Global mobile subscriptions shift toward 5G, which will reach 60 percent of the total by 2026. Telecom operators target a 45 percent reduction in data center energy intensity by 2030, yet only 54 percent of network infrastructure decision makers report having a sustainability strategy. Energy efficiency programs cover 65 percent of operators while 12 percent of mobile network savings potential identified by ITU standards remains untapped.
Key Takeaways
- 45% reduction in operational energy intensity for data centers is targeted by some operators adopting best-practice guidelines (e.g., ASHRAE/IEA aligned targets) by 2030
- 161 countries and 21% of global GDP reported net-zero targets as of 2024
- 12% of mobile network energy consumption reduction potential remains untapped according to the ITU-T L.1470 energy efficiency recommendations assessment
- 54% of network infrastructure decision-makers reported having a sustainability strategy for their telecom networks
- 65% of telecommunications operators said they have begun implementing energy-efficiency initiatives
- The ETSI standard EN 303 645 requires reasonable security—impacting sustainability via reduced lifecycle device replacements
- 17% annual growth is forecast for global mobile data traffic between 2022 and 2028
- 5G will account for 60% of global mobile subscriptions by 2026
- Liquid cooling deployments were forecast to grow to 25% of enterprise data center deployments by 2028
- Telecommunications is listed among the sectors with the highest share of climate-aligned lending opportunities in 2024 by the OECD
- 30% of IT and telecom companies reported using renewable electricity procurement instruments such as PPAs in 2023
- 1.2 GW of renewable power capacity was added by telecom and data center operators globally in 2023 (cumulative renewable procurement)
- 18.4% of global electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2022
- 2.0 million data centers worldwide are estimated, reflecting the scale of embodied and operational impacts that sustainability programs target
- 0.9% of global electricity demand was from data centers in 2022 (International Energy Agency estimate)
Telecom leaders are acting on energy efficiency, renewables, and circularity, with many targeting net zero by 2030.
Related reading
01 · Category
Emissions & Energy4 stats
01
45% reduction in operational energy intensity for data centers is targeted by some operators adopting best-practice guidelines (e.g., ASHRAE/IEA aligned targets) by 2030
02
161 countries and 21% of global GDP reported net-zero targets as of 2024
03
12% of mobile network energy consumption reduction potential remains untapped according to the ITU-T L.1470 energy efficiency recommendations assessment
04
ITU-T L.1300 defines energy efficiency metrics including energy per bit (J/bit) and energy efficiency in networks
Interpretation
Emissions & Energy Interpretation
For the Emissions & Energy outlook, operators aim to cut data center operational energy intensity by 45% by 2030 while global momentum is rising with 161 countries representing 21% of GDP reporting net zero targets, yet an estimated 12% of mobile network energy reduction potential identified by ITU T L 1470 remains untapped.
02 · Category
Strategy & Governance7 stats
01
54% of network infrastructure decision-makers reported having a sustainability strategy for their telecom networks
02
65% of telecommunications operators said they have begun implementing energy-efficiency initiatives
03
The ETSI standard EN 303 645 requires reasonable security—impacting sustainability via reduced lifecycle device replacements
04
The EU Batteries Regulation (including sustainability and lifecycle requirements) applies to portable batteries and impacts device sustainment for telecom equipment
05
The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires covered companies to report sustainability information, including climate metrics
06
The EU taxonomy for sustainable activities classifies which activities can be considered environmentally sustainable, including enabling activities for ICT
07
ITU-T L.1470 provides a methodology for energy efficiency in telecommunication equipment, including LCA considerations for sustainability planning
Interpretation
Strategy & Governance Interpretation
In strategy and governance, the momentum is clear as 54% of network infrastructure decision-makers report having a sustainability strategy and 65% have started energy efficiency initiatives, while EU and international frameworks like CSRD, EN 303 645, and ITU-T L.1470 are tightening the reporting and lifecycle accountability that these strategies must follow.
