Decarbonising compute: from the ground up
This insight is open to all subscribers and registered users, or available by completing the form below.
Report details
Decarbonising compute: from the ground up
Getting the right compute architecture is critical.
Between 2022 and 2030, data traffic is projected to rise sixfold. One of the biggest implications is the need for a corresponding increase in compute resources. As 5G network deployments increase in volume and scale globally, many operators are also investing heavily in network automation to handle increasingly complex network management workloads. AI in the network is set to drive a wave of demand for computing resources. This will manifest across the board – from on-device to edge to central clouds. Increased compute requires improvements in semiconductor designs and manufacturing processes to keep pace with surging digital traffic.
While significant advances have been made in this field, there are constraints in terms of the supply and cost of energy. New chipset designs must be made with sustainability as a bedrock principle. It is not sufficient to only make improvements to existing processes to drive energy efficiencies. Rather, it must be done from the ground up – and this starts with the process of decarbonising compute.
This report examines the rationale and urgency behind the sustainability push, how compute efficiencies translate into energy reductions, and how competitive activity is set to accelerate among chipset designers and producers to improve power efficiency.
Download the Report
Complete the form below to get instant access to this content. For easier access in the future, you can register for a free account here.
By submitting this form, you agree that your email address and related activity on the platform will be processed for the purpose of generating and providing the requested report. Your data will be shared with GSMA Intelligence for this purpose. For more information, please see the GSMA Intelligence Privacy Policy.
Report details
Decarbonising compute: from the ground up
Related research
Operators at MWC Barcelona 2026: strategies, innovation and messages shaping the industry
This report examines operators’ engagement at MWC Barcelona 2026, highlighting their announcements, innovations, strategy updates and messaging, in addition to examining implications for telecoms ecosystem players. We show our findings for 17 major operators across 12 areas of focus, including AI, 5G, B2B, B2C, cloud/edge and emerging tech such as APIs and non-terrestrial networks.
MWC Barcelona 2026: AI and sovereignty battle for dominance in a post-5G world
Around 105,000 people from 207 countries attended MWC Barcelona 2026. The show attracted more than 2,900 exhibitors, including telecoms operators, vendors and firms from across the broader technology ecosystem. This report examines the key announcements and innovations that took centre stage, what came as a surprise and what it all means for telecoms and the wider TMT industry.
Going green: measuring the energy efficiency of mobile networks and towers
Sustained cost pressures and commitments to net zero have made energy efficiency a strategic priority for mobile operators, network infrastructure providers and tower companies. Working closely with a global set of mobile operators, GSMA Intelligence leveraged its independent position and analytical capabilities to launch its Energy Efficiency Analysis and Benchmarking project in 2020. The benchmark is based on real-world data inputs and aims to quantify network energy consumption, efficiency levels and fuel sources. For this edition, GSMA Intelligence invited infrastructure providers and tower companies to participate, sharing their data on energy efficiency.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
Operators at MWC Barcelona 2026: strategies, innovation and messages shaping the industry
This report examines operators’ engagement at MWC Barcelona 2026, highlighting their announcements, innovations, strategy updates and messaging, in addition to examining implications for telecoms ecosystem players. We show our findings for 17 major operators across 12 areas of focus, including AI, 5G, B2B, B2C, cloud/edge and emerging tech such as APIs and non-terrestrial networks.
MWC Barcelona 2026: AI and sovereignty battle for dominance in a post-5G world
Around 105,000 people from 207 countries attended MWC Barcelona 2026. The show attracted more than 2,900 exhibitors, including telecoms operators, vendors and firms from across the broader technology ecosystem. This report examines the key announcements and innovations that took centre stage, what came as a surprise and what it all means for telecoms and the wider TMT industry.
Going green: measuring the energy efficiency of mobile networks and towers
Sustained cost pressures and commitments to net zero have made energy efficiency a strategic priority for mobile operators, network infrastructure providers and tower companies. Working closely with a global set of mobile operators, GSMA Intelligence leveraged its independent position and analytical capabilities to launch its Energy Efficiency Analysis and Benchmarking project in 2020. The benchmark is based on real-world data inputs and aims to quantify network energy consumption, efficiency levels and fuel sources. For this edition, GSMA Intelligence invited infrastructure providers and tower companies to participate, sharing their data on energy efficiency.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics