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Can Fiber Internet Help You Reduce Your Carbon Footprint?

It’s no secret that today, internet connectivity has become essential for most people’s work and social life. From video call platforms to online transactions, digital tasks have made the internet an indispensable aspect of everyday life. 

This is why it’s important to ensure that your connection is not only consistent but fast as well. Fiber internet is known for its speed and stability, making it the best type of internet connection today.

But did you know that this technology happens to also have eco-friendly potential?

The Green Connection

Fiber-optic internet connection uses fiber cables that are about as thin as a human hair strand. These strands of glass or plastic are bundled in layers of cladding and coating, sending data to long distances through light signals. To use “speed of light” is an apt phrase to describe the pace at which fiber cables transmit data.

Very fast speeds are not the only upside to using fiber internet. It turns out that this technology can offer environmental benefits, considering how the internet’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rivals that of the airline industry.

According to a BBC report, the carbon footprint of gadgets, the internet, and the systems necessary to support them all make up 3.7% of global GHG emissions, which is very similar to the amount the airline industry generates. Researchers say that amount will double by 2025.

Clearly, using the internet can have a considerable impact on the environment. Although the energy generated by a single search does not seem like much, consider how many billions of people are engaged in the same activity online. It all adds up, leaving a carbon footprint that may not be as well defined as the usual GHG emitters, like transportation, industries, and commercial sectors.

Promoting Sustainability Through Your Internet Connection

Compared to copper-based telecommunication networks, fiber optic has a lower carbon footprint, lower energy consumption, and less material waste.

A study of telecommunication networks found that fiber to the home (FTTH) access uses up three times less energy than fixed wireless access. Unlike other types of access, fiber’s energy consumption does not increase even when the bandwidth grows. 

Fiber also reduces energy consumption by 32% to 54% for 4G, 16% to 22% for 5G, and 13% to 29% for 5G mmWave mobile networks. No matter the cell size, fiber has shown energy efficiency and if cell dimensions were reduced, the power savings may be from 7% to 65% on the overall network deployment.

Fiber optic is not just a more energy efficient technology. It also has less of an impact where raw materials are concerned. A life-cycle assessment (LCA), which quantifies the potential environmental impacts of products and services, of fiber has determined that less coating material is needed for an optical fiber with small coating diameter. This results in a lower carbon footprint.

Another key aspect to fiber’s sustainability is reduced embodied carbon. Embodied carbon refers to the GHG associated with raw material extraction, manufacturing, and transportation. As part of the LCA performed on fiber, the carbon footprint of optical fiber was calculated against copper wires.

The results were one optical fiber stood  2.3 kg CO2eq/km, whereas two 0.5 mm copper wires had a carbon footprint of 14 kg CO2eq/km. That’s six times more than fiber over the same length. For a copper-based telecommunication network to achieve the same transmission capacity as fiber, it must have 85,000 more carbon footprint than fiber optic.

Other Ways Fiber Internet Helps Reduce Its Environmental Impact

The manufacturing impact of fiber optic could still be considerable since it is still electricity intensive. If renewable energy were to be used in factories that process fiber optic, the carbon footprint of this technology would decrease by 70%.

Here are other ways fiber contributes to a greener future.

Less Waste

Fiber optic does not require a lot of raw materials to be made. Fiber strands are thinner and lighter than copper, which means reduced resources in extraction and waste.

Durability

Fiber lasts longer than copper. It’s also able to withstand corrosion and weather conditions, which means it does not require replacement as often as other materials.

Smart Technology Support

Smart technologies are being applied to systems and structures that support green initiatives, from smart grids to smart buildings. These systems and structures are designed to have low carbon footprints and for energy efficiency. Smart technologies require the speed and reliability of fiber optic internet.

Energy Savings

The reliability and speed of fiber optic internet enables more businesses to implement telecommuting and work-from-home arrangements. People don’t have to travel far or use up more energy and other resources by working in offices, reducing carbon emissions further.

Resource Friendly

Fiber optic cables are typically made of silicon dioxide. Silicon dioxide is one of the most abundant minerals in the world. It’s usually found in the form of quartz and used to manufacture, other than fiber optic materials, ceramics, glass, and abrasives. 

The raw material is also easily accessible and its extraction has minimal environmental impact. Using fiber optic limits habitat destruction, deforestation, and the depletion of resources, further contributing to environmental efforts.

Challenges and Outlook

By all accounts, fiber optic does have a greater advantage than other telecommunications network access. Unfortunately, it’s still not as widely available as cable. The upfront cost of installing fiber internet at home may also be higher than cable.

These present challenges to the broader use of the more sustainable form of connection. Fortunately, demand is growing and countries across the world are expanding their fiber networks. 

In 2023, the US saw the highest growth in FTTH deployments, and 77.9 million homes are now connected to fiber. In the UK, investments are being made to 330,000 hard-to-reach homes and businesses as the government aims for nationwide coverage by 2030.

With adequate investments and business incentives to promote fiber, the future looks favorable for this surprisingly sustainable, low-impact way to connect to the internet.

The Best Internet Connection for the Planet

The internet has become part of everyday life. It is unimaginable to go a day without being on it. Fiber connectivity is the best path not only to a reliable and speedy connection, but also toward a sustainable future. 

Among other benefits, fiber has a low carbon footprint, low energy consumption, and low material waste. It’s the best internet connection for the planet to date.


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