THE IMPACTS OF THE TRANSITION TO 5G ON ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND CARBON FOOTPRINT

Abstract Fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication technologies constitute the backbone of digital transformation by offering ultra-high data speeds, low latency, and massive connectivity capacity. However, this technological leap creates a significant environmental sustainability paradox for the telecommunications sector due to the high energy density of network hardware. This study aims to quantitatively model the potential impact of Turkey's transition to 5G on the national carbon footprint, utilizing real network infrastructure data from Turkcell, the market leader with the highest number of base station sites. Methodology A comprehensive baseline analysis was conducted using actual 2024 energy consumption data from 25,680 active 4.5G sites. The study calculates the net carbon footprint after deducting emission reductions from existing renewable energy investments (wind and solar). In the second phase, a full transition scenario to 5G Massive MIMO AAU technology was modeled using two distinct power load scenarios: Scenario 1: 3 kW additional power load per site (Conservative) Scenario 2: 3.5 kW additional power load per site Key Findings Baseline Status: The current net carbon footprint of the network stands at 272,062 tCO2e. 5G Impact: Even under the conservative 3 kW scenario, 5G transition imposes an additional annual energy consumption of approximately 674.8 GWh. Carbon Footprint Increase: The transition results in an additional carbon load of 322,554 tCO2e, representing a 118% increase compared to the current status, raising the total to 594,617 tCO2e. Conclusion The findings demonstrate that the transition to 5G technology will place significant pressure on Turkey's climate goals. This study emphasizes that ensuring the sustainability of the 5G transformation requires operators to go beyond energy efficiency measures and treat the radical expansion of renewable energy generation capacities as an inevitable necessity.