Comcast Pledges to Double Energy Efficiency of Network by 2030
Telecommunications giant Comcast announced today a new goal to double its network efficiency, cutting the electricity consumed per unit of data in half by 2030.
According to the company, the announcement marks part of Comcast’s efforts to “grow its network more sustainably.” Comcast set a goal last year to achieve carbon neutrality across its global operations by 2035. Purchased electricity accounts for the majority of the company’s emissions. Efforts to reach this target will include investments in renewable energy to power is network and operations, and to shift to more energy efficient technologies and facilities.
Charlie Herrin, President of the Technology, Product, Experience organization within Comcast Cable, said:
“We’re on the path to a greener internet. The smart technologies powering our new network architecture are transforming how data is delivered, providing the industry’s best combination of speed, coverage, and control – all more sustainably.”
Comcast outlined initiatives it has been pursuing to improve the efficiency of its network, including making investments in virtual, cloud-based technologies, with the new virtualized platform including more centralized locations for headends, hubs, and data centers that require less hardware, less space, and less energy per unit of data.
The new goal follows the announcement earlier this year by the company of an agreement with clean energy solutions supplier Constellation to source 250 MW of solar electricity, providing sufficient energy to power approximately 12% of Comcast’s US operations and the vast majority of its Mid-Atlantic operations.
Herrin added:
“Achieving our carbon neutral goal will require our business to work harder and smarter, and that goes for the network itself. We’re proud to make network energy efficiency a priority among our peers and suppliers, and to demonstrate the role our industry has in creating a more sustainable future.”