Copper’s Costly Secret: The Energy Crisis Lurking in Our Old Internet Networks

When you stream a movie, join a video call, or check your smart home app, the last thing on your mind is the electricity fueling your connection. Yet, beneath the surface of our digital lives, the aging copper networks that still form the backbone of much of Europe’s internet are burning through energy at staggering rates-wasting power, money, and precious time in the fight against climate change. Is the real battle for sustainable connectivity being fought not in innovation labs, but in the slow, stubborn transition from copper to fiber?

The world’s appetite for digital services has exploded-over 74% of the global population is now online, with Italy boasting over 86% household connectivity. But while the internet is now as essential as electricity or water, few realize the environmental toll of simply keeping those connections alive.

At the heart of the problem are legacy access networks-especially those built on copper technologies like ISDN, ADSL, and FTTC. Despite serving a shrinking slice of users, these outdated systems account for nearly 90% of network electricity use. Their inefficiency is structural: telecom equipment draws almost the same power whether it’s fully loaded or barely used, meaning idle copper devices across the country are collectively draining energy even as users migrate to faster fiber lines.

The numbers are stark. A full transition to fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) could cut Italy’s annual network energy consumption from 550 GWh to just 77 GWh-a reduction equivalent to taking 80,000 cars off the road. Globally, with telecoms making up a quarter of ICT energy use, the environmental stakes are even higher, especially in countries still reliant on fossil fuels for electricity generation.

Why does fiber use so much less power? Two reasons: fiber hardware is inherently more efficient, with some devices requiring no electricity at all; and fewer devices are needed to serve the same number of users, slashing both energy and maintenance needs. But the energy paradox remains: as long as copper networks are left partially active-serving a dwindling number of “legacy” users-most of their power draw persists. Real gains only come when entire geographic areas switch off copper for good, not through piecemeal migration.

The clock is ticking. Every year spent maintaining dual networks locks in avoidable emissions and costs. Yet inertia, user hesitancy, and the need to support critical services make the transition complex. Still, the case is clear: coordinated policy, targeted incentives, and bold timelines are needed to retire copper and unlock the full environmental, economic, and resilience benefits of fiber.

The fiber transition isn’t just about speed-it’s about survival. As the world races to decarbonize, the hidden energy cost of our internet infrastructure is a battleground we can’t afford to ignore. In the war for a sustainable digital future, switching off copper may be the single most powerful move we have left.

WIKICROOK

• FTTH (Fiber To The Home): FTTH is fiber-optic broadband that connects directly to homes, enabling fast, reliable, and secure high-speed internet for modern digital lifestyles.
• ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): ISDN is a digital transmission technology for sending voice and data over traditional copper telephone lines, now mostly replaced by newer broadband solutions.
• ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line): ADSL is a broadband technology that uses copper telephone lines, offering faster download than upload speeds, commonly used for home and small business internet.
• Switch: A switch connects devices in a network, forwarding data only to intended recipients. It improves efficiency, security, and enables network segmentation.
• Carbon intensity: Carbon intensity is the amount of CO₂ emitted per unit of electricity generated, affecting the environmental impact of digital and cybersecurity operations.