COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2021/2054
of 8 November 2021
on the sectoral reference document on best environmental management practices, environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the telecommunications and information and communication technologies (ICT) services sector for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council
(Text with EEA relevance)
Article 1
Article 2
ANNEX
1.
INTRODUCTION
2.
SCOPE
Figure 1: Overview of the scope of the document
Service/Activity |
Main environmental aspects |
Main environmental pressures |
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Data Centre |
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End-user devices |
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Telecommunication infrastructure and networks |
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Broadcasting services |
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Section |
Description |
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This section describes practices that can be implemented by any actor of the telecommunications and ICT services sector (implementation of an environmental management system, deployment of a green procurement policy, prevention and management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, use of renewable energy…) |
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This set of BEMPs focuses on practices specific to data centres (cooling and airflow management, server virtualisation, etc.) and referenced within the Cenelec Technical Report CLC/TR 50600-99-1 |
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This section encloses practices aiming at better managing existing wired and wireless networks (in terms of energy consumption and electromagnetic field issues), at installing more energy-efficient network equipment and reducing the impact of building or renovating network infrastructures. |
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This section encloses practices that demonstrate how ICT can reduce environmental impacts in other sectors based on real examples from companies in the telecommunications and ICT service sector |
3.
BEST ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, SECTOR ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND BENCHMARKS OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ICT SERVICES SECTOR
3.1.
BEMPs for cross-cutting issues
3.1.1.
Making the best use of an environmental management system
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.1.2.
Procurement of sustainable ICT products and services
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.1.3.
Optimising the energy consumption of end-user devices
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.1.4.
Use of renewable and low carbon energy
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.1.5.
Resource efficiency of ICT equipment through waste prevention, reuse and recycling
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.1.6.
Minimising data traffic demand through green software
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.2.
BEMPs for data centres
3.2.1.
Implement an energy management system for data centres (including measuring, monitoring and management of ICT and other equipment)
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.2.2.
Define and implement a data management and storage policy
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.2.3.
Improve airflow management and design
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.2.4.
Improve cooling management
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.2.5.
Review and adjust temperature and humidity settings
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.2.6.
BEMPs related to selecting and deploying new equipment for data centres
3.2.6.1.
Selection and deployment of environmentally friendly equipment for data centres
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.2.7.
BEMPs related to new build or refurbishment of data centres
3.2.7.1.
Planning of new data centres
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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All data centres have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the expected practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding utilisation, management and planning of new build and refurbishment of data centres |
3.2.7.2.
Reuse of data centre waste heat
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.2.7.3.
Design of the data centre building and physical layout
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.2.7.4.
Selecting the geographical location of the new data centre
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.2.7.5.
Use of alternative sources of water
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.3.
BEMPs related to electronic communication networks
3.3.1.
Improving the energy management of existing networks
Applicability
Technique |
Network segment |
Network technology |
End-users’ requirements |
Actor |
Measure the energy consumption |
From core to access network |
All type of technology |
All type of end-users |
Electronic communications networks (ECN) operators |
Using smart stand-by functions |
From core to access network |
All type of technology |
Inappropriate for users requiring connexion stability or a very short resuming time |
ECN operators |
Using dynamic power scaling opportunities |
From core to access network |
All type of technology |
All type of end-users |
ECN operators |
Taking advantage of dynamic scheduling transmission |
From core to access network |
All type of technology |
Inappropriate for users requiring fast transmission rates |
ECN operators |
Providing energy-aware services |
From core to access network |
All type of technology |
Inappropriate for users requiring high Quality of Services |
ECN operators and ICT service providers |
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.3.2.
Improving risk management for electromagnetic fields through assessment and transparency of data
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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N/A |
3.3.3.
