When it comes to climate conditions and a rise in global temperatures, it’s unusual for the environmental friendliness of fiber-optic internet to be a part of the conversation.
In its simplest form, fiber is a small strand of special glass, no thicker than a single hair, used to deliver internet service at the speed of light. Fiber transmits light pulses to carry signals instead of electricity, which decreases gas emissions and increases green energy. According to How Fiber Internet Connection Improves Sustainability by Hotujec (2022), fiber has “minimal ecological impact” and consumes twelve times less energy compared to coax cables.
Coax cables transmit internet through copper cables which are detrimental to the environment. The presence of copper in the natural environment negatively influences the activity of organisms and microorganisms that reside in soil, such as earthworms, bacteria, and fungi. Unlike DSL or cable internet, fiber doesn’t require the use of copper to transmit data. From a sustainability standpoint, when compared to copper cables, the use of fiber is beneficial for the environment and has reduced negative effects on Mother Nature.
Gigabit Passive Optical Network, or GPON, delivers high-speed internet and telecommunications services, such as video and voice, to over 100% fiber-optic networks, such as Hotwire Communications. STL Tech (2022), claims that GPON is the “most common type of optical fiber connection and is almost 95% more energy efficient than a standard copper cable network.”.
GPON technology results in a greener, more energy-efficient network by requiring less equipment to generate and ultimately power fiber signals. The average cooling cost for a fiber-optic network to be properly ventilated is 50% less than traditional cable wiring, resulting in a significant decrease in energy usage.
Hotwire Communications’ Data Center houses Hotwire’s entire environmentally controlled fiber-optic network. The Data Center has hot and cold aisles that were intentionally designed to maintain a suitable temperature for the equipment, along with a dry pipe suppression system. The Data Center utilizes the latest HEPA-filtration systems throughout the entire complex. HEPA is an acronym that stands for high-efficiency particulate air [filter], and it can remove 99.97% of bacteria, airborne particles, dust, and pollen. The Hotwire Technology Center, where the Data Center is located, uses variable frequency drives that reduce power, decrease carbon emissions, and feature a top-of-the-line industrial cooling management system that drastically reduces Hotwire Communications’ carbon footprint. This state-of-the-art facility is located in the heart of South Florida’s technology hub and is renowned for its remarkable sustainability.
In 2021, it was recorded by Doug Johnson from Emerging Technology Policy (2021) that 4.5% of total U.S. energy consumption was attributed to electronic devices, and this spike – up 24% from 2017 – was a result of the pandemic. Hotwire Communications offers their customers energy-efficient equipment, such as low-power set-top boxes, that significantly reduce the amount of energy needed to power devices in households and which have proven to be cost-effective. By using GPON, coupled with “green” equipment, telecommunications companies, such as Hotwire Communications, can provide customers with revolutionary, valuable, energy-saving solutions for their homes and businesses.
Hotwire Communications is committed to delivering revolutionary services through our 100% fiber-optic network. We are dedicated to utilizing efficient, low-energy consuming, affordable equipment, and vow to not just promote, by practice, sustainability in our service delivery and internal operations. We will continue to provide an exceptional, concierge-level service experience for our customers while simultaneously reducing energy pollution. Our fiber-optic technology is safer for the environment and paves the way for future generations to use innovative technology freely, without harming the environment.