The UK Green Party is calling for the Government to take action to force mobile phone companies to share networks and reduce “gratuitous” energy wastage.

According to a report from the Green Party, Better Together, duplication between mobile phone company networks wastes almost 300 GWh a year – enough energy to power nearly 70,000 homes.

“The Government should require mobile phone operators to share facilities,” says Green Party spokesperson on trade and industry Darren Johnson. “They would save money, cut CO₂ emissions and provide the same level of signal cover with fewer masts.”

In the short term, operators could share base stations when demand is low.

“The Government should direct Ofcom to ensure that the sharing of the new 800 MHz frequency band is done in a way that is energy efficient,” he adds.

Ultimately, all mobile phone companies could cooperate to create a shared infrastructure or ‘super-network’, says the report.

However, although some companies do share base stations already, a more widespread shared network is unlikely, according to regulator Ofcom.

For further information:
www.greenparty.org.uk/
www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/reports/Better_Together.pdf
www.ofcom.org.uk/