Huawei called for network evolution at COP27 to enable green development

Huawei Technologies Co. said information and communications technologies, or ICT, will enable the digitalization of industry, spark innovation and make other industries green.

The remarks were made at a meeting organized by the Global Innovation Hub of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at the ongoing 27th session of the Conference of the Parties, or COP27, in Egypt, on Thursday.

Referring to what is known as the "enabling effect", Philippe Wang, Huawei's executive vice president for the Northern Africa region, said ICT is "making other industries greener".

"5G, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud computing – all these things will improve industrial processes in a way that cuts energy use, and lowers carbon emissions," he said.

According to Wang, in the same way that ICT enables a smart streetlight to turn itself off when no one is around, 5G wireless base stations can automatically shut down when there is no data traffic, which saves energy.

Base stations need a power source and have antennas. For its part, Huawei has been replacing diesel generators with solar panels, which offer a cleaner source of electric power, in Nigeria and Angola. At the same time, the company has launched a green 5G antenna that can cut energy consumption.