A joint study by Nokia and Telefónica found that 5G networks can be up to 90% more energy-efficient than 4G, highlighting the potential for significant reductions in power consumption as operators roll out next-generation mobile networks.
The three-month study measured power usage across Telefónica’s 5G Radio Access Network (RAN). Measurements were taken across traffic load scenarios from 0 to 100 percent to evaluate real-world energy performance under varying demand.
Juan Manuel Caro, Director of Operational Transformation at Global CTIO, Telefónica, said:
“We are committed to supporting action on climate change and fostering a sustainable culture throughout our company. We are proud to work collaboratively with Nokia on this project and others to address initiatives including driving energy efficiencies in the 5G era.”
With 5G expected to deliver dramatic traffic growth, keeping energy consumption low is essential for both environmental and economic reasons.
Telefónica’s 5G RAN used Nokia’s AirScale portfolio for the study, including AirScale base stations and AirScale massive MIMO adaptive antenna solutions. The results show that 5G delivers more data per kilowatt than legacy networks, offering a clear efficiency advantage.
Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, commented:
“Our greatest contribution to addressing global sustainability challenges is through the solutions and technology we develop and provide. Nokia designs technology to be energy efficient in use and to consume less energy during manufacture. This important study highlights how mobile operators can capture energy gains as they roll out 5G, becoming more environmentally responsible while realizing significant cost savings.”
Beyond the inherent efficiency of 5G, the study notes further improvements are possible at the radio base station and across network architecture. Measures such as small cell deployments, optimized 5G protocols, and enhanced network design can boost efficiency even more.
Both companies stated their commitment to supporting climate goals, including the ambition to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. As part of its efforts, Nokia reports delivering zero-emission products to more than 150 customers worldwide and has pledged to reduce emissions from its operations by 41% by 2030.
Nokia also noted that base stations modernized in 2019 achieved, on average, a 46% reduction in energy consumption. Telefónica and Nokia are now exploring how machine learning and artificial intelligence can further enhance power savings, as well as developing smarter energy infrastructure to support more efficient network operations.
(Photo by Micah Hallahan on Unsplash)
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