O2 is overhauling its core network with new cooling technology, predicted to deliver energy savings equivalent to one million kilogrammes of CO2 year-on-year.

Whilst mobile data use continues to grow, O2 is upgrading its data centres with smart sensors and intuitive software and swapping energy-intensive air conditioning for fresh air cooling. In the last 12 months O2 has carried record levels of data, increasing 89 per cent from the pre-pandemic average in 2019. As the UK emerges from COVID-19 restrictions, and mobile data is expected to continue growing (with the O2 network carrying an average 55 per cent more peak hour data throughput in the first week of May than it did in the same week in 2020). This puts pressure on data centres, creating carbon emissions from ‘hot’ equipment that needs cooling.

To help build a greener network, O2 is radically overhauling its data centres and core network sites with brand new, energy-efficient cooling equipment to regulate temperatures at the sites that keep its mobile network running. The new equipment uses the natural cold air outside to help cool data equipment when it needs it rather than relying solely on traditional electric-powered air conditioning. Using air also reduces O2’s reliance on polluting refrigerant gases.

O2 has also rolled out new management software from EkkoSense across its entire estate. The software uses smart sensors fitted to data centre equipment to monitor exactly how much cooling each site needs at any one time, and report back on how to optimise cooling as demand changes. The new software is expected to deliver energy savings equivalent to one million kilogrammes of CO2 year-on-year.

As the only mobile network operator to commit to net-zero by 2025, O2 has reduced carbon emissions in its operations by 29 per cent since 2015 and has achieved a 35 per cent reduction in supply chain emissions since 2016. O2’s operations are powered by renewable electricity wherever and the operator has since invested approximately £400m in renewable energy supply and is now going even further, working with landlords to encourage the switch to renewables on third-party sites where O2 doesn’t control the energy bill.

Share Story: