Brussels, 11 December 2009

The EE IOCG (Energy Efficiency Inter-Operator Collaboration Group) initiative has recently joined GeSI (Global e-Sustainability Initiative). With this integration, GeSI establishes GeSI-EE IOCG as its Standardization Branch which is composed of the main worldwide Telecom Operators and will reinforce its leading role on   energy efficiency in the ICT sector. The group advocates early availability of new equipment for networks (e.g. data centres, central offices, radio base stations) and for users (e.g. with reduced power consumption).

Specifically, the GeSI EE-IOCG Standardization Working Group is working towards:
 

• Defining  a common strategy and joint multi-operator input towards Standardization Bodies (e.g. ITU, ISO/IEC, ETSI, CEN, CENELEC), Fora (e.g. ATIS, CCSA, GSMA, BBF, HGI, ETNO, Green Grid) and national/regional governmental authorities (e.g. EC’s DG TREN and the USA’s, EPA,)
•  
• Developing appropriate actions towards and with vendors, such as wide diffusion of a TCO evaluation methodology.

Initially, GeSI-EE IOCG has decided to focus on energy efficiency and improvement of environmental conditions in high priority areas, e.g. network and user broadband equipment, data centres, and at operator sites. GeSI-EE IOCG will support early standardization and availability of common power supplies and universal mobile chargers.

GeSI Chair, Luis Neves stated, "Incorporating energy efficiency principles into standardization developments from the beginning is critical to the ICT industry. This integration will bring tremendous value to the GeSI membership as well as the entire industry as well as consumers and will give a fundamental contribution through efficiencies to a low carbon society." GeSI-EE IOCG is open to further cooperation with other industries, suppliers, regulators, and additional members. The group also seeks the European Commission’s endorsement of its Code of Conduct.


 

 
The EE IOCG Group participants are currently AT&T, Belgacom, British Telecom, China Telecom, Cyta, Deutsche Telecom, France Telecom/Orange, KPN, KT, Swisscom, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, Telekom Austria, TeliaSonera, Telkom South Africa, Turk Telekom, Sprint, Telenor, Verizon