to
their emissions
 2.Green Manufacturing
• Energy-efficient equipment manufacturing
• Standardization of telecom equipment- Based on Energy
Consumption rating (ECR) i.e. W/Gbps –Energy Consumption
normalized to effective throughput
• Reduction in use of hazardous substances like chromium, lead
and mercury and reduction of harmful emissions.
 2. Green Manufacturing
• Adoption of the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach to reduce the environmental
impact of telecom products.
• Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool for estimating the total environmental impact of
a given product or service throughout its lifespan, from cradle to grave. - production,
manufacture, distribution, use and disposal, including all raw materials and
intervening transportation.
• Ex –LCA environmental impact of handset comprises
– Less use of raw materials
– Less Energy consumption of manufacturing process
– Less Energy consumption during transportation and Distribution
– Less Energy consumption during usage
– Less Energy consumption during disposal of waste.
 3. Green Buildings
• Buildings have major environmental impacts over their entire life cycle. Resources
such as ground cover, forests, water, and energy are depleted to give way to buildings.
• A green building depletes the natural resources to the minimum during its
construction and operation.
– efficient building materials & construction practices
– Renewable sources of energy
– efficient equipment to meet its lighting, air-conditioning
– efficient waste and water management practices
• Green building Rating programs-LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
or GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) etc. are to be used for
assessment of Greenness of the Building
 4. Waste Disposal
• Disposal of mobile phones, network equipment and other
material in an environmentally friendly manner for ensuring that
the toxic material does not get absorbed into the atmosphere,
the water or the ground.
• Th collection bins may be placed at appropriate places for
collection of e-waste – mobile phones, batteries, chargers etc.
• The e-waste collection, storage, transportation, segregation,
refurbishment, dismantling, recycling and disposal may be done
as per the prevailing environmental guidelines and procedures.
 Government Initiatives-
Chronology

• TRAI issued recommendations on “Approach towards Green

Telecommunications” in 2011.
• Talked about significance of energy efficiency in modern telecom
networks and suggested directions for optimizing network performance
in terms of energy demands.
• Keeping in view the various aspects of energy efficiency in telecom
networks, renewable energy targets in telecom sector were
recommended.

DoT directives to TSPs -January 2012

 Targets (January 2012)
• At least 50% of all rural towers and 20% of the urban towers are to be
powered by hybrid power (Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) + Grid
power) by 2015, while 75% of rural towers and 33% of urban towers are
to be powered by hybrid power by 2020.
• Service provides should endeavor to ensure that total power
consumption of each BTS will not exceed 500 W by 2020 for 2+2+2
configuration of BTSs.
• Service Providers should aim at carbon emission reduction targets for
the mobile networks at 5% by 2012-13, 12% by 2016-17 & 17% by 2018-
19.
 Methodology for Carbon Emission- (January 2012)

• CTOTAL = CGRIDPOWER + CDGSET in tonnes of CO2e per year

Where, CGRIDPOWER= = 0.365(0.84*P*X) in tonnes per year,
CDGSET = 0.365 [(0.528*Y*Z)/η] in tonnes per year
Where,
• P = Power consumption in kWh
• X= Average hrs with grid supply per day
• Y = Running time of the DG set in hours per day
• Z = Power capacity of DG set in kVA
• η = efficiency of the generator
 Government Initiatives-
Chronology

• As much progress was not there in RET, in March, 2013, DoT constituted a RET
Committee
• To develop the roadmap, comprehensive program and viability gap funding for RET
deployment in telecom sector.

• Based on RET Committee report, DoT referred the matter back to TRAI for
Methodologies for measuring Carbon Emission , Calibration of Directives issued by
DoT in 2012, approach for its implementation and support to industry.

Based on TRAI recommendations “ Approach towards

Sustainable Telecommunications”, DoT issued directives to TSPs
-January 2019
 DoT Directive –January 2019
1. Emission Targets
2. Methodology for Carbon Emission Calculations
3. ECR & Green Passport
4. Voluntary Code of Practice
5. Carbon Credit Policy
 1. Emission Targets
• Average Carbon Emission :- The average carbon emission should be
based on the average amount of data traffic. If the traffic carried by the
telecom network is “T Petabyte” then the total carbon footprint per unit
traffic is given by:

C TOTAL_PER UNIT TRAFFIC =𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐋/ 𝐓 [in tonnes CO2e per unit Petabyte]
{1 petabyte = 1024 Terabyte}

• Where T should be calculated by adding the data traffic and voice traffic (after converting the
voice traffic into data).
 1. Emission Targets