Selecting and deploying more energy-efficient electronic communication network equipment
Applicability
Technique |
Network segment |
Network technology |
End-users’ requirements |
Actor |
Select more energy-efficient ICT equipment (radio, telecommunication, broadband and IT devices) |
From core to access network |
All type of technology |
All type of end-users |
ECN operators and technology providers |
Deploy integrated and multi-standard solutions |
Access networks |
Mobile networks |
All type of end-users |
ECN operators and installers |
Select and deploy more energy efficient cooling systems |
From core to access network |
All type of technology |
All type of end-users |
ECN operators, technology providers, and installers |
Select and deploy more energy efficient UPS |
From core to access network |
All type of technology |
All type of end-users |
ECN operators, technology providers, and installers |
Design more energy-efficient telecommunication sites |
Access networks |
All type of technology |
All type of end-users |
ECN operators and installers |
Use software enabling energy savings |
From core to access network |
All type of technology |
All type of end-users |
ECN operators |
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.3.4.
Installing and upgrading telecommunication networks
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.3.5.
Reducing the environmental impacts when building or renovating telecommunication networks
Applicability
Technique |
Network segment |
Operation |
Actor |
Co-location and sharing of ICT infrastructures |
Radio Access Networks (RAN) |
New build and renovation |
Network operators; owners of other infrastructures |
Location close to existing access roads and out of conservation areas |
Any network infrastructure |
New build |
Network operators; local authorities |
Installation of noise reducing solutions |
Base stations and central office (generators and cooling systems) |
New build and renovation |
Network operators; local authorities |
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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3.4.
Improving the energy and environmental performance in other sectors (‘ Greening by ICT’)
3.4.1.
Greening by ICT
Applicability
Environmental performance indicators |
Benchmarks of excellence |
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4.
RECOMMENDED SECTOR-SPECIFIC KEY ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Indicator |
Common units |
Main target group |
Recommended minimum level of monitoring |
Related EMAS core indicator (17) |
Benchmark of excellence |
Related BEMP (18) |
BEMPs for cross-cutting issues |
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Implementation of an asset management system, e.g. certified ISO 55001 |
Y/N |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Site |
Material efficiency |
The company has a global and integrated asset management system e.g. certified ISO 55001 |
3.1.1 |
Share of operations with an advanced environmental management system implemented, e.g. EMAS verified, ISO 14001 certified |
% of facilities/operations |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Site |
All |
100 % of operations implement an advanced environmental management system, e.g. EMAS verified or ISO 14001 certified |
3.1.1 |
Share of operations measuring and monitoring energy use and water consumption as well as waste management |
% of facilities/operations |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Site |
Energy efficiency, Water, waste |
100 % of operations measure and monitor their energy use and water consumption as well as waste management |
3.1.1 |
Total carbon emissions for scope 1 and 2 |
tCO2eq. |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Corporate |
Emissions |
The company has achieved carbon neutrality (scope 1 and 2), including through the use of renewable energy and carbon compensation, after having pursued all efforts to improve energy efficiency |
3.1.1 |
Share of products or services purchased by the company complying with specific environmental criteria (e.g. EU Ecolabel, top class energy label, Energy Star, TCO-certified etc.) |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Corporate |
All |
All ICT equipment purchased by the company is ISO Type I eco-labelled (e.g. EU Ecolabel, Blue Angel) (if available), Energy Star, or EU Green Public Procurement criteria (if available) are applied in its procurement. |
3.1.2 |
Share of equipment purchased by the company complying with internationally recognised best practices or requirements (e.g. EU Codes of Conduct) |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Corporate |
Energy efficiency |
All broadband equipment purchased by the company meets the criteria in the EU Code of Conduct on broadband equipment |
3.1.2 |
Share of packaging purchased by the company made from recycled materials or awarded the Forest Stewardship Council label |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Corporate |
Material efficiency, Biodiversity |
100 % of packaging purchased by the company is made from recycled material or was awarded the Forest Stewardship Council label |
3.1.2 |
Share of the weight given to environmental criteria in calls for tenders |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Corporate |
All |
10 % of the bid weighting is dedicated to environmental performance when purchasing ICT equipment |
3.1.2 |
Share of ICT products and services provided by the company to customers for which environmental information is available to end users |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Corporate |
All |
100 % of products and services provided by the company has related environmental information available to end users |
3.1.2 |
Use of total cost of ownership as criterion in call for tenders |
(Y/N) |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Corporate |
Material efficiency, Energy efficiency |
Use of total cost of ownership as criterion in call for tenders |
3.1.2 |
Share of end-user ICT devices having been configured on installation at optimal power management |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Site |
Energy efficiency |
