Mobile Networks Go Green

Minimizing Power Consumption and Leveraging Renewable Energy

Environmental consumerism and ethical investing do add weight to the drive towards more energy efficient networks, but take a back seat to economics and the need to bring communications to remote areas. When looking at the carrier community it is clear to see that there is huge pressure on the total cost of ownership of their networks. Power consumption represents one of the top five economic OPEX considerations and is steadily becoming a major concern for carriers due to fast-rising electricity and diesel costs. This study examines the mechanisms being put into place by carriers and OEMs to reduce power consumption, ranging from network optimization to hardware integration, power amplifier efficiency, and software-based dynamic asset dimensioning. The report also considers the opportunity to integrate renewable energy sources into the primary power sources for cell sites, focusing on solar, wind, and hybrid solutions combining renewable cells, grid-based electricity, diesel generation, and battery banks.

What Questions Does This Report Answer?

  • What will average power consumption be for cell sites, by technology and region?
  • What will be the total and average electricity consumption for on-grid cell sites?
  • What will be the total and average diesel consumption for off-grid sites?
  • How much will power consumption per cell site decline?
  • What is the total power OPEX, by technology and by region?
  • What is the power OPEX per cell site, by technology and by region?
  • How many base stations will be powered by renewable energy sources?
  • How many autonomous sites will be powered solely by renewable energy?

Who Needs This Report?

  • Carriers
  • OEMs
  • Site acquisition specialists
  • Component makers
  • Renewable energy system vendors
  • Power supply vendors
  • Cabinet and housing vendors

Table of Contents


Section 1.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1. Forecasts

Section 2.
DEFINING THE MARKET DRIVERS
2.1. Ecological
2.1.1. The Carbon Footprint Perspective - A Comparison to Other Industries
2.1.2. The Subscriber Footprint
2.1.3. The Carrier/OEM Perspective – Social Responsibility
2.1.4. Conclusions
2.2. Financial
2.2.1. The Carrier Operational Pressures
2.3. Conclusions
2.4. Technological – Identifying the Focus Points
2.4.1. The Optimized Network - The Golden Rules on Deployment
2.4.1.1. Reduce the Number of Sites
2.4.2. Network Design
2.4.3. Frequency
2.5. The ROI Equation
2.6. Improve Component Efficiency - Basestation Optimization
2.6.1. What is to be Gained?
2.6.2. Where are we Today and What Should we Expect?
2.6.3. Hardware Integration
2.6.4. Tower Mounted Radios
2.6.5. Power Amplifier Efficiency
2.6.5.1. Why is Amplifier Efficiency So Important and What can we Expect?
2.6.6. The Heat Exchange Equation
2.6.6.1. DC/DC Converters and Rectifiers
2.6.6.2. Equipment Temperature Tolerance
2.6.7. Battery and Diesel Use
2.6.7.1. Diesel Power
2.6.7.2. Battery Solutions for Cell Sites
2.6.8. Main Unit Housing
2.6.9. Stand-By Modes
2.6.9.1. Core Network Evolution and its Impact
2.7. Alternative Energy Solutions
2.7.1. Solar Power
2.7.2. Wind Power
2.7.3. Other Power Solutions

Section 3.
MARKET FORECASTS
3.1. Methodology
3.1.1. Rural Coverage Calculations
3.1.2. Urban/Capacity-Constrained Calculations
3.1.3. Analog and GSM Networks
3.1.4. 3G Networks
3.1.5. 3G BTS Capacity
3.1.5.1. Network Suitability for GSM-WCDMA Co-Location
3.1.5.2. Average Data Load per End User
3.1.6. Power Consumption Methodology
3.1.6.1. Phase 1 – Quantifying the Applicable Metrics
3.1.6.2. Phase 2 – Characterize the Installed Base of Basestations
3.1.6.3. Phase 3 – Forecast Penetration of Power Saving Features
3.2. Definitions
3.3. Forecast Summary
3.3.1. General Assumptions
3.3.2. Western Europe
3.3.3. Eastern Europe
3.3.4. Asia/PAC
3.3.5. North America
3.3.6. South America
3.3.7. Middle East
3.3.8. Africa

Section 4.
ACRONYMS
COMPANY DIRECTORY
Table of Contents
SCOPE OF STUDY
SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY
NOTES



Tables
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Air Interface Technology, World Market, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, World Market, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, World Market, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, World Market, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, World Market, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid TD-SCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, World Market, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Other Basestation Power Consumption, World Market, 2007 to 2013
  • Global On Grid Basestation Power Consumption by Region, World Market, 2007 to 2013
  • Off Grid Diesel Consumption by Region, World Market, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Primary Power Source, World Market, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Air Interface Technology, Western Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, Western Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Western Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, Western Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • Off Grid Diesel Consumption, Western Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Primary Power Source, Western Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Air Interface Technology, Eastern Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, Eastern Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Eastern Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, Eastern Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Eastern Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • Off Grid Diesel Consumption, Eastern Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Primary Power Source, Eastern Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Air Interface Technology, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2014
  • On Grid TD-SCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2015
  • On Grid Other Basestation Power Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2016
  • Off Grid Diesel Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Primary Power Source, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Air Interface Technology, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Other Basestation Power Consumption, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • Off Grid Diesel Consumption, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Primary Power Source, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Air Interface Technology, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Other Basestation Power Consumption, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • Off Grid Diesel Consumption, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Primary Power Source, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Air Interface Technology, Middle East, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, Middle East, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Middle East, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, Middle East, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Middle East, 2007 to 2013
  • Off Grid Diesel Consumption, Middle East, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Primary Power Source, Middle East, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Air Interface Technology, Africa, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, Africa, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Africa, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, Africa, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Africa, 2007 to 2013
  • Off Grid Diesel Consumption, Africa, 2007 to 2013
  • Installed Base of Basestations by Primary Power Source, Africa, 2007 to 2013

Charts
  • Cellular and Mobile Wireless Infrastructure RF Power Amplifier Shipments for Conventional Versus High-Efficiency: 2007 to 2012
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, Western Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Western Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, Western Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, Eastern Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Eastern Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, Eastern Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Eastern Europe, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid TD-SCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Other Basestation Power Consumption, Asia/PAC, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Other Basestation Power Consumption, North America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Other Basestation Power Consumption, South America, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, Middle East, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Middle East, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, Middle East, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Middle East, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid GSM Basestation Power Consumption, Africa, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid WCDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Africa, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid Mobile WiMAX Basestation Power Consumption, Africa, 2007 to 2013
  • On Grid CDMA Basestation Power Consumption, Africa, 2007 to 2013

Figures
  • Global CO2 Emissions by Sector
  • ERICSSON CHART on KG per Sub