• The target for reduction in Average Carbon Emission be set as

30% by year 2019-20 taking base year as 2011-12 and 40% by
the year 2022-23.
• For TSP , whose service is had started after 2011-12 , the base
year average emission shall be considered as the average base
year of carbon emission of TSP with highest subscriber base in
2011-12.
• The targets should be reviewed in the year 2022-23.
 2. Methodology for Carbon Emission Calculations
• Carbon footprints are to be reported annually to DGT office on
self certification basis.
• The carbon footprint shall include :
– Scope 1 Emissions (from the sources owned and controlled by the
organization such as emission resulting from combustion of fuels) and
– Scope 2 Emissions (from the use of purchased electricity for operation of
telecom equipments fall under this category)
 2. Methodology for Carbon Emission Calculations
• The Total Carbon Emission should be calculated as sum of Carbon emission from Grid Power and DG Set:
CTOTAL = CGRIDPOWER + CDGSET in tonnes CO2e per year

• Carbon Emission from Grid power:

CGRIDPOWER= (EF * A) tonnes of CO2e per year
EF = Average Emission Factor of the grid (in tonnes of CO2e/MWh) taken from the report of the Central Electricity
Authority for the corresponding zone as applicable from time to time
A = Consumption of power from the grid by the telecom network per year (in ‘MWh’)
• Carbon Emission from DG Sets:
CDGSET = 0.002629 * N tonnes of CO2e per year
N = total Diesel consumption of the DG in litre in a year.
 2. Methodology for Carbon Emission Calculations

• The TSPs should voluntarily adopt the RET solutions, energy

efficient equipments and high capacity fast charging storage
solutions etc. to meet the target for reduction of Carbon
Footprint.
 2. Methodology for Carbon Emission Calculations
• The electricity generated by the RET solution funded/
maintained by the TSP should be subtracted from overall carbon
emission of the TSP irrespective of its use.
• RET deployed in Telecom Network, irrespective of the source of
funding of RET project, should be counted towards savings from
overall carbon emission.
 3. ECR & Green Passport
• TEC should set up the model lab facility for certification of
telecom products, equipments and service on the basis of ECR
ratings.
• TEC should also finalise the “ECR document” delineating the test
procedures and the measurement methodologies utilised.
• Public/private agencies may be accredited for conducting such
certification.
 3. ECR & Green Passport
• Government should make necessary provisions mandating that all
telecom products, equipments and services in the telecom
network should be Energy and performance assessed and
certified “Green Passport” utilising the ECR Rating.
• The recommendation on last slide and this recommendation
should be implemented in two phases.
– In the first phase, TEC set up the lab and finalize the test procedures
– In second phase the assessment, testing and certification should be made
mandatory.
 ECR & Green Passport - Status
• In 2020, TEC issued a Standard i.e ECR & Energy passport for
Telecommunication products , Equipment and Network/ Services
• It delineates the test procedures and the measurement methodologies for
ECR and energy passport certification of various telecom equipment.
• Energy Consumption Rating (ECR):
– Energy consumption normalized to effective throughput
– ECR= (E / T), where E -maximum energy consumption (in watts) and T -effective
system throughput (in bits per second).
– This implies, more energy-efficient product, equipment and network or service to be
the one that can transport more data using the same energy budget.
 ECR & Green Passport - Status
Weighted ECR:-
– As vast number of telecommunication devices operate under variable-load
conditions, where the measured value of a functional unit can fluctuate based on
user demand.
– Ideally, telecommunication devices should be able to reduce their energy
consumption in proportion to the functional unit produced
– In order to capture such capabilities, the standard defines the ECR as a weighted,
load-proportional metric.
– So, the standard defines mathematical formula for weighted ECR by assigning
proportionate weight coefficient to variable load metrics
– and then calculates measured weighted ECR values for different telecom
equipment.
– Ex:- ECRweighted = α ECR0 + β ECR50 + γ ECR100
 Telecom Equipment & Networks Covered
• Telecom Equipment:
i. DSLAM ix. Small Networking Devices (intended for home/domestic
ii. MSAN or small office use)1
iii. GPON OLT equipment x. WDM/TDM/OTN Transport MUXes/Switches
iv. GEPON OLT equipment xi. Converged packet optical equipment with packet signal
v. Wireless Access Technologies and TDM signal
(Base Station) xii. Converged packet optical equipment with packet signal,
vi. Servers TDM signal and WDM signal functions
vii. Routers xiii. Radio Network Controller (RNC) and Mobile core
viii. Ethernet Switches functions (GGSN, HLR, MGW, MME, MSC, SGSN and
PGW/SGW) and equivalent functions in 4G.