03 · Category
Industry Trends3 stats
01
17% annual growth is forecast for global mobile data traffic between 2022 and 2028
02
5G will account for 60% of global mobile subscriptions by 2026
03
Liquid cooling deployments were forecast to grow to 25% of enterprise data center deployments by 2028
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
As part of the industry trends shaping sustainability, the telecom sector is set for rapid demand growth with global mobile data traffic forecast to rise 17% annually from 2022 to 2028, alongside wider 5G adoption where it will reach 60% of subscriptions by 2026.
04 · Category
Investment & Costs3 stats
01
Telecommunications is listed among the sectors with the highest share of climate-aligned lending opportunities in 2024 by the OECD
02
30% of IT and telecom companies reported using renewable electricity procurement instruments such as PPAs in 2023
03
1.2 GW of renewable power capacity was added by telecom and data center operators globally in 2023 (cumulative renewable procurement)
Interpretation
Investment & Costs Interpretation
Investment and costs are shifting toward greener power, as telecom is among the OECD’s highest share of climate aligned lending sectors in 2024 and companies backed it with renewable procurement, including 30% using instruments like PPAs in 2023 and adding 1.2 GW of cumulative renewable capacity in 2023.
More related reading
05 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
18.4% of global electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2022
02
2.0 million data centers worldwide are estimated, reflecting the scale of embodied and operational impacts that sustainability programs target
03
0.9% of global electricity demand was from data centers in 2022 (International Energy Agency estimate)
04
Telecommunications contributed about 2.6% of total global greenhouse-gas emissions in 2019 (including networks, devices, and data centers where attributable, depending on methodology)
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
With data centers driving about 0.9% of global electricity demand in 2022 and telecommunications accounting for roughly 2.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, the market size for sustainability action in telecom is clearly large enough to be measured in both energy use and emissions.
06 · Category
Performance Metrics3 stats
01
1.6% of electricity in the U.S. is used by data centers (2023 estimate), a key performance driver for telecom cloud/network sustainability
02
Data centers in the U.S. consumed about 17 billion kWh in 2022 (estimate), underpinning telecom sustainability energy metrics
03
30% of data center operators reported having a formal energy efficiency target (2022 global survey)
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance metrics show that energy use is becoming a measurable sustainability lever for telecom data infrastructure, with U.S. data centers accounting for 1.6% of electricity in 2023, consuming about 17 billion kWh in 2022, and only 30% of operators reporting formal energy efficiency targets in a 2022 global survey.
07 · Category
Cost Analysis3 stats
01
30% of total cost of ownership (TCO) for telecom equipment is attributed to energy/operational costs over the equipment lifecycle in a cost model published by a telecom infrastructure analyst (2021 model)
02
$3.3 billion global spending on data center liquid cooling (2023), indicating investment levels that affect telecom sustainability build-outs
03
1.5x higher total cost for premature replacement of ICT equipment versus refurbishing/remanufacturing in a lifecycle cost analysis (2020 study)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In cost analysis for telecom sustainability, energy and operational expenses drive 30% of telecom equipment TCO while premature ICT replacement can cost 1.5 times more than refurbishing or remanufacturing, meaning lifecycle-minded investment and maintenance choices are crucial to controlling total costs across sustainability build outs.
08 · Category
User Adoption3 stats
01
33% of organizations report using carbon accounting software/tools for scope 1–3 emissions in 2023 (survey)
02
41% of organizations report adopting circular-economy practices such as repair, refurbishment, or remanufacturing for ICT hardware (2022 study)
03
55% of respondents in a telecom sustainability survey indicated they are tracking energy consumption at the level of sites/cells to manage efficiency
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
From a user adoption perspective, telecom organizations are increasingly operationalizing sustainability with 55% tracking energy consumption at site or cell level and 41% adopting circular economy practices, while 33% using carbon accounting tools for scope 1 to 3 emissions shows broader uptake still building.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Telecommunications Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-telecommunications-industry-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Sustainability In The Telecommunications Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-telecommunications-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Sustainability In The Telecommunications Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-telecommunications-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
30 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+11 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)