Decarbonising compute: from the ground up
This insight is locked

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
Pages
16
Released
FEBRUARY 2024

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.

Opt-in for Marketing Communications:
To ensure you stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the mobile industry, GSMA Intelligence would like to send you information about events, products, services, and initiatives, as well as industry news. Please subscribe by ticking this box; once subscribed, you can tailor what you receive from us at any time, or unsubscribe, should you wish.

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 subscription

Contact our research team

Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.

Contact our research team

Media

To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.

Learn more

Related research

Going green: measuring the energy efficiency of mobile networks and towers

Topic
Climate, ESG and sustainability

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.

This insight is locked

Global Mobile Trends 2026

Standard
Topic
Mobile networks and connectivity

Global Mobile Trends 2026 highlights the opportunities and innovations ahead, as well as the challenges facing the mobile industry and beyond. Covering topics including AI, 5G, autonomous networks, devices, security, quantum, satellites, energy innovation and eSIM, the report focuses on what matters in 2026 and the implications for the industry. The latest edition of Global Mobile Trends delivers expert insights into the key trends that will define the mobile ecosystem in 2026 and beyond. Backed by GSMA Intelligence’s industry-leading research and data, the report provides an authoritative look at the forces shaping the next wave of connectivity and innovation.

Sponsored content
This insight is locked

Green Network Index: the environmental sustainability of networks in 2026

Topic
Climate, ESG and sustainability

While there are several indicators and metrics in telecoms, the industry has traditionally lacked a global, comprehensive metric to measure environmental sustainability. In 2025, GSMA Intelligence developed the Green Network Index (GNI), which proposed a single figure to measure the overall environmental sustainability for telecoms networks and help establish a path to greener networks. The second edition of the Green Network Index has expanded to include 138 networks, benchmarking progress at the operator and country levels.

This insight is locked
Full access
Get full access to our research now, get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis
  • 200 reports a year
  • 50 million data points
  • Over 350 metrics