A smartphone (illustration).

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Geeko

The French government could ultimately limit commercial offers favoring a more frequent renewal of smartphones.

These promotions harm the environment by putting a new terminal into circulation while the previous one is still functioning.

The Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (Arcep) has been asked to study the phenomenon, reports

Reuters

.

The agency quotes "a source close to the government" as well as an interministerial roadmap published on Tuesday by the executive, devoted to "digital and [to] the environment".

Are smartphones a source of pollution?

The Arcep study will allow the government to "make a decision when the time comes", according to the source.

The authority has also been entrusted with a more general mission.

It must define a methodology before collecting and studying new data relating to pollution generated by the activities of telephone operators.

Arcep must also collect similar information on the other major players in the digital sector.

Finally, it will have to look at the ecological aspect of the opening of the 26 GHz band to operators as part of the deployment of 5G.

Master the production of smartphones

In a press release made public on Tuesday, the government said it wanted to "converge digital technology with environmental requirements".

The State thus intends to combine "mastery of the digital environmental footprint" and the use of new technologies "as a lever for ecological growth".

Indeed, according to the government, 75% of the harmful effects of the sector on the environment are due to the manufacture of smartphones.

Their production draws on water reserves and other natural resources and emits significant amounts of CO2.

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  • High Tech

  • Environment

  • ecology

  • Smartphone

  • Telecom operators