{"id":256628,"date":"2026-11-10T17:32:39","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T16:32:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/efecomunica.efe.com\/?p=256628"},"modified":"2026-11-10T18:00:07","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T17:00:07","slug":"5g-operator-challenge-maintaining-network-capacity-while-curbing-power-consumption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/efecomunica.efe.com\/en\/5g-operator-challenge-maintaining-network-capacity-while-curbing-power-consumption\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5G operator challenge: maintaining network capacity while curbing power consumption"},"content":{"rendered":"

The power consumption of millions of mobile phone base stations<\/strong> that work 24 hours a day has prompted equipment manufacturers, including China\u2019s Huawei<\/strong>, to develop systems that automatically adjust activity based on 5G network traffic.<\/p>\n

Huawei addresses this challenge in “Signals of Change,”<\/strong> a four-part documentary series released this week reviewing the evolution of its wireless communications technologies since the early 2000s.<\/p>\n

Among the innovations featured is “0 Bit 0 Watt,”<\/strong> a solution that puts selected network equipment into deep sleep modes during low-demand periods and wakes it up as traffic rebounds.<\/p>\n

Energy costs<\/h3>\n

Data from GSMA<\/strong>, the global mobile phone industry association, shows the radio access network\u2014which includes base stations and connects user devices to the mobile network\u2014accounts for roughly 73% of the power mobile operators consume.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In China, telecom carriers consumed about 120 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024,<\/strong> representing approximately 1.2% of regional usage. That was a 30% jump since 2019, when 5G base stations surged thirtyfold, according to the group.<\/p>\n

Carrier China Mobile said in its 2023 sustainability report that base stations made up roughly 58% of its total electricity use.<\/strong><\/p>\n

During off-peak hours, manufacturers and operators rely on mechanisms that temporarily throttle or suspend parts of the equipment’s activity, reactivating them when traffic picks up again.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although sleep modes do not eliminate network power draw entirely, they can significantly lower it during lighter traffic windows.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A study by researchers from Aalborg University, Orange Labs, and Nokia Siemens Networks<\/strong> estimated that these techniques could trim daily network energy consumption by about 30% while preserving preset service levels.<\/p>\n

Staying connected<\/h3>\n

The documentary also examines other hurdles tied to the evolution of mobile networks, such as maintaining a reliable connection when users travel at high speeds.<\/strong><\/p>\n

High-speed rail travel, for instance, creates additional difficulties because of fast movement,<\/strong> signal attenuation through train carriage structures, and frequent handoffs between cell towers. These issues have pushed carriers worldwide to overhaul network layouts and operations.<\/p>\n

The series includes an interview with Fergal Kelly,<\/strong> former chief technology officer for Vodafone<\/strong> in Spain and the United Kingdom, who recalled early struggles to maintain cell service on high-speed trains.<\/p>\n

“The train picked up speed, and calls dropped,”<\/strong> he said, adding that the operator where he worked had spent more than a year trying to fix the problem.<\/p>\n

Huawei, which has partnered with EFE to distribute this content, frames reduced power consumption and stronger connectivity as key milestones in modern networks,<\/strong> which have vastly increased coverage, speed, and capacity in recent decades. EFE<\/p>\n