Starks, Van Hollen, Carriers Say 5G Will Help Fight Global Warming

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks told the Mobile World Congress 5G will play a role in cutting global warming: “5G will take smart grid technology to the next level.” It will help smart factories, buildings and homes adjust lighting and heating to reduce energy consumption, and will assist precision farming, he said: “Autonomous electric vehicles will connect with each other and the transportation infrastructure to plan the most efficient routes to our destinations and reduce emissions by over 80 percent compared to gasoline-powered" AVs. Thursday, Verizon noted that Starks' MWC speech disclosed the carrier's "working to achieve carbon neutrality for our 5G network and supply chain by 2025." Tuesday, Starks and fellow Democrat Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland wrote for The Hill that they have been "exploring ways in which Congress and the FCC can work together to deploy next generation networks like 5G and encourage telecommunications companies to help address climate change."