GREENNETS

Power consumption and CO2 footprint reduction in mobile networks by advanced automated network management approaches

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'ICT energy consumption is a growing concern. With an expected exponential growth in data transport, the communications infrastructure alone may soon become one of the largest energy consumers in the world. This trend has long been detected and is addressed at various levels. The first to respond were the equipment manufactures, and modern equipment is considerably more energy efficient than the one deployed a decade ago. Given the growth rates in mobile data traffic, better equipment alone will not suffice to successfully fight exploding energy demand. Its smarter use, exploiting inherent, yet not fully explored intelligence in the networks shall further improve energy efficiency.

The objective of the GreenNets proposal is to tackle this challenge for cellular radio networks. This is to be done by developing sophisticated methods and tools in four directions: for analyzing the energy efficiency in existing deployments; for finding measures to improve the efficiency; for implementing those measures in dedicated software platforms; and for establishing the ability to migrate to more energy efficient radio network deployments in face of sharply rising mobile network traffic. The ambitious aims of the project call for R&D activities that will extend and complement the platforms, tools and methodologies already in the possession of the participating SMEs. In a nutshell, the research aims at establishing two complementing functionalities: First, an automated network management that continuously adapts network activity to match the spatial and temporal network traffic variations. This shall leverage better efficiency in the short-to-mid term. Second, the ability to optimize the evolution of network deployments such that they become even more energy efficient in the mid-to-long term. Both lines are compelling extensions of the businesses the three GreenNets SMEs make today.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU-funded project tackled the energy consumption challenge for cellular radio networks. The initiative developed advanced tools and software platforms to help operators improve the energy efficiency of their current and future network deployments.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Current mobile networks were not planned to be energy efficient and they consume more energy than is needed to satisfy user demand.

Radio access networks are often responsible for most of the total power consumed by mobile network operators.

The http://www.greennets.eu (GREENNET) project worked to increase the energy efficiency of radio networks. Developments in such areas will help the EU achieve ambitious energy and climate change objectives for 2020. Consortium partners developed energy-efficient equipment and improved network operations and radio deployment efficiency by operating just as much of the radio network as was needed.

Smarter use of existing and new radio equipment led to reductions in energy consumption, as did adapting the use of the radio infrastructure to reflect current demand. This included putting the unnecessary parts of the radio access network into sleep mode or temporarily switching them off to reduce power consumption.

Project partners created algorithms to map network key performance indicators and to form part of the Energy Efficiency Optimiser (EEO). The EEO was designed as an automatic system capable of proposing and executing actions, such as the times to switch on or off parts of the radio network, resulting in energy savings.

GREENNETS work will enable mobile network operators to meet both commercial and sustainability targets in Europe and the rest of the world. Energy costs account for half of a mobile operator's operating expenses. Solutions supporting improved energy efficiency are therefore not just beneficial for the environment, they also make good business sense.