NEC has developed a compact Power Amplifier Module (PAM) designed to reduce energy consumption in 5G base station radio units.
Mobile operators are facing rising operational costs as 5G networks densify. Because 5G often uses higher frequency bands than 4G, the coverage area of a single radio unit (RU) is smaller. That physical limitation forces carriers to deploy more RUs to provide coverage behind buildings and across broad areas, increasing energy consumption and complicating sustainability goals.
NEC’s new PAM targets the component that drives most of the power use inside the radio stack, aiming to lower site energy demand and operating expenses.
Addressing high 5G radio power draw
The cost of operating a mobile network depends largely on the efficiency of the Radio Access Network (RAN). Power Amplifier Modules, which boost signals for transmission, represent roughly 75 percent of an RU’s total power consumption. Therefore, improving the efficiency of the PAM yields direct savings on site power bills.
NEC’s PAM is built for sub-6GHz 5G and uses Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor devices instead of traditional silicon-based parts. By leveraging GaN’s superior thermal and electronic properties, combined with high-density mounting and load-modulation simulation techniques, the module reaches a Power-Added Efficiency (PAE) of 50 percent.
PAE measures how much of the supplied DC power is converted into radio-frequency output. NEC’s PAM delivers about a 10 percent reduction in power consumption compared with conventional PAMs. For operators running thousands of sites, a double-digit reduction in the primary energy consumer at each site represents a meaningful opportunity to lower overall network operating costs and improve sustainability metrics.
Integrating NEC’s compact 5G module
Space on towers and rooftops is limited, so smaller equipment footprints are highly desirable. The new PAM has a compact form factor of 10mm × 6mm, enabling manufacturers to design smaller RUs and more space-efficient base station hardware.
NEC plans to integrate this PAM into its own radio units, with new RU models expected in the first half of fiscal 2026. The company’s goal is to lower the power draw of each RU, contributing to cumulative energy savings across networks.
Beyond using the PAM in its own products, NEC intends to offer the module as a standalone component for broader adoption by other equipment manufacturers. That strategy could accelerate the shift to GaN-based amplification across the industry, helping operators manage the increasing power demand of 5G deployments.
For network operators and infrastructure planners, NEC’s move toward GaN amplification represents a practical hardware evolution to counterbalance the higher power requirements of denser 5G radio deployments.
See also: Telecom operators are increasing investment in AI infrastructure.
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