CommScope highlights strategies to boost data centre sustainability

As data consumption and digital demands continue to surge globally, the need for sustainable data centre solutions has never been more critical.

CommScope, a leader in communications technology, has outlined several strategies and innovations aimed at improving data centre sustainability, with a strong focus on reducing carbon footprints and enhancing operational efficiency.

The exponential growth in data usage has placed significant pressure on data centres worldwide. Between 2010 and 2020, data generation and consumption surged by nearly 5,000%, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. According to CommScope, the challenge for data centres is to meet the increasing demand for connectivity and performance while simultaneously addressing their environmental impact.

CommScope is responding to this challenge by offering new fibre-based products that support multiple generations of application and equipment upgrades, while also reducing non-recyclable packaging and installation labour. The company is committed to enabling data centres to keep pace with society's demands for application connectivity, bandwidth, and latency performance.

CommScope's focus on sustainability is evident in their latest offering, the Propel platform.

This end-to-end, ultra-low loss, modular structured cabling fibre platform is designed with efficiency and sustainability in mind. Propel enables 1:1 matching of module and adapter options for application-based scaling, reducing waste and conserving space. According to CommScope, the Propel platform is "uniquely sustainable and designed to reduce waste, conserve space, reduce fuel use and extend the product lifecycle."

The Propel platform also contributes to sustainability by utilising 16-fibre MPO connectivity, which results in a significant reduction in materials used. Specifically, it leads to "62% less plastic (fewer trunks, more links), 61% less steel (ultra-high-density panel), and 57% less cardboard, 33% less packaging."

These reductions not only lower the environmental impact but also streamline data centre operations.

CommScope's commitment to sustainability is further demonstrated by their efforts to reduce the carbon intensity of energy consumed by data centres. The company is exploring various initiatives, including reducing water use and eliminating diesel generators.

A report by 451 Research highlights that 89% of respondents consider data centre efficiency and sustainability as very or somewhat important, and 80% believe that water consumption is a major or moderate concern.

The adoption of innovative technologies is central to CommScope's strategy for sustainable data centres. The company points out that "new combinations of passive and active components demonstrate the potential to maximise application performance and access, benefiting customers and the environment."

These technologies include liquid cooling, micro-modular data centres, and alternatives to diesel generators, which are all aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of data centres.

Moreover, CommScope emphasises the importance of selecting the right building blocks for data centre connectivity to meet sustainability objectives.

The company notes that the move towards 8- and 16-fibre connectivity, as well as the use of rollable ribbon fibre cables, can significantly enhance sustainability efforts.

Rollable ribbon fibre cables use "significantly less plastics and related materials while delivering more fibre protection and routing flexibility than traditional central tube ribbon cables."