Vodafone & Ericsson: Harnessing AI for 5G Energy Efficiency

Can 5G networks achieve substantial energy savings without sacrificing performance?

By harnessing the power of AI and ML, Vodafone UK and Ericsson have demonstrated that it is.

The collaboration, which took place at select sites across London, achieved 33% reduction in daily power consumption of 5G Radio Units, marking a significant step forward in sustainable telecommunications.

"It's exciting to see how our work with Vodafone UK is making a real difference,” says Katherine Ainley, CEO of Ericsson UK and Ireland. 

“Our ability to significantly reduce network energy consumption while maintaining high performance standards is a testament to the innovation and expertise of our combined teams. I'm really proud of what we've achieved here - it's an important milestone in our ongoing journey to make networks smarter and more sustainable."

The power of AI in network management

The trial showcased three key AI-powered solutions from Ericsson's Service Continuity AI App suite with Intelligent Energy Efficiency:

• 5G Deep Sleep: This feature utilises AI-driven predictive algorithms to enable radios to enter an ultra-low energy hibernation state during periods of low traffic. The result is an impressive energy saving of up to 70% during off-peak hours.
• 4G Cell Sleep Mode Orchestration: By creating a behavioral model of network cells, this solution optimises sleep parameters to balance energy savings and performance automatically.
• Radio Power Efficiency Map: This visual tool employs ML to identify and rank underperforming sites across the network, allowing for targeted efficiency improvements.

These innovative features work in tandem to measure, predict and optimise energy consumption across the network. The system can power down components during low traffic periods and rapidly reactivate them when needed, ensuring optimal performance while minimising energy waste.

Balancing efficiency and performance

One of the most impressive aspects of this trial is the ability to achieve significant energy savings without compromising on network performance or user experience. 

"By working with Ericsson to successfully apply these innovative software solutions to our network we’re able to significantly improve energy efficiency without impacting the service our customers receive,” shares Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer & Network Director, Vodafone UK.

This balance is crucial as mobile networks continue to expand and data traffic grows exponentially. The trial demonstrates that it's possible to break the energy curve, reducing overall network energy consumption while still meeting the increasing demands for capacity and coverage.

Environmental and financial benefits

The success of this trial has far-reaching implications for both environmental sustainability and financial efficiency in the telecommunications sector.

“Reducing power consumption at our trial sites is a big win – both financially and environmentally and shows we can continue to improve the efficiency of our network as we build 5G coverage across the UK," Andrea says.

From an environmental perspective, the reduction in energy consumption directly translates to lower carbon emissions, supporting operators in their journey towards net zero targets. 

Financially, the energy savings contribute to reduced operating expenditure (OPEX), a critical factor in the competitive telecommunications market.

A step towards sustainable 5G

As 5G networks continue to roll out globally, the importance of energy efficiency cannot be overstated. 

5G technology itself offers improved energy efficiency, with the ability to transmit data faster and more efficiently than its predecessors. In fact, 5G is reported to be more than 10 times more energy efficient per gigabyte compared to 4G.

However, the innovation demonstrated by Vodafone and Ericsson takes this efficiency to the next level. By integrating AI and ML into network management, they're paving the way for truly sustainable 5G networks that can meet growing data demands while minimising environmental impact.

Looking to the future

The success of this trial opens up exciting possibilities for the future of telecommunications.

As these technologies are refined and deployed more widely, we can expect to see even greater energy savings across mobile networks. This not only supports operators in meeting their sustainability goals but also contributes to the broader societal shift towards more sustainable technologies.

“We’re seeing increased traffic demands from 5G, with global subscriptions expected to reach around 6.3 billion by 2030,” Katherine Ainley, CEO of Ericsson UK and Ireland told Sustainability Magazine. 

“Operators must invest in their networks to handle this data growth whilst also addressing sustainability and energy efficiency.

“This is where AI and machine learning come into play. In trials like this one, we are witnessing how these technologies can revolutionise network management by activating networks only when necessary. Simultaneously, we are investing in hardware improvements to produce lighter radios that consume less energy while delivering optimal performance.

“By embracing these advancements, we pave the way for a more connected, sustainable future.”

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