Green Wired Networks

This chapter first highlights the significant energy consumption of existing wired communication networks. It considers various means of operating such networks more efficiently. Then, the chapter examines the components that make up a wired communications network and their differing characteristics between the access and core, as well as patterns of traffic behavior. The chapter focuses on static (network planning) and dynamic (traffic-engineering) schemes that can be used to reduce the energy consumption of networks. It also pays attention to a number of challenges/open research questions that need to be resolved before the implementation of such schemes. These include issues with migration and resilience. The chapter then deals with economic-, regulatory-, and business-related methods. Finally, it focuses on the architecture of communication networks and the corresponding relationship with energy usage.