Key Issues and Research Directions in Green Wireless Networking

A significant part of worldwide energy is consumed by the ICT infrastructure with wireless sector to be among the main contributors to this consumption. As a result, the rising energy costs and increasing carbon footprint of operating wireless communication networks have generated a keen interest in the design and development of “green” networks, that is, networks characterized by energy efficiency, reduced CO2 emissions, and low cost deployment. In this article, we discuss current issues and trends in green wireless networking. We explain the motivation behind it, discuss basic principles, review current trends in the field, and highlight upcoming challenges and future research directions. The aforementioned issues have been treated in detail in the scientific literature. However, the present study overviews current and future trends in green wireless networking with focus on providing an insight into the field that will be useful not only for experts but for non-specialists also.