Optus and Ericsson collaborate on energy-efficient 5G

Optus and Ericsson have deployed dynamic energy efficiency software solutions in the telecommunications carrier’s 5G mobile network, enabling a potential incremental reduction in energy consumption across the provider’s Ericsson radio access network footprint. The initiative should increase total daily energy savings up to 24–26% when combined with the software feature enhancements and hardware modernisation initiatives completed last year.

The two new Ericsson solutions implemented — Massive MIMO Sleep mode and Booster Carrier Sleep — are software-based tools designed to reduce energy consumption in Ericsson’s Massive MIMO radio hardware by dynamically switching off individual broadcast elements and massive MIMO radios in each mobile network antenna when there is no user demand for them, reactivating them again when they are needed. Massive MIMO Sleep mode enables radios to hibernate while consumers and businesses are asleep, while Booster Carrier Sleep allows carriers to be switched on and off dynamically based on the traffic demand.

With RAN networks contributing significantly to the total energy consumption of a mobile network, the ability to dynamically put antenna elements and massive MIMO radios into low-power sleep mode when not in use, without jeopardising network coverage, presents significant energy-saving possibilities for Optus as a network operator. At the trial sites in Sydney and Melbourne where the solutions have been rolled out, Massive MIMO Sleep mode has improved average energy consumption by a saving of 2.5 kWh per day, per site, while the Booster Carrier Sleep feature has reduced energy consumption by 2.23 kWh per day, per site.

“The enhancements made possible by the Ericsson Massive MIMO Sleep mode and Booster Carrier Sleep solutions are helping Optus take a step closer to our sustainability commitment to reduce our 2025 emissions by 25% from a 2015 baseline and ensure network capacity and performance is maintained, even as power needs are minimised,” said Lambo Kanagaratnam, Managing Director of Networks at Optus.

“With the deployment of the Ericsson Massive MIMO Sleep mode and Booster Carrier Sleep technology, we enhance the energy efficiency of the Ericsson infrastructure throughout the entire Optus network, both the hardware and the software components,” added Daniel Ode, Head of Ericsson Global Customer Unit, Singtel.

“In our partnership with Optus, we are very proud to be part of their journey to reach their sustainability commitment by leveraging the latest Ericsson technology leadership. Our work with Optus on intelligent power management features bolsters Ericsson’s efforts to make mobile networks more energy-efficient, sustainable and cost-effective, while extending the reach and benefits of 5G. It also reflects our long-term ambition to become net zero across our value chain by 2040.”

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