The Electricity- and CO2-Saving Potentials Offered by Regulation of European Video-Streaming Services

Massive increases in Internet data traffic over the last years have led to rapidly rising electricity demand and CO2 emissions, giving rise environmental externalities network congestion costs. One particular concern is generated by video-streaming services. We analyze electricity-saving potential related video streaming Europe from 2020 2030. To this end, three trend scenarios (Business-as-usual, Gray, Green) are considered modeled bottom-up, taking specific energy consumption (and trends) of transmission networks, end-use devices, centers into account. Using these scenarios, we examine more detail approximate energy-saving impact that regulatory interventions technical standards can on end-users, operators, centers. The model results reveal intervention a significant emissions. As regulation carries risk stymieing innovation dynamic efficiency, propose economic terms mandatory transit fee as long-term solution.