Liberty Global and EY report outlines path for telco sector to realise major AI-driven sustainability gains

Core Insights - The report from Liberty Global and EY emphasizes the strategic adoption of AI in the telecommunications sector to achieve significant sustainability gains over the next decade [1][5] Group 1: AI's Impact on Sustainability - AI has the potential to drive operational efficiencies in the telco sector, including optimizing energy use in mobile and fixed networks [2] - The AI sector could consume between 85 and 134 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity annually by 2025, which is about 0.5% of total global consumption [3] - Telco operators now handle up to 10 times more data than five years ago while maintaining similar energy consumption levels [4] Group 2: Future Scenarios and Predictions - The report outlines four hypothetical outcomes for AI and sustainability, predicting that AI will help minimize additional energy requirements despite a significant increase in data traffic [5] - In the 'Growth' scenario, telecommunications networks could manage 50 times more data traffic while only increasing energy consumption by 10% [6] Group 3: Recommendations for the Telecommunications Sector - The report provides eight key recommendations for the telco sector to achieve sustainability through AI, including conducting assessments of AI's sustainability impact and prioritizing AI-driven network optimization [8] - Recommendations also include accelerating the transition to AI-managed renewable energy sources and implementing AI-enhanced circular economy practices [8]