Bell Labs, the research arm of network infrastructure firm Alcatel Lucent, has announced a new initiative aimed at reducing the carbon emissions of the world's communications infrastructure, including the internet, by 1,000-fold.
The project, entitled Green Touch, aims to bring together research bodies, government departments, and other network providers to help reduce the carbon emission levels of the IT industry from its current level of 300 million tonnes per year, said the firm.
Bell Labs president Dr Jeong Kim said that the initiative had been set up as part of a "wake up call to the industry that a clean slate approach is needed" to help create a more energy efficient communications network for the future.
"Our research indicates that it's possible to reduce the impact of the network infrastructure by 1,000 times, but doing so will require the whole industry to get onboard. As such, we offer an open invitation to any one in the IT industry to join the group," he said.
Around 15 key members have already joined the Green Touch consortium, including AT&T, China Mobile, Telefónica and MIT, with the goal of introducing new efficient technologies for networks within the next five years.
Ben Verwaayen, chief executive of Alcatel Lucent, explained that the move is very exciting for the company, and will lead to huge changes in the IT industry, especially at a time when demand on communication networks is growing massively.
"As people place more strain on networks for high-end services like video and email infrastructures across the world, it is vital we bring together those in the industry to attempt to overhaul the energy efficiency of the networks," he said.
UK secretary of state for energy and climate change Ed Miliband gave his backing to the project, and said that the ICT sector is perfectly placed to use technological innovation to curb its carbon footprint.
"The government welcomes industry coming together with academia to create the research, technology and solutions necessary to reduce carbon emissions," he said.
The Copenhagen summit may help people see IT as a change enabler, writes Tom Young 03 Dec 2009
Law makers in the UK and beyond are determined to compel businesses to clean up their act, and datacentre operators are very much in their sights, as John Skelton reports 24 Nov 2009
New software could help firms create and meet tough targets 12 Dec 2009
Green group singles out Samsung, Lenovo, Dell and LG 08 Jan 2010
GreenTouch consortium to demonstrate technology to reduce network energy use a thousandfold in five years 11 Jan 2010
Alcatel Lucent’s R&D arm spearheads industry drive to boost data networks efficiency 22 Jan 2010
Channel questions the wisdom of enviromental body's approach 04 Mar 2010As world leaders promise significant action next year, summit ends in angry exchanges and failure to secure unanimous support for final deal 19 Dec 2009
Power supplier urges companies with complex or foreign ownership structures to engage with the Environment Agency immediately 30 Jul 2010
Danish firm’s swan song gives way to new turbine blade maker on Isle of Wight 30 Jul 2010
Memorandum signed with Energy Department to use more renewables 30 Jul 2010
More news
Energy analyst's report questions wisdom of DECC’s energy review 29 Jul 2010
Telecity becomes 300th organisation to get the Trust’s official stamp for ongoing carbon reduction 28 Jul 2010
The price of decarbonising versus the price of business as usual: both are variables 28 Jul 2010 More in-depth
