We talk a lot about energy today. And it's good. We need solutions and actions compatible with a green future.
As with IoT, there is no holy grail that can fix everything. Every small decision counts.
A report recently published by ABI Research shows some interesting aspects of DECT-2020 NR, a non-cellular 5G connectivity technology. Designed specifically for low-cost IoT networks, high cost, support benefits can be important.
Previous studies from the University of Tampere in Finland have already shown that
DECT-2020 NR has a 60% lower power consumption at the end device level compared to Cat M technology and NB-IoT.
This equates to a 2-5 year increase in device battery life using four AA batteries or 2.4 times more information for the same power consumption. ABI Research presents new aspects such as overall network energy and CO2 consumption; for equivalent coverage in 4G or 5G networks, DECT-2020 NR uses at most 1% of the energy used in small cellular networks. 1% - that's a hell of a lot to save! If DECT-2020 replaces the small cell phone network for IoT, in terms of combined CO2 savings, this will result in the removal of emissions from nearly 200,000 cars between 2022 and 2030. It may not seem life-changing, but as we said, it's still another drop in the river and, in any case, the most sustainable way to connect.
In the same way, the energy efficiency of DECT-2020 NR compared to the telephone will avoid car trips to replace the batteries of devices with batteries. This also has a significant impact on CO2. The best example of this is gas and water meters. Cat M and NB-IoT technologies are becoming increasingly important in the deployment of these devices, while poor coverage can quickly drain the battery. DECT-2020 NR can help save tens or even hundreds of millions of gallons of fuel.
The impact of the carbon footprint is even greater if we look beyond the carbon footprint. DECT-2020 NR can bring connectivity to use issues that other technologies cannot solve, such as those that require large numbers with a high density of goods. Having complete supply chain visibility improves efficiency, reduces waste, improves forecasting, and leads to a smaller fleet of alternative packaging, which has a significant impact on the digital footprint. The report lists unique voice expectations for meaningful viewing – above all other wireless connections.
Research also provides good examples. DECT-2020 NR has low cost, high reliability, and flexibility. These factors are crucial for the rapid adoption of IoT services which, in turn, will generate comprehensive sustainability benefits. For example, if we look at the energy conservation potential of AI and IoT as technologies, we are talking about a total energy conservation of 5.3 PW by 2030. This represents up to a quarter of the world's electricity production this year! It's a smaller puzzle at the end when all the improvement streams come together. That's the power of enabling technology for better support!
