Is 5G Good or Bad for the Environment?

Major US wireless carriers have long touted the benefits of fifth-generation wireless networks, claiming faster speeds and reduced latency. But less attention has been paid to the environmental costs. While 5G networks can be more energy efficient at transferring data—up to 90% more efficient per unit of data transferred than their 4G predecessors, a study by STL Partners and Vertiv found—5G can also sap more energy over its life cycle because it will drive the increased use of data centers and 5G-enabled technologies and products. Proponents of 5G’s sustainability say the technology will enable better tracking so that energy usage can be monitored and reduced, thereby making technologies “greener.”