By connecting much of the world’s population, the telecoms industry is generally seen as a pro-social industry. Indeed, some of the most influential thinkers about 6G are trying to closely align that technology’s vision with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

But no industry is perfect, and the industry is estimated to account for 0.4% of the world’s greenhouse emissions.

Mobile operators, their suppliers, and the ITU, think they can do better. Together they have committed to halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

In a new dossier, we explore some the issues associated with such a laudable ambition.

• Green telecoms: can it ever be sustainable?
• Legislators ask how spectrum can fight climate change
• Climate concerns to drive 6G development
• Mobile industry pledges to reduce its carbon footprint
• Telecoms sector is slowly starting to address climate change
• Europe searches for green spectrum policies

Spectrum Research Service subscribers can access the new dossier, as well as five additional dossiers on topics such as spectrum sharing, spectrum auctions, and WRC-23. The Greening Spectrum Policy dossier is available here.