Monday 6 September 2021

Vodafone and Ericsson almost halve 5G energy consumption

Vodafone and Ericsson have deployed a 5G radio they claim led to energy consumption decreasing by a daily average of 43%.

Ericsson’s radio solution was installed on the roof of Vodafone’s office in Southwark and compared with previous technology, the companies have stated energy consumption was 55% less at off peak times.

The units are expected to slash Vodafone’s forecasted energy consumption of its future 5G network and help make 4G upgrades easier and less impactful on the environment.

Vodafone is set to install 1,500 units by April 2022 to establish an environmentally-friendly 5G deployment strategy.

Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer, Vodafone UK, said: “Our strategy is simple. Turn off anything we do not need, modernise our network where possible and use the most energy efficient options available without compromising the service we deliver to our customers.

“There is no silver bullet for managing network energy consumption, it is about putting sustainability at the heart of every decision and adding up all the small gains to make a material difference.”