Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Optus, and regional mobile associates will jointly participate in the GSMA’s Mobile Energy Efficiency (MEE) Benchmarking initiative. Through this exercise, a benchmark will be developed for the Group entities to drive energy cost savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their network operations.
The participants include Airtel (India and Africa), Advanced Info Service (Thailand), Globe Telecom (Philippines), Optus (Australia), Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Ltd (Bangladesh), SingTel (Singapore), Telkomsel (Indonesia) and Warid (Pakistan). The Group companies will work with GSMA to benchmark their networks against industry peers using standard energy key performance indicators. To deliver long term improvements, the exercise will be conducted annually and outcomes tracked regularly against the benchmarks.
The result from the benchmarking will help to identify areas to raise power consumption efficiency. These include reviewing the design of radio access network architecture through techniques like free air cooling and insulation paint for base station shelter to improve the energy efficiency and accelerate adoption of renewable green energy solutions in these areas.
Mr Hui Weng Cheong, SingTel CEO International said: “Energy efficiency is a strategic priority for the Group and is an important step towards the adoption of future renewable energy and building a sustainable operation. This initiative also complements our regional Go-Green initiative to pave the way towards a greener future.”
Since the introduction of the MEE Benchmarking service in 2010, 34 operators covering more than 200 networks have signed up to work with the GSMA.
Mr Tom Philips, Chief Regulatory Officer, GSMA said: “We are glad to have the SingTel Group on board. With their expansive reach in Asia and Africa, the SingTel Group will bring much valued inputs to our MEE Benchmarking. This collaboration also aligns with the mission of the GSMA’s MEE organisation in promoting the reduction of network energy costs and CO2 emissions for the benefit of mobile operators.”