France’s independent telecom regulator ARCEP has released the fourth edition of its annual survey, Pour un numérique soutenable, detailing the environmental impact of digital actors in France. This survey tracks progress across telecom operators, data center providers, mobile network equipment manufacturers, and terminal producers.
Expanding survey scope
For the fourth edition, ARCEP added mobile network equipment manufacturers and new indicators for terminal producers and data center operators. Indicators now include average energy consumption of devices, highlighting the environmental impact of larger screens during usage.
Data centers show rising impact
The survey analysed 21 major data center operators in France with annual revenues above € 10 million, representing nearly 150 facilities. Electricity consumption rose by 8% in 2023, and greenhouse gas emissions increased approximately 10%, while water usage grew 19%, reaching 681,000 m³, mostly potable.
Energy efficiency varies with age
Despite rising consumption, data center energy efficiency improved slightly, with a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) average of 1.46 in 2023 compared to 1.51 in 2022. Newer centers with higher computing capacity demonstrated better energy efficiency.
Telecom operators’ footprint grows
The four main French telecom operators, Bouygues Telecom, Free, Orange, and SFR, reported a 4.2% rise in greenhouse gas emissions, totaling 397,000 tonnes CO2 equivalent in 2023. While fixed network energy consumption declined due to fiber rollout, mobile networks increased electricity use to 2.8 TWh, driven by expanding mobile data demand.
Emissions from mobile network equipment
ARCEP evaluated the embedded emissions of mobile network equipment, estimating 79,000 tonnes CO2 equivalent in 2023, comparable to one million smartphones. New 5G stations in the 3.5 GHz band showed 80% higher embedded carbon, though doubling available bandwidth.
Terminal manufacturers’ impact declines
Sales of digital terminals decreased in 2023: mobile phones -13%, laptops -9%, TVs -4%, computer monitors -17%, tablets -15%. However, average screen sizes continue to grow, increasing energy use and environmental impact during production and usage. Mobile phones with screens ≥6.5 inches rose from 41% in 2021 to 55% in 2023.
Box and decoder consumption trends
Internet boxes and TV decoders consumed 3.5 TWh, down 5% from 2022, yet still significant. Around 95% of this consumption occurs regardless of device usage, highlighting potential gains from deep sleep or automatic shutdown modes.
International recognition
The World Bank and ITU recognized ARCEP’s pioneering approach in a 2025 joint report, noting it as the first sectoral regulator to regularly publish environmental impact data from digital actors.
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