CREDIT: NTT DATA
NTT Data offices
expansion. The infrastructure is incredibly power-hungry; the Radio Access Network( RAN) alone consumes 73 % of a network’ s total energy and base station energy costs can account for up to 50 % of an operator’ s OPEX. Yet, the same infrastructure enables smart cities and telemedicine, while new technologies like 5G are up to 90 % more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
To ensure the enabling effect outweighs the industry’ s own footprint, a dual strategy is necessary. Operators must look both inward at their own consumption and outward at their role in the broader ecosystem.“ One, continue to invest in the internal consumption of power and sustainability inside the organisation,” says Rakesh.“ And second is to continue to look forward to the opportunities cross-vertical where every industry can step up, share their collaborative solution approach.”
Echoing Rajesh’ s view is Subhagata Mukherjee, Vice President, Global Head of Sustainability at Nokia, who sees the dual role as the core of the industry’ s potential impact.“ I am not in favour of taking one side or the other, but where we think the real difference
126 November 2025