Mobile operators could save $560m+ in OPEX annually

NEWBURY, UK: Arieso has revealed statistics showing that mobile operators could potentially save more than $560m in operational expenditure annually by “powering down” redundant base stations. By analysing actual subscriber network traffic data that indicates network capacity demand, Arieso believes that around 390,000 base stations can be powered down during quiet night time periods, saving more than 3.5 billion KWh of electrical power.

Thanks to out-dated network measurement techniques, many operators have not had access to precise data that tells them exactly where and when traffic demand exists, and where and when base stations are most needed. Crucially, this information could help operators understand which base stations can be powered down and for how long, without affecting the consumer experience.

As consumer appetite for mobile data continues to rise, operators have sought to add more network capacity by deploying new base stations in densely populated areas, or busy urban zones. New base stations may help solve capacity issues during peak hours, but during the dead of night, many of these base stations become redundant – yet still consume the same amount of power.

“It’s well understood that energy consumption makes up a major portion of operator OPEX, and powering down base stations to reduce this has been discussed in the industry for some time,” said Michael Flanagan, CTO of Arieso. “Self-optimising networks have an important role to play in power saving. However, the challenge of knowing how and when to save power safely, without affecting the user experience, has not been met. Understanding the detail of when and, more importantly, where subscribers are using – or not using – the network is central to making these choices and realising the savings.”

Using standard industry figures, Arieso has also calculated that this unnecessary power consumption needlessly contributes large volumes of harmful CO2 to the earth’s atmosphere. Reducing the 3.5 billion KWh consumption shown in this study equates to a reduction of 1.9 million metric tonnes of CO2e (1.9 Mt CO2e). Eliminating these emissions would be equivalent to taking approximately 478,000 cars off the road each year, globally.

Typical mobile networks are designed to serve peak traffic (voice calls and data sessions) demand. However, in off-peak periods, traffic demand falls significantly, requiring just a fraction of the total available resources. In effect, network capacity provided for peak traffic becomes redundant during quite periods.

Using actual customer usage data, Arieso monitors the real-world impact of data and voice calls in precise locations, and determines their effects on overall network performance. Operators can use this data to simulate network capacity requirements and identify exactly which base stations can be powered down, and when, without negatively impacting user experience. By reducing power consumption when it’s not needed, operating expenditure and environmental impact is significantly reduced.