Energy Efficiency of Radio Units in Next-Generation Open Radio Access Networks
White Papers
With the commercial rollout of 5G and the beginning of 6G research, the demand for wireless connectivity continues to grow exponentially. Significant resources are needed to build and power wireless networks to support the growth in demand. At the same time, there is also a growing awareness of the environmental impact of running these networks. The information and communications technology (ICT) industry is taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint and improve its overall sustainability.
Energy consumption growth scenarios for cellular networks differ widely, with some predicting energy consumption of networks will increase linearly while others predict be exponential growth. Regardless, it is imperative that the ICT sector’s carbon footprint decline. Shifting to renewable energy sources is an easy first step that is being implemented today, but it is not enough. Improving the energy efficiency of the networks themselves is an area of intense focus as a way to reduce overall energy consumption. Techniques like micro sleep mode or turning off components when not in use, for example, can dramatically reduce the total amount of power consumed.