Globe, SingTel to join GSMA's mobile energy efficiency benchmarking

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Telecom and its partner Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (SingTel)will jointly participate in the GSM Alliance’s mobile energy efficiency (MEE) benchmarking initiative in a bid to develop a benchmark in driving energy cost savings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in their network operations.

Other participants include Airtel (India and Africa), Advanced Info Service (Thailand), Optus (Australia), Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Ltd. (Bangladesh), Telkomsel (Indonesia) and Warid (Pakistan).

The companies will work with GSMA to benchmark their networks against industry peers using standard energy key performance indicators. To deliver long- term improvements, the exercise will be conducted annually and outcomes tracked regularly against the benchmarks.

The result from the benchmarking will help to identify areas to raise power consumption efficiency. These include reviewing the design of radio access network architecture through techniques like free air cooling and insulation paint for base station shelter to improve the energy efficiency, and accelerate adoption of renewable green energy solutions in these areas.

“Energy efficiency is a strategic priority for the group and is an important step towards the adoption of future renewable energy and building a sustainable operation. This initiative also complements our regional Go-Green initiative to pave the way towards a greener future,” Hui Weng Cheong, SingTel International CEO said.

Since the introduction of the MEE benchmarking service in 2010, 34 operators covering more than 200 networks have signed up to work with the GSMA.

Meanwhile, GSMA chief regulatory officer Tom Philips said that with their expansive reach in Asia and Africa, SingTel will bring much valued inputs to their MEE benchmarking. “This collaboration also aligns with the mission of the GSMA’s MEE organization in promoting the reduction of network energy costs and CO2 emissions for the benefit of mobile operators,” he added.

SingTel is a strategic investor in the region’s most successful mobile operations. In addition to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Optus in Australia, the group has a 21 percent stake in Thailand’s AIS. It has a 32 percent effective interest in Airtel, India’s largest GSM operator, which has significant presence in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Africa. SingTel has a 47 percent stake in Globe Telecom in the Philippines and a 35 percent stake in Indonesia’s largest mobile operator, Telkomsel. It also has a 45 percent stake in Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Ltd. (PBTL) and a 30 percent stake in Warid Telecom in Pakistan.