All end-user ICT devices are configured on installation at optimal power management |
3.1.3 |
Share of end-user ICT devices audited on power management at an appropriate frequency (e.g. yearly, only once during the lifetime of the product etc.) |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Site |
Energy efficiency |
All end-user ICT devices have been audited on power management at least once during their lifetime |
3.1.3 |
Share of staff trained at least once on energy savings |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Site |
Energy efficiency |
All staff has been trained at least once on energy savings |
3.1.3 |
Share of renewable electricity purchased (with Guarantees of Origin) out of the total electricity use Share of renewable electricity produced on site out of the total electricity use |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Corporate |
Energy efficiency |
100 % of electricity used is from renewable energy sources (either purchased or produced on-site) |
3.1.4 |
Share of facilities or sites with a certified zero waste management system or with a certified asset management system (% of facilities/sites) |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Site |
Waste Material efficiency |
100 % of facilities have a certified zero waste management system or a certified asset management system |
3.1.5 |
Share of ICT waste generated from own operations recovered for reuse or refurbishment or sent for recycling |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Site |
Waste Material efficiency |
90 % of own ICT equipment recovered for reuse or refurbishment or sent for recycling |
3.1.5 |
Share of WEEE or ICT waste generated from clients recovered for reuse or refurbishment, or sent for recycling |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Site |
Waste Material efficiency |
30 % of ICT equipment from clients taken back and recovered for reuse or refurbishment or sent for recycling (for ICT companies providing equipment to customers) |
3.1.5 |
Amount of ICT waste sent to landfill |
t/year |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Site |
Waste |
Zero ICT waste sent to landfill |
3.1.5 |
Share of sites that have implemented the best practices of the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the Expected Practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding the development and deployment of new IT services |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Site |
Energy efficiency |
All data centres have implemented the best practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the expected practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding the development and deployment of new IT services. |
3.1.6 |
Share of software developers (staff) trained on energy efficient software |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Corporate |
Energy efficiency |
All staff (software developers) trained on energy efficient software. |
3.1.6 |
Share of newly developed software for which the energy performance has been used as a development criterion (%); |
% |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Corporate |
Energy efficiency |
At least one project for minimising data traffic demand through green software was implemented during the year |
3.1.6 |
Data centres BEMPs |
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KPIDCEM Global KPI for Data Centre according to ETSI standard |
|
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy efficiency |
The KPIDCP for existing data centres is equal to or lower than 1,5 |
3.2.1 |
Share of facilities having an energy management system certified according ISO 50001 or integrated in EMAS, or complying with the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the ‘expected practices’ of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy efficiency |
All data centres have an energy management system certified according to ISO 50001 or integrated in EMAS, or complying with the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the ‘expected practices’ of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 |
3.2.1 |
Share of data centres that have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the Expected Practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding data management and storage, and management of existing ICT equipment and services |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
All data centres have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the expected practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding data management and storage, and management of existing ICT equipment and services |
3.2.2 |
Share of racks installed with hot aisle/cold aisle configuration (with containment) |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
100 % of new racks are installed with hot aisle/cold aisle configuration (with containment) |
3.2.3 |
Share of data centres that have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the Expected Practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding airflow management and design |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
All data centres have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the expected practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding airflow management and design, and installation of ICT equipment to optimise airflow management |
3.2.3 |
COP (coefficient of performance): average cooling load (kW)/average cooling system power (kW) |
- |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
Select equipment with a COP of 7 or higher for water chillers, and 4 or higher for Direct Expansion (DX) cooling systems |
3.2.4, 3.3.1, 3.5.3 |
Share of data centres that have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency (parts 5.2, 5.4 and 5.5) or the Expected Practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding cooling management |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
All data centres have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency (parts 5.2, 5.4 and 5.5) or the expected practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding cooling management |
3.2.4 |
