Green telecom equipment to represent 46% of network capex by 2013, says Pike Research

Green network equipment will grow to represent 46% of the US$277 billion global telecom infrastructure market by 2013, according to Pike Research, a market research and consulting firm focusing on global clean technology markets.

Energy consumption is one of the leading drivers of operating expenses for both fixed and mobile telecom network operators. Reliable access to electricity is limited in many developing countries that are currently the high-growth markets for telecommunications. At the same time, many operators have adopted corporate social responsibility initiatives with a goal of reducing their networks' carbon footprints, and network infrastructure vendors are striving to gain competitive advantage by reducing the power requirements of their equipment.

All of these factors will continue to converge over the next several years, Pike Research noted.

"Improved energy efficiency is the first step in creating greener telecom networks," says managing director Clint Wheelock. "Reduced power requirements will facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaics, wind energy, and fuel cells, while also opening the door for more efficient network architectures and topologies. This is especially true in remote areas where networks rely heavily on diesel generators for primary and backup power."

Adds Wheelock, some of the telecom operators and equipment vendors leading the charge to create greener networks include China Mobile, Cisco Systems, Huawei Technologies, Juniper Networks, Nokia Siemens Networks, Telstra, and Vodafone.