Sustainability
Digitalisation offers opportunities for innovation, competition and a climate-neutral economy. However, as digitalisation increases, its impact on the environment also becomes more relevant. This includes, in particular, the increasing resource requirements of devices and networks. Increasing energy consumption is also important here.
There is a broad consensus that the digital transformation goes hand in hand with numerous economic benefits. However, digital progress is also accompanied by an increasing burden on the environment. Digital business models can be innovative, but not very sustainable. The Bundesnetzagentur has commissioned two studies on sustainability. One study on the sustainability of digital business models and one on incentive systems for SMEs. (both in German only)
The German government has set itself the ambitious target of climate neutrality by 2045. There are numerous estimates on the ecological footprint of the information and communication technology sector. The European Environment Agency (2022) estimates that the sector currently accounts for 2 to 4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, there is currently a lack of reliable data, particularly with regard to networks. In order to make sustainability in the telecommunications sector measurable, the Bundesnetzagentur has commissioned a study on indicators from Ramboll and WIK. The study from 2023 is published in German language here: Study on indicators
The Bundesnetzagentur is also a member of a working group on sustainability at BEREC. BEREC is the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications. This working group deals with the challenges of sustainable digitalisation.