Does 5G New Radio save energy?

Emerging use cases and devices demand higher capacity from today’s mobile networks, leading to increasingly dense network deployments. In this post, we explore the energy saving features of 5G New Radio and how this enables operators to build denser networks, meet performance demands and maintain low 5G energy consumption.

What is 5G New Radio?

5G New Radio (NR) is designed to enable denser network deployments and simultaneously deliver increased energy efficiency, thus reducing both operational costs and environmental impacts. Before we explore the new technical features, let’s look more closely at how the existing 4G LTE radio networks function.

How much power does a 5G system need?

To keep the power density per MHz similar to LTE systems, the 100MHz 3.5GHz spectrum will require 5x 80 W, which is not easy to be achieved. 5G trials need to define a realistic output power trade-off between coverage, power consumption, EMF limits, and performance.

What is 5G NR?

The 5G NR standard has been designed based on the knowledge of the typical traffic activity in radio networks as well as the need to support sleep states in radio network equipment. By putting the base station into a sleep state when there is no traffic to serve i.e. switching off hardware components, it will consume less energy.

What is a 5G network?

5G networks are the next generation of mobile systems that will provide faster speeds, lower latencies, and extended connectivity than existing 4G networks. The new 5G system will provide a vast range of new services, while extended connectivity is necessary for IoT, smart home applications, and areas where smart devices are widely used.

Why is low 5G energy consumption important?

With new devices and use cases increasing the capacity of the networks, the demand to ensure low 5G energy consumption is critical to minimizing operator expenses and ensuring they can still meet energy reduction goals. How can NR bring an answer? Figure 1: Global mobile data traffic outlook [Ericsson Mobility Report, June 2019].