Vodafone UK is using Ericsson’s advanced AI and ML powered software solutions
Vodafone UK and Ericsson said they have successfully lowered the daily power usage of 5G radio units (RUs) by as much as 33% at selected sites in London.
In a release, Ericsson said that this achievement stems from a trial utilizing Ericsson’s advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)-based software solutions. The Ericsson Service Continuity AI App suite with Intelligent Energy Efficiency dynamically adjusts the network’s power consumption based on demand, ensuring reduced operational costs (OPEX) and lower carbon emissions without compromising performance, the vendor said.
As part of the trial, Vodafone UK implemented three key energy-saving features: 5G Deep Sleep, 4G Cell Sleep Mode Orchestration and a Radio Power Efficiency Heatmap. Ericsson further explained those features’ capabilities:
-5G Deep Sleep uses AI-driven predictive algorithms to allow radios to enter an ultra-low energy hibernation state, reducing power usage by up to 70% during off-peak hours.
-4G Cell Sleep Mode Orchestration develops a behavioral model of network cells to fine-tune sleep parameters, striking a balance between energy savings and performance.
-The Radio Power Efficiency Map uses ML to create a visual representation of all network cells, identifying and ranking underperforming sites for targeted efficiency improvements.
Ericsson said that these functionalities work together to assess, forecast and optimize power consumption throughout the network. They can power down components during low-traffic periods and quickly reactivate them when needed, it added.
Andrea Donà, chief network officer and network director at 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 U.K.”
“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,” said Katherine Ainley, CEO of Ericsson UK and Ireland.
In October 2024, Vodafone, Ericsson and Qualcomm have successfully demonstrated the benefits of millimeter wave (mmWave) through two trials in the U.K.
The trials made use of Ericsson’s antenna-integrated radio (AIR) 5322 and Baseband 6651 technology, as well as various devices powered by the Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System, Vodafone said.
The U.K. carrier noted that the first trial focused on how the higher download and upload speeds of mmWave spectrum can help deliver fiber-like speeds and home broadband services over the airwaves without the need for extensive underground infrastructure deployment. This FWA trial, which took place in Newbury, showed that mmWave technology is used to provide a ‘fiber-over-the-air’ experience for Vodafone customers, delivering home broadband connectivity peak speeds of up to 4Gbps.
The second trial took place in a London football stadium with a capacity of 20,000 people, to address network congestion. Using a commercial Snapdragon–powered smartphone, the trial registered peak download speeds up to 2.8Gbps at various points with unobstructed views of the mast, and even 500Mbps for locations that didn’t have a direct line-of-sight, the carrier said.
