Towards a Circular Economy in Mobile Communications Technology: A Systematic Review

This paper presents the findings of a systematic literature review examining the relationship between the circular economy (CE) and terrestrial mobile networks. This review identifies key approaches to address a CE from 14 high-quality academic papers and classifies them according to four categories: infrastructure reduction and hardware optimisation; reduced energy demand; reduced reliance on fossil fuel-based power grids; and recycling. These approaches were also mapped to the "3R" framework which reveals a strong emphasis on reducing resource consumption and reusing resources, with minimal attention to recycling. The study emphasises the need for a holistic CE approach addressing all stages of the product lifecycle and calls for expanded research and development efforts, particularly in developing economies. Collaborative initiatives between academia, industry, and policymakers are recommended to promote sustainable and comprehensive CE practices in mobile telecommunications.