As the telecom industry increasingly emphasizes sustainability, AI-powered solutions are emerging as essential tools in reducing environmental impact and driving efficiency. This paradigm was the central focus of a recent interview with The Network Media Group, where industry leaders examined how AI-driven innovations, like energy optimization and intelligent resource management, are helping telcos advance their sustainability agendas while reducing costs.
Abe Nejad, Publisher of the Network Media Group, sat down with Andrey Kuzin, Chief Technology Officer at Cellcard, and Vivek Chadha, SVP & Global Head of Telco Cloud at Rakuten Symphony, to discuss AI’s role in sustainable telecom solutions. They highlighted how these technologies are lowering energy consumption, enhancing network efficiency, and aligning with wider environmental goals.
The interview emphasized AI’s role in dynamically managing energy, allowing telcos to adjust server power levels based on demand, reducing energy use during low-traffic times. This method decreases carbon emissions and extends hardware lifespan, delivering both cost and sustainability benefits. AI also helps optimize network resources by predicting traffic, enabling telcos to turn off unused components without impacting service.
Predictive analytics was a key focus area, where AI forecasts network outages to support proactive maintenance, reducing truck rolls and cutting fuel consumption. These AI applications highlight a broader commitment to sustainability beyond just cost efficiency. Additionally, sustainable bonds are funding green tech, helping companies invest in AI-driven energy-saving innovations, like Rakuten’s cloud-native models, which adjust server power states to enhance both environmental impact and cost-effectiveness.
"Out of responsibility, we think on how to optimize and reduce our carbon footprint… This resonates well, especially with younger populations who are looking for eco-friendly telecom options."
" Our cloud-native AI/ML platform can intelligently switch the power state of servers based on workload conditions... saving energy while also extending hardware life. This is good for sustainability, the bottom line, and the hardware itself.”
Like security, sustainability is moving from an afterthought to an integral part of telecom strategy, with AI playing a pivotal role in this shift. Sustainability initiatives are driven by both business benefits and a growing moral responsibility within the industry, encouraged by investment communities focused on long-term environmental impact. The interview revealed that AI is an essential foundation for sustainable growth in telecom. By leveraging AI-driven tools, telcos can reduce their environmental footprint, align with global sustainability trends, and ensure a greener, more responsible future. This also future-proofs telecom operations against evolving regulatory standards and climate-focused policies.
Watch the full interview here.