• Telecommunication Networks:
Under this category, only operational telecommunication mobile network has been covered as of
now; other type of networks such as fixed line telecommunication network, NFV etc. will be covered
in subsequent issues.
 Objective of the Standard
• For each Telecom equipment and Network mentioned, the Standard
prescribes, what will be the metric, weight coefficient, and how to calculate
weighted ECR.

• The Standard is intended to be used by telecommunication network

operators, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and test laboratories as a
standard method for determining the energy consumption required to
address a specific application.
• By comparing the ECR reports of multiple equipment that meet a common
set of requirements, a telecommunications network operator can select
equipment configuration that meets their energy consumption targets.
 ECR & Green Passport - Status
Energy Passport determination and classification methodology
1) Calculate weighted ECR values of each of samples in the given category of
product/equipment/network/services (Note: Number of samples required for
reference ECR may be five or more which may be collected over a period of 6 months)
2) Calculate mean and standard deviation of samples.
Mean= (ECR1 + ECR2 +………….+ ECRn) / n

Standard Deviation=

Where ECR1, ECR2.…...ECRn are weighted ECR values of samples

Reference ECR values & Energy Passport Classification

Class A or Class B or Class C or

colour Green colour Lime Class D or
colour Amber colour RED

Ref_ECR_val1 Ref_ECR_val2 Ref_ECR_val3

(Mean- SD) (Mean) (Mean+ SD)

3) Find Reference ECR values

4) See where measured weighed ECR value is falling
 Green Passport Lab- Status
• Setup in TEC ( June 2021)
• It is conceptualized as a test bed created for testing of
telecom devices offered by Telecom Equipment vendors
connected in a network configuration for Energy Efficiency
Testing of IP related equipment
• Testing is to be done in accordance with ECR document
issued by TEC having guidelines on measurement metrics
and measurement methodology.
 4. Voluntary Code of Practice
• The Service Providers would adopt a Voluntary Code of Practice
(VCP) encompassing energy efficient Network Planning, infra-
sharing, deployment of energy efficient technologies and
adoption of Renewable Energy Technology (RET).
• This shall be submitted by Service providers or their associations
to DGT in consultation with TEC within three months from the
date of issue of these directions.
 Voluntary Code of Practice -Status
• The Voluntary Code of Practice(VCP) for Sustainable
Telecom , to be adopted by TSPs, was prepared ( by all
Service providers & their Associations combinedly in
consultation with TEC) and submitted to DGT in November
2019.
• The goal of this VCP document is to achieve Emission
reduction targets defined in DoT directives (Average Carbon
Emission be set as 30% by year 2019-20 taking base year as 2011-12 and 40% by the
year 2022-23)
 Voluntary Code of Practice -Status
• The objectives of this VCP document are:
– Voluntary broaden stakeholder’s understanding of
environmental priorities /challenges
– Voluntarily continue upgrading equipment to greener
hardware and to strive for high standards of efficiencies.
– Evolving efficient mechanisms and adopting frugality measures
for offsetting the environmental impact of DG operation.
– Implement VCP in all future telecom network operations.
 5. Carbon Credit Policy
• Service providers should evolve a “Carbon Credit Policy” in line
with carbon credit norms with the objective of achieving the
reduction in carbon footprint target.
• The ultimate objective of achieving:
– a maximum 50% over the carbon footprint levels of the base year in
rural areas and
– maximum of 66% over the carbon footprint levels of the base year in
urban areas by the year 2020.
 Carbon Credit Policy
• Emission targets
• ECR and Green Passport
• The electricity generated by the RET solution funded/
maintained by the TSP should be subtracted from overall
carbon emission of the TSP irrespective of its use.
• RET deployed in Telecom Network, irrespective of the source
of funding of RET project, should be counted towards savings
from overall carbon emission.
Thanks
 ECR & Green Passport - Status
Energy Passport determination and classification methodology
3) Finding reference ECR values;
– Ref_ECR_Val1= (mean - standard deviation)
– Ref_ECR_Val2= (mean)
– Ref_ECR_Val3= (mean + standard deviation)

4) Energy Passport classification:

• Class A or colour Green- measured weighted ECR < Ref_ECR_val1
• Class B or colour Lime- measured weighted ECR <Ref_ECR_val2 but >= Ref_ECR_val1
• Class C or colour Amber- measured weighted ECR value < Ref_ECR_val3 but
>=Ref_ECR_val2
• Class D or colour RED- measured weighted ECR value >= Ref_ECR_val3