Sustainability

The industry’s role

Canadian telecommunications companies have undertaken a variety of measures to combat climate change and reduce waste.

• Investing in more efficient networks

  Network operators are taking concrete steps to limit their emissions, such as reducing energy consumption, switching to more efficient network equipment, and using renewable energy sources.

  With respect to wireless networks, 5G will not only provide new performance capabilities, it is also estimated that as a result of its greater energy efficiency, 5G will support a thousand-fold traffic increase by 2030, while the full network’s energy consumption will be half the current levels.

• Enhancing sustainability in other industries

  Telecommunications enables the use of advanced digital technologies that help other industries mitigate their impact on the environment and support Canada in achieving its global environmental commitments such as the UN sustainable development goals. According to Ericsson research, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) could help reduce global carbon emissions by up to 15% by 2030.

  To realize these environmental benefits, continued investment in expanding and enhancing our digital infrastructure is imperative. Other industries must embrace innovation and transform their operations using digital technologies that will not only reduce their impact on the environment but also make them more productive and competitive.

• Reducing waste

  The telecom sector has introduced measures to reduce waste and promote a circular economy, including redesigning packaging to use less plastic and introducing paperless options for billing, contracts, and other documents. The sector also utilizes programs to recover and recycle e-waste from old devices.