Vodafone Reduces Base Station Electricity Usage

Vodafone Germany is the first operator to put Ericsson's new Base Transceiver Station (BTS) Power Savings feature in place. The feature, which is commercially available, significantly reduces energy consumption in mobile networks and therefore makes an important contribution to cutting carbon-dioxide emissions.

During periods of low network traffic, the feature effectively puts those parts of the network that are not being used in standby mode - overcoming the traditional practice of having radio equipment continually turned on, which can result in energy being wasted.

Depending on the network traffic pattern, this innovation can save between 10 and 20 percent of the energy per BTS when a base station is in use, while still providing the same services and quality to end users. Ericsson says that the feature is compatible with all its GSM radio base stations introduced since 1995.

Vodafone Germany will install the energy-saving software upgrade across its base stations by the end of 2007.

Ulf Ewaldsson, Vice President and head of Ericsson's radio network business, says: "Reducing energy consumption is a key area where the telecommunications industry can make a positive contribution to international efforts to respond to climate change. At the same time, reducing power consumption also reduces operational expenditures for operators, so it is a win-win."

If deployed across the 1 million GSM Ericsson base stations globally, the power-saving feature could mean a reduction in carbon-dioxide emissions of 1 million tons. To put that into context - according to the UN, the UK emits about 650 million tons of CO2 per year. Global emissions from human activity are about 25 billion tons.

Posted to the site on 13th December 2007