Professor O'Farrell holds a Chair in Wireless Communication in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering. He is a member of the newly created UK5G Climate and Environment Working Group, which has been tasked by the Government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to inform UK policy on the environmental impact of deploying 5G technology.
Energy consumption in cellular mobile networks is one of the telecom's industry's highest operating costs, and is recognised as an important factor in the climate emergency. 5G is an opportunity to deliver a greener telecoms 'direct' footprint.
Employing the expertise of key industry and government scientific advisors, the new UK5G Climate and Environment Working Group will be able to consider whether and how 5G can be carbon positive or negative. The group will also help inform the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport's (DCMS), BEIS and Ofcom on the environmental implications of the roll-out and adoption of 5G in the UK.
Professor O’Farrell’s appointment to the group is in recognition of his expertise in the design of energy-efficient wireless communications systems, and his understanding of how 4G and 5G radio access networks should be deployed to meet user performance targets while keeping energy consumption low.
"I am very pleased to be joining the UK5G Climate and Environment Working Group. As a Professor of Wireless Communications with many years of experience in researching the energy efficiency of wireless networks, I am looking forward to applying my knowledge and skillset to ensure 5G technology is deployed for a positive environmental impact." he said.
"At Sheffield, our research focuses on designing wireless infrastructure that is energy efficient. This working group provides an ideal opportunity to apply our know-how to the climate and environment challenges relating to 5G deployment."
For further information about this working group please follow this link.