Environment
Internet Providers Introduce Industry’s First Standard for Network Energy Efficiency
Environment
Internet Providers Introduce Industry’s First Standard for Network Energy Efficiency
Feb 11, 2025
Network engineers and facilities managers have long worked together to establish a variety of industry-specific metrics for telecommunications professionals to measure performance outcomes like speed and reliability, and establish best practices.
Now, industry leaders have introduced a new standard to support transparency in reporting network energy performance – a growing focus as AI, gaming, and streaming are driving providers to deliver more data while stewarding energy resources.
Why network energy efficiency?
While it may not be visible, the internet has an impact from the amount of energy it requires to deliver increasingly large amounts of traffic to customers. Keeping customers connected is our top priority, and we take care to do it efficiently.
Connectivity and energy go hand in hand. We continue to invest in energy solutions that can power the fastest, most reliable network capable of meeting the future needs of our customers.
That’s why Comcast set a goal to double network energy efficiency by 2030. We’ve been investing in a nationwide network transformation to virtual, cloud-based technologies that offer faster broadband speeds, greater reliability, and improved energy efficiency.
The result is a significant reduction in the amount of electricity it takes to deliver each byte of data across our network. In fact, we’ve reduced the electricity per consumed byte by 40% since 2019.
40%
Reduction in the electricity consumed per byte since 2019
As more companies like Comcast have sought to measure and report their energy performance, we’ve identified the need for a consistent approach – especially when it comes to bytes.
A new standard for measuring efficiency, and more
SCTE, with its voting members including Comcast, has now approved a new standard for broadband sustainability metrics.
It offers essential guidance for calculating network traffic in bytes. This allows us to measure network efficiency based on our main output – the traffic we provide to our customers.
“Everyone can see how broadband connectivity is transforming how we live, work, learn and play. What they might not see is how broadband connectivity is doing it with increasing efficiency. Thanks to Comcast’s leadership in our standards development team, the SCTE standard will enable the visibility we need to continue to drive positive efficiency advancements across the industry.” – Derek DiGiacomo, Senior Director of Energy Management Programs & Business Continuity at SCTE
At Comcast, we look forward to working closely with our peers to use our collective capabilities to continue driving the industry forward.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication includes estimates, projections and statements regarding plans and goals that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For more information on these statements, please see https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/environment/forward-looking-statements.
