The development of internet networks is built on a relative balance between the innovations that the sector is able to offer and the needs expressed on the demand-side. On the one hand, telecommunications technologies and networks are developed by responding to current and anticipated digital uses. On the other hand, improving the performance of networks is often a source of new efficiencies (particularly energy). But it also allows the development of new uses, which accelerate the need for new technologies and the use of more resources. The development of internet networks and the equipment that makes them up is therefore constantly questioned between the necessity to respond to existing uses, encouraging the emergence of new services, providing an alternative to physical transportation, being a source of new pollution, and at the origin of massive consumption of scarce resources, etc. The covid crisis has reinforced the essential character of efficient internet networks. The lockdowns around the globe have confirmed the need to ensure their development as a common good. While there is a real issue of social equality, networks have become essential, necessary for exchanges between people, for education, for informing the population and for the continuity of our economies. At the same time, this period also contributed to making everyone more aware of their digital needs and uses and their impact. This period should also provide the impetus and the keys to respond to a long-term concern aimed at protecting the environment and limiting the environmental impact of the networks. Certain approaches aiming, for example, at reducing the bandwidth used by content providers, who are heavy consumers of it, could have an interest in the long term. Communications inviting people to adopt good practices in a period of extensive use of networks goes along the same logic. In this particular context, a balanced position cannot seek to overwhelm or absolve the internet in this search for environmental efficiency, both from a point of view of its consumption of energy and resources and in a global life cycle analysis. It may on the other hand seek to support more efficiency. The question therefore arise: what are the best practices that can be put forward to accelerate the shift to electronic communications more environmentally friendly on the whole value chain (from networks to users)?
