Sustainable Innovation Path for Green Telecom Operators: 5G Business Model Transformation and Carbon Neutrality Strategy Driven by Low-Energy Signal Processing Technology
Main article
Abstract
The accelerating deployment of fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks has positioned telecommunications operators at the intersection of two converging pressures: rising user expectations for ubiquitous and high-quality connectivity, and intensifying regulatory and societal demands for measurable progress toward carbon neutrality. This study investigates how the adoption of low-energy signal processing technology — including adaptive companding, graph-guided waveform shaping, and joint power amplifier optimization — can serve as a foundational lever for the sustainable transformation of telecom business models. Drawing on the natural-resource-based view, dynamic capabilities theory, and the sustainable business model innovation literature, we develop a multi-level conceptual framework that connects waveform-level energy efficiency gains to enterprise-scale carbon performance and, ultimately, to long-term competitive advantage. Using a mixed-methods design that integrates engineering simulation outputs with operational and financial data from twenty-three regional 5G deployments operated by mid-sized Asian and European carriers between 2022 and 2025, we quantify the carbon impact of low-energy signal processing and identify three distinct business model transformation pathways: a service innovation pathway centered on green B2B offerings, an operational efficiency pathway centered on infrastructure cost reduction, and a stakeholder value pathway centered on ESG-aligned financing. Empirical results show that low-energy signal processing reduces per-site annual energy consumption by approximately thirty-five percent, accelerates return-on-investment break-even by around 2.3 years compared to conventional 5G upgrades, and supports cumulative carbon savings on the order of 2.7 thousand tons of CO2-equivalent per macro site over a six-year horizon. The findings provide telecom executives, regulators, and green investors with an actionable evidence base for aligning physical-layer engineering decisions with corporate decarbonization roadmaps.
