Vodafone UK and Ericsson trial AI solutions for improved 5G energy efficiency

Vodafone UK and Ericsson have successfully reduced daily power consumption of 5G Radio Units by up to 33% in trial sites across London.

• Combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) solutions deliver significant energy efficiency benefits without impacting user experience.
• Ericsson’s Service Continuity AI App suite with Intelligent Energy Efficiency dynamically manages power consumption in the radio access network (RAN) based on live traffic data.

Vodafone UK and Ericsson have achieved a significant milestone in their network sustainability efforts by successfully reducing daily power consumption of 5G Radio Units by up to 33% at select sites across London.  

The results come from a trial of Ericsson’s cutting-edge AI and ML-powered software solutions. Ericsson’s Service Continuity AI App suite with Intelligent Energy Efficiency dynamically manages the network’s energy needs without compromising on performance, helping operators reduce their operating expenditure (OPEX) and carbon emissions.

As part of the trial, Vodafone UK implemented three key use cases: 5G Deep Sleep, 4G Cell Sleep Mode Orchestration, and a Radio Power Efficiency Heatmap. These features work in tandem to measure, predict and optimise energy consumption across the network, with the ability to power down components during low traffic periods and rapidly reactivate them when needed. 

• 5G Deep Sleep: AI-powered predictive algorithms enable radios to enter an ultra-low energy hibernation state, saving up to 70% energy consumption during low traffic hours. 

• 4G Cell Sleep Mode Orchestration: Creates a behavioral model of network cells to optimise sleep parameters, automatically balancing energy savings and performance. 

• Radio Power Efficiency Map: Creates a visual map of all network cells, using ML to identify and rank underperforming sites for targeted improvements.

Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer & Network Director, Vodafone UK, said: “By working with Ericsson to successfully apply these innovative software solutions to our network, we’re able to significantly improve energy efficiency without impacting the service our customers receive. Reducing power consumption at our trial sites is a big win – both financially and environmentally – and shows we can continue to improve the efficiency of our network as we build 5G coverage across the UK.”

Katherine Ainley, CEO, Ericsson UK and Ireland, said: “It’s exciting to see how our work with Vodafone UK is making a real difference. Our ability to significantly reduce network energy consumption while maintaining high performance standards is a testament to the innovation and expertise of our combined teams. I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved here – it’s an important milestone in our ongoing journey to make networks smarter and more sustainable.”