Shared Infrastructure, Shared Responsibility: American Tower’s Commitment to a Sustainable Future

By Tuoyo Ebigbeyi, VP, Network Operations, American Tower

Note: This blog was produced under WIA’s Innovation and Technology Council (ITC). The ITC is the forum for forecasting the future of the wireless industry. Participants explore developments in the wider wireless industry, from 5G network monetization trends and streamlining infrastructure deployment to future spectrum needs and cell site power issues. The group is publishing a series of thought-leadership pieces throughout 2024. These views are not a WIA endorsement of a particular company, product, policy or technology.

The future of sustainability in the wireless infrastructure industry hinges on two key factors. First, as networks grow to meet increasing data demands, how can we minimize the environmental impact of this expansion? Second, how can the industry reduce its overall footprint through sustainable sourcing, efficient inventory management and responsible supply chain practices?

At American Tower, sustainability is integral to our business strategy. Our neutral-host model enables multiple customers to share a single physical infrastructure. As a result, we significantly reduce the need for redundant towers and equipment. This shared approach minimizes the environmental footprint associated with the sourcing, construction, management, and decommissioning of infrastructure assets, all in alignment with global standards.

Powering a Sustainable Future

Power is a central focus for enhancing sustainability in the wireless communications industry. Although absolute power consumption rises with network densification, the energy consumed per bit of data continues to improve as network technology advances. Our approach relies on a three-pronged strategy focused on energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy deployment and sourcing, and energy storage solutions.

From a sourcing perspective, as of 2023, we have deployed solar panels across over 18,000 sites in our global portfolio. This initiative generates about 100 gigawatt-hours of solar energy annually to power our customers’ equipment more sustainably.

In addition to on-site generation, we also procure renewable energy. Where we have the ability to procure power in the U.S., we may be able to optimize this model.

We focus on improving energy efficiency by implementing energy management systems (EMSs) at our markets with the highest energy use. These systems allow us to monitor power consumption, identify inefficiencies and remediate them. For example, in Spain, we are experimenting with a neutral-host solution through which we own the meter and do end-to-end supply and management of power connectivity to our customers. EMSs can be placed behind a meter at the site level or radio access level to actively create efficiency by, for example, powering down during off-peak periods.

On the storage side, we have found that many operators and infrastructure companies still use lead-acid batteries. At American Tower, we prioritize lithium-ion batteries because they have a higher cyclical life and allow faster charging times, which reduces the use of generators for charging. The average lead acid battery might have a lifespan of 2 to 4 years, while lithium-ion batteries can last 7 to 10 years. Thus, we have a longer time horizon that allows us to prioritize assets that are more linked to longer sustainable operations than some of our competitors and peers. On the other end of the continuum, outdated or abandoned infrastructure equipment can sometimes be reused in rural networks or other applications – For example, in our Africa region, we source equipment from a vendor that repurposes end-of-life lithium-ion battery cells for new applications.

Operational Efficiencies

Sustainability isn’t just about energy; it’s also about optimizing workflows and processes. In the wireless infrastructure industry, we’ve assumed many operational roles traditionally handled by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), allowing them to focus on service while we specialize in infrastructure management. Over the past 25 years, we’ve developed efficient practices for construction, installation and operations, significantly reducing environmental impacts.

For example, when I took over leadership of U.S. Tower Network Operations at American Tower, we re-evaluated our processes to improve efficiency. By reducing truck rolls through automation, we not only minimized fuel usage but also decreased emissions. This is just one way we’ve streamlined operations to reduce environmental impacts. We also prioritize responsible vendor management, ensuring that our partners meet stringent regulatory, financial and labor standards, further reinforcing our commitment to sustainability.

We continue to seek opportunities to advance our sustainable practices, contributing to a more sustainable future for the wireless infrastructure industry.