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Scenario 1: Data centers & CDNs vs. a full power UHF broadcast D2M for a 2-hour 1080p live stream, watched by 100,000 people in a region
Using conservative energy use averages of 0.01 kWh for data centers and 0.11 kWh for data transmission, unicast transmission methods are at a major disadvantage environmentally as it increases linearly. For a 2-hour live stream, the energy usage equates to 0.24 kWh per device watching the live stream. Using a 1,000 kW ERP SISO broadcast with input power of 77.1 kWh and electricity demand of 154.2 kWh for the duration of the 2-hour stream, regardless of how many devices are using the stream. At 100,000 concurrent devices, the data center and CDNs would use 24,000 kWh, while the broadcast would use only 154.2 kWh. This is a 99.35% reduction in electricity use, and thus, a 99.35% decrease in CO₂ emmisions. With an average of 0.4 lbs CO₂ per kWh, unicast would emit 9,600 lbs of CO₂ into the atmosphere, whereas broadcast would emit just 61.68 lbs of CO₂. Since broadcast is using relatively little electricity to begin with, 0-emission broadcast infrastructure is more feasible compared to unicast infrastructure.
Scenario 2: Data centers & CDNs vs. a low power UHF broadcast D2M for a 2-hour 1080p live stream, watched by 1,000 people in a small region
Using the same conservative energy use averages of 0.01 kWh for data centers and 0.11 kWh for data transmission, unicast transmission methods are still at a major disadvantage environmentally. For a 2-hour live stream, the energy usage equates to 0.24 kWh per device watching the live stream. Using a 3 kW ERP SISO broadcast with input power of just 0.009 kWh and electricity demand of 0.018 kWh for the duration of the 2-hour stream, regardless of how many devices are using the stream. At 1,000 concurrent devices, the data center and CDNs would use 240 kWh, while the broadcast would use only 0.018 kWh. This is a whoping 99.99% reduction in electricity use, and thus, a 99.99% decrease in CO₂ emmisions. With an average of 0.4 lbs CO₂ per kWh, unicast would emit 96 lbs of CO₂ into the atmosphere, whereas broadcast would emit just 0.12 ounces of CO₂. Since broadcast in this example is using extremely little power, 0-emission broadcast infrastructure is incredibly realistic.
The broadcast example in scenario 2 is using so little power, that as long as there is at least 1 person watching, it is actually more efficient to use broadcast. The broadcast signal is in the air, potentially travelling for many miles, without any in-between infrastructure over that distance, which cuts down on energy demand during the transmission distance. Since the reception of this signal is passive, for broadcasts using incredibly low amounts of power the transmission even for 1 person uses less power! If you think about it, there is no IP equipment, modems, routers, switches, or WiFi APs all using power in-between the broadcast site and the end user. Even with cell sites, there is additional equipment needed for local backhaul. For broadcast, in a way it is local backhaul and last mile delivery at the same time. If the power is a low extreme like this, broadcast wins due to its simplicity and coverage!
In theory, broadcast becomes the most efficient when there is a Single Frequency Network (SFN) of broadcast sites using high gain directional antennas with extremely low input power.
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