Share of data centres that have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the Expected Practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding temperature and humidity settings |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
All data centres have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the expected practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding temperature and humidity settings |
3.2.5 |
Design PUE (dPUE) |
- |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
- |
3.2.6.1, 3.4.1 |
Share of ICT products or services purchased by the company complying with specific environmental criteria (e.g. EU Ecolabel, EnergyStar) |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency Material Efficiency |
All new Data Centre ICT equipment is ISO Type I eco-labelled (e.g. EU Ecolabel, Blue Angel, etc.) (if available) or Energy Star labelled |
3.2.7.1 |
Share of facilities that have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the Expected Practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding the selection and deployment of new IT equipment/power equipment/cooling equipment |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
All data centres have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the Expected Practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding the selection and deployment of new ICT equipment/of cooling system/of new power equipment/of other data centre equipment. |
3.2.6.1 |
Average energy efficiency of UPS (given by manufacturers) |
- |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
UPS meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct for UPS |
3.2.6.1 |
Share of sites that have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the Expected Practices of CLC/FprTR 50600-99-1 regarding Utilisation, management and planning of new build or refurbishment of data centres |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Material Efficiency, Energy Efficiency |
All data centres have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the expected practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding utilisation, management and planning of new build and refurbishment of data centres |
3.2.7.1 |
Share of sites that have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the Expected Practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding reuse of data centre waste heat |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
All data centres have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the Expected Practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding reuse of data centre waste heat |
3.2.7.2 |
Share of sites that have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the Expected Practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding data centre building physical layout |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
All data centres have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the expected practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding data centre building physical layout |
3.2.7.3 |
Share of sites that have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the Expected Practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding data centre geographical location |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
All data centres have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the expected and optional practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding data centre geographical location |
3.2.7.4 |
Water consumption of the data centre per floor area (m3 consumed/m2 of data centre) |
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Data centre operators |
Site |
Water |
- |
3.2.7.5 |
Share of sites that have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the Expected Practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding water sources |
% |
Data centre operators |
Site |
Water |
All data centres have implemented the expected minimum practices in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency or the expected practices of CLC/TR 50600-99-1 regarding water sources |
3.2.7.5 |
Electronic communication networks BEMPs |
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Share of network energy usage for which energy consumption is measured |
% |
Network operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
50 % of the network energy usage is real-time monitored at telecommunication sites level (base stations and/or fixed-network nodes), or above |
3.3.1 |
Average energy consumption per customer or subscriber (NB This indicator is not suited to benchmark between different types of operators) |
kWh/customer or subscriber |
Network operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
An energy management system is in place for telecommunication networks |
3.3.1 |
Percentage of sites assessed by measurement for compliance with EMF limits |
% |
Network operators |
Site |
Emissions |
- |
3.3.2 |
Percentage of broadband equipment meeting the Broadband Code of Conduct requirements in terms of energy consumption |
% |
Network operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
100 % of new installed broadband equipment meets the requirements of the EU Code of Conduct for broadband equipment in terms of energy consumption |
3.3.3 |
Average UPS System Efficiency |
% |
Network operators |
Site |
Energy Efficiency |
Energy efficiency of power/energy stations is 96 % or higher |
3.3.3 |
Quantity of unused or inefficient equipment decommissioned and removed from base station sites each year |
kg |
Network operators |
Site |
Material efficiency Energy Efficiency |
A plan and a management process for optimising all existing network sites have been defined (to remove unused and inefficient equipment, to properly configure cooling systems, etc.) |
3.3.4 |
Percentage of sites passive sharing |
% |
Network operators |
Site |
Material efficiency |
At least 30 % of sites are shared with other operators (wherever feasible, e.g. legally) |
3.3.5 |
Greening by ICT BEMPs |
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GHG emissions based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, scope 3 emissions |
tCO2eq |
All Telecom/ICT companies |
Corporate |
Emissions |
N/A |
3.4.1 |