This study estimates the impact of the fifth cellular generation (5G) deployment in France on the environmental footprint of ICT sector from 2020 to 2030. Together with Hugues Ferreboeuf, digital sobriety expert, Citizing consulting compared a scenario of 5G deployment in three variants with a non-deployment scenario in two variants.
Massive 5G deployment would lead to an explosion of ICT uses, energy consumption (primary and electricity) and carbon footprint (+6 MtCO2eq or +35% versus non-deployment scenario). However, a deployment to decongest high density areas would limit environmental impact of fifth cellular generation (+0,6 MtCO2eq or +3,4%